Sonic Youthis an experimental rockgroup formed in New York City in 1981. They are generally seen as one of the leading innovators of contemporary rock music. In their early career Sonic Youth were associated with the no waveart and music scene in New York City, but have outlasted most associated bands. Initially inspired by the noise experimentationof Glenn Brancaand The Velvet Undergroundand the heavy garage rockof The Stooges, they are known for using a variety of unorthodox guitar tunings, and for applying screwdrivers, drumsticks or other preparations to guitars to alter the instruments timbre. Members of the band have released books of poetry and prose (a beatnik influence is evident in both their writing and lyrics), produced, written and performed in films (such as "1991: The Year Punk Broke", "Perfect Partner", "(this is known as) the blues scale" and "last days").
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Sonic Youth
Claude Bessy: I'm the emcee,
um... so I'm supposed to be saying let's hear it for Sonic Youth,
all the way from the states.
Except uh... actually I'd like about two minutes
of your attention.
Shut your fucking face, I want just two minutes of your attention,
I have a very interesting little story to tell you.
Two minutes, not very long, right?
And it's a...
it's a very instructive little story.
Um... Sonic Youth, um, are a band.. shh shh shh...
Uh, they're about to put out a record in this country except their
record company has decided to put a no-no on the record.
Because of, uh... the cover which is offending some people at
Rough Trade. And now, it's not.. I mean it's not very offensive
cover, it's uh, it's got a naked lady, a naked Puerto Rican lady, it's
not very obscene, she's not doing anything weird.
Uh... it has nothing to do with.. you know, in this day of AIDS, an
uh.. and [?] and all that shit, uh, you would think the major
alternative record company would have better things to do than
worry about the shape of our bodies. So, I thought I'd let you
know, uh, so... um... next time you go and buy a record, and you
think you're really alternative and groovy, and uh, everybody is
in... is into the alternative charts, remember it's just like the other
side except it's a bit, a bit stranger, you know... but just remember,
it's not uh... there's no fucking culture there, you know.
There's just as much censorship among people our age, or you
know.. than anyone else.
Thurston: We'd like to thank Claude for that delightful speech.
This song is called The Green Light. It's about green love.