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Sonic Youth

File:Sonicyouth2011lineup.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Sonic Youth

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Also known as SY

American rock band (1981–2011)

AI overview

Sonic Youth was an American rock band that was active from 1981 to 2011, known for pioneering experimental approaches to guitar-based rock music. The band became influential in avant-garde and alternative rock circles, helping to shape the sound and aesthetic of rock music in the 1980s and beyond.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Instance of
musical group
Has part
Jim O'Rourke
Official name
Sonic Youth
Genre
no wave
Country of origin
United States
Official website
sonicyouth.com
Image
Sonic Youth 2009.05.30 001.jpg
Show 12 more facts
topic's main category
Category:Sonic Youth
inception
1981-00-00
Commons category
Sonic Youth
social media followers
257000
location of formation
New York City
described by source
UbuWeb
has works in the collection
Museum of Modern Art
start of work period
1981-00-00
topic has template
Template:Sonic Youth
end of work period
2011-00-00
native label
Sonic Youth
Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Encyclopedic overview

Sonic Youth was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1981. Founding members Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar), Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the band, while Steve Shelley (drums) followed a series of short-term drummers in 1985, rounding out the core line-up. Jim O'Rourke (bass, guitar, keyboards) was also a member of the band from 1999 to 2005, and Mark Ibold (bass, guitar) was a member from 2006 to 2011.

Sonic Youth emerged from the experimental no wave art and music scene in New York before evolving into a more conventional rock band and becoming a prominent member of the American noise rock scene. Sonic Youth has been praised for having "redefined what rock guitar could do" using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings while preparing guitars with objects like drumsticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments' timbre. The band was a pivotal influence on the alternative and indie rock movements.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Sonic Youth” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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