Alan Vega meant a lot to a lot of musicians. Though the Suicide lead singer, who died on Saturday at age 78, was not necessarily a household name, his band’s dark, gritty electronic punk sound had a huge influence on a generation of other bands and performers, as evidenced by the multiple tributes that were released to Vega over the weekend.
Alan Vega of Suicide Dies at 78
MGMT posted a cover of “Goodbye Darling,” a song from Vega’s 1983 solo album, Saturn Strip in “loving memory” of their musical mentor.
Stereogum noted that Arcade Fire singer Win Butler also paid homage, covering Suicide’s propulsive “Dream Baby Dream” under his DJ Windows 98 alter ego, dubbing it “K33p Ur Dr34ms.”
Another tribute came from Majical Cloudz leader Devon Welsh, who posted an unreleased song he wrote about Vega in 2011 called “Me and Alan Vega.”
R.I.P. Alan Vega — I made a song “about” him in 2011 that I never released, so here’s to Suicide! https://t.co/iPAfaXMd5Q
— Devon Welsh (@devonwelsh) July 17, 2016
A number of other acts also said goodbye and shared their thoughts on Vega’s influence:
alan vega/suicide was one of my biggest heroes & musical influences. gutted to hear we lost yet another pioneer. RIP my comic book fantasy.
— ZOLA JESUS (@ZOLAJESUS) July 17, 2016
RIP #AlanVega
You were beyond us.
A future beyond any https://t.co/k95RmspYoR pic.twitter.com/2WznMWSP5R— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) July 17, 2016
damn rest in peace Alan vega : (
— el-p (@therealelp) July 17, 2016
a short film about #AlanVega of Suicide https://t.co/zDkxXR0Z4t
— Tommie Sunshine (@tommiesunshine) July 17, 2016