Suicide

Suicide were an American rock duo formed in New York City in 1970 by Alan Vega and Martin Rev. Their confrontational, minimalist sound — Rev's hypnotic drum-machine loops and primitive keyboards beneath Vega's rockabilly croon, howl, and scream — was decades ahead of its time, predating punk while operating entirely outside its conventions. Their debut album, self-titled and released on Red Star Records in 1977, remains one of the most radical and influential records in American music history.

Their live performances were notoriously confrontational, frequently descending into physical altercations with audiences who didn't know what to make of them.