Sonic Life

More about the book

A Sunday Times, Times, Irish Times, and Mojo Book of the Year, this compelling account captures the essence of a life immersed in art and music. Thurston Moore shares his journey from a childhood epiphany with rock 'n' roll in the early 1960s to his deep dive into the punk and no wave scenes of 1970s New York, where he joined a band in 1978. By 1981, he co-founded the influential experimental rock group Sonic Youth, which recorded and toured for nearly three decades, constantly evolving and exploring new sounds. The narrative features a vibrant array of artists and musicians who intersected with Sonic Youth, including Velvet Underground, Stooges, Patti Smith, and Nirvana, alongside notable figures from the art world like Jean Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Moore's reflections highlight how he and Sonic Youth transformed modern alternative rock, inspiring a generation of artists to push boundaries. This raw and engaging memoir is essential reading for anyone interested in the cultural landscape of music and art. As Nell Zink puts it, it's a thrilling trip through memory, balancing the challenges of art and survival.