sad news

You may very well be the king of them ;)

It doesn't matter, you can't disagree with him or offend anything he holds dear without him viewing you as inferior, and rash.

Outraged.

Your mum shitface.

I guess it is a sexist issue.

Irrational and unfeasible as it may be, I have always maintained that a long-standing band, upon losing any member, should change their name.

REM without Bill Berry was not what I knew as REM
Pavement became an entirely different sonic entity when they switched drummers, from slack to classic rock

All deference to the great and mighty stve shelly but SY has always beena triumverate of LeeKimThurston to me. They are the core, from 1980 to now. No Kim, no SY and I am fairly certain lee and thurston would agree with me

Gutted.. Totally gutted


that is all.

I think what Mr Necro wants to say is that a members' SOUND could be replaced whilst performing (as Mark Ibold showed, as jim O rourke showed) but Kims overall presence cannot be replaced. It is a sign of the male-centred view of rock music as a whole that even my first thought was that Kim could leave and the band could carry on. About 30 seconds of reflection on this idea was enough to realise it was ludicrous to imagine SY without Kim, as if id forgotten the first time I heard Shoot or I Love You Golden Blue or Reena. Or The Neutral, or Beauty Lies in the Eye, or Shadow of a Doubt. Or Kissability or Brave Men Run or Kool thing or Tunic...

The point is that you're kind of slow. Sonic Youth are the four people who have been in Sonic youth for so long. If you doubt that, you're kind of stupid, Or handicapped. Or just... stupid.

no, you're just stupid.

that directed my way porky?

No.

carry on

Well, it wouldn't be a definitive version of SY. Consider this, all members have done extensive collaborations with a community of other artists that are all well-known. They have had Ibold & O'Rourke in for periods as well.

SY in 2011 is different than SY in 1999 or 1989. It would be a big adjustment but that doesn't mean it couldn't continue in some capacity. It is a shame but it could go on.

I saw X play live twice in the last few years and they fucking KILLED it.


However, it has been a few decades since they made an album.....

I can envision a Jon Doe / Exene thing maybe....

the ironic thing is that this thread is just like a bunch of sad children lashing out because they don't know how to deal with their parents' separation. :(

What's all this about? I don't view anyone here as inferior, and I don't expect anyone to conform to my opinions. I don't believe I've ever said anything that suggested otherwise.

I love Kim. She's the most beautiful woman in the world. She is talented beyond measure in multiple ways. I merely meant that Thurston, Lee, and Steve are all absolute expert musicians, and that her talent manifests in other ways.

She's a fine musician, but she is not a virtuoso at any specific instrument, unless you count her stunning beautiful voice.

I didn't mean any offense. Kim is monstrously talented, but even she would tell you she's not an extraordinarily precise musician.

But you're right, absolutely. I was wrong. She is not less talented. She is simply talented in a different way, just as Thurston and Lee are talented in different ways.

I take back what I said and I'll eat crow for it.

What Kim gives to the band is sacred and irreplaceable. Who was it that suggested they carry on without her? That would be wretched, depressing,and tasteless. Kim Gordon IS Sonic Youth just as much as any other member, and possibly more.

There is no SY without Kim. No more than there could be without Thurston.

Where did this ridiculous idea come from?

I dunno, i think theres a legitimate discussion to be had about where the group goes from here. I dont feel particularly emotional myself but i realise its a big event.

I don't internet fight. Think what you want.

I love and adore Kim- she's my favorite element of SY. I misspoke when I said she was less talented. That's not the case. She may be the most talented.

I was only talking about sheer musical proficiency and technical ability, which she herself has admitted is not one of her strong suits.

Kim, I adore you. You are my second favorite woman in the world (the first is my mother) and you ARE Sonic Youth.

Personally i cant see it working out. Obv the recent news of the split has been a long time coming and isnt really new to the SY camp (i thought i could hear rumblings of it back on rather ripped and tree outside to be frank).
However, the band going on.... well really, if yr seperating do you really think you would put yrself through 4 months, writing, 4 months recording and 1 year touring with the person yr "seperating" from.
I dont care how mature you are or amicable it is - its a very hard thing to watch each other move on... and comeon....being in a rock band... touring... yr gonna see some shit that will hurt.
i hate this.

Personally i cant see it working out. Obv the recent news of the split has been a long time coming and isnt really new to the SY camp (i thought i could hear rumblings of it back on rather ripped and tree outside to be frank).
However, the band going on.... well really, if yr seperating do you really think you would put yrself through 4 months, writing, 4 months recording and 1 year touring with the person yr "seperating" from.
I dont care how mature you are or amicable it is - its a very hard thing to watch each other move on... and comeon....being in a rock band... touring... yr gonna see some shit that will hurt.
i hate this.

This is terrible news! What a sad time for Sonic Youth fans! I'm in shock!

Hey, friends--

Isn't it possible that they could pull a Fleetwood Mac, and continue making music as friends who respect and love eachother, but just can't be "in love" any more?

Ex's can remain friends and bandmates. White Stripes? Eurythmics?

Also, both Kim and Thurston are sensible and sensitive people. I think they could absolutely continue without any bad vibes or negative feelings. It's a long shot, but it's possible.

(on a trivial note: I would really have a hard time with The Eternal being their swan song. They have one more definitive album in them, I'm sure of it.

Plus, they care about their fans. This can't be the end. Not yet,

Charalambides are the example

Exactly, I don't feel emotional about this at all.

Which is honestly why I've been being a dick in some other threads about this.

It's a shame they will no longer have that spark as a band they once did...but honestly...people are wigging out way too much about this.

Live your own lives and feel your own pain and stop being creepy fans.

It's overrrrrr....get some os mutantes records or something. Or just listen to the billion SY records that they released over the years...

I would say I'm musically satisfied with Sonic Youth.
It's just a complete bummer though.

I really hope all of them stay within the music scene though.
I'm pretty fucking psyched for Lee's new record and I think the
turnout would be a pretty exciting time for all of the members, honestly.

I mean, that is if they all decide to quit Sonic Youth.

Just realized Thurston deleted his blog. Shit sucks. I enjoyed it. :(

Reporter: Sway Austin

I've never ever felt sad about a celebrity breakup.

There's a first time for everything.

I'm super bummed out. Not just for Sonic Youth, but you look at what you think is one of those few steady & trustworthy marriages & you think they'd last forever.

I can't imagine Sonic Youth without either of them.

Sonic Youth's version of Rumours?

It's pretty interesting that it's not mentioned here on their official website yet..

I suspect we'll hear something at some point. Some sort of announcement at least on the status of the band. It's obvious they aren't really wanting to discuss it. I do think it's especially odd Thurston deleted his blog...even though I can understand.

No! I had to come back and say something. But I'm speechless

:(

Also:

NO MORE PANTY LIES!

Mary Fucking Christ!
Why does nearly everyone assume it would be Kim leaving and not Thurston? Or anyone else even? Even the writers of the smug responses to those questioning Kim's artistic or technical merit never stopped and thought "hell why does the chick have to leave the band and not the eternal Man-boy"?

All of a sudden "Sonic Gossip" takes on a more literal meaning. Whatever.

I'm willing to bet the announcement was made to ease shock of something that might be rising to the surface here soon. Likely not the entire story (which is NO ONES BUSINESS), but something in the way of seeing Thurston or Kim with someone else. I mean, imagine how fans would react to that haven't this official announcement been made? And like Rob and a few others have said, there have been possible (!!!) hints over the last couple records. Songs like "Sleeping Around" and Thurston's last solo record which seemed deeply personal compared to what he usually does and laden with lyrics that at least for me make a different sort of sense now than they did when I first heard them, even if it's highly possible that some of the things I think I might be hearing are completely off. Definitely do not see this being the end of the band, as of yet anyway. I mean, they haven't said this is the end so why should I be led to believe so? Only the media is saying "future of the band uncertain"...I haven't heard that from the band unless I'm misinterpreting something somewhere. Again, 27 years is a long time...especially for two people that have been a band of their stature on the road/living together for so long. No doubt temptation has been there for both of them, and anyone that believes otherwise is greatly mistaken about the way relationships work. There are "hints" there. I've heard some things that make sense to me, and reevaluating the last few years there has definitely been an air of weirdness. Fans will always speculate and want to know what's going on in the lives of their musical heroes (I am no exception), but they are one band that does deserve their privacy even if people are going to talk (again, I am no exception) regardless. I think things are soon to get interesting in a way we've never experienced with the Youth, and I think it could possibly make for an interesting new album. We shall see.

There are things to be learned from this. Always expect the unexpected. Despite me being over my initial shock and taking on a different view of the matter, the matter is still weird. I have friends that don't care about the band that have been making jokes about it (which is fine)...but reality is I've had an interest in the band for over half my life, and have been following them at least relatively closely for the majority of that time (the internet didn't always exist as it does now...I remember when "rarities" were seldom found outside of what was released as bonus material on singles). I don't think of Sonic Youth as family or friends or anything like that, but the music they've created TOGETHER, the music itself, is one of the best friends I've ever had. Sounds silly, I know, but their music has been with me through thick and thin and sometimes when actual people/friends defintely were not there. No sense truly does sometimes make sense, and I suggest being happy for them unless news rises to the surface that leads us to believe we should not be. I mean, KIM AND THURSTON wanted this announced, if only one of them wanted it announced that might not be so good.

in Matador's statement: "Plans beyond that tour are uncertain. "

Guess that's where "Future of the band uncertain" comes from

Yeah, that can mean "uncertain" as far as Matador is concerned. Or maybe Thurston and Kim aren't either...either way, whatever. that tidbit is of little importance as of now.

Whether it be mutual or not, why should anyone remain in a relationship they aren't happy in? In doing so, you are still or more or less cheating the other person.