Photo: Lucy Bridger
In the wake of the sad passing of punk icon and Suicide frontman Alan Vega, Arcade Fire's Win Butler has led the tributes to him by releasing a cover of their classic track 'Dream Baby Dream'. Listen to it below.
Responsible for influencing countless artists from Billy Idol to LCD Soundsystem, Vega died in his sleep over the weekend, aged 78. A statement released by his friend and fellow punk hero Henry Rollins broke the news: "With profound sadness and a stillness that only news like this can bring, we regret to inform you that the great artist and creative force, Alan Vega has passed away."
He continued: "Alan was not only relentlessly creative, writing music and painting until the end, he was also startlingly unique. Along with Martin Rev, in the early 1970s, they formed the two-person avant band known as Suicide.
After returning to the live stage and proving to be an incredible highlight of NOS Alive festival earlier this month, Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler has unveiled a cover of Suicide's 'Dream Baby Dream' under his moniker of DJ Windows 98:
Artists from throughout the ages have also spoken out to honour the legacy and influence of Vega:
GOODBYE BEAUTIFUL ALAN VEGA #alanvega #suicide #beforehistime https://t.co/wBl5zFtKvr pic.twitter.com/ZHSaNgyo1E
— Beth Ditto (@oBETHoDITTO) July 17, 2016
bye bye alan. peace out to alan vega - 'bye bye bayou', a cover by @lcdsoundsystem from 2012....seek the original. https://t.co/HX3fGmwOhs
— DFA RECORDS (@dfarecords) July 17, 2016
Alan Vega. He knew. Major dude. 'America, America is killing it's youth' All-fuckin'-right. RIP.
— luke haines (@LukeHaines_News) July 17, 2016
Alan Vega - art attack Gene Vincent from space crooning dystopia over a $5 wallmart keyboard - what an idea, what a genius.
— luke haines (@LukeHaines_News) July 17, 2016
R.I.P Alan Vega! You wrote the scariest song I've ever heard.
— Formation (@formationmusic) July 17, 2016
— Formation (@formationmusic) July 17, 2016
Goodbye Alan Vega from Suicide
— TRAMPOLENE (@Trampolene_Band) July 17, 2016
XxX
Turn this one up and 'Dream Baby Dream'https://t.co/eCCXr4gpy4
Just remembering how Alan Vega would sing his Je T’adore (spelling?) to me & Perri Lister when we attended his solo gigs early 80’s…RIP
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) July 17, 2016
RIP Alan Vega
— Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) July 17, 2016
