Lydia Lunch
with Sonic Youth

(New York City, October 1982 - 1988 + 2008)

Chronology


Chronology: a chronological overview of known concert dates (some with setlists and/or ads), 
dates of studio recordings, all line-ups and other trivia related to Lydia's collaborations with members of Sonic Youth.

-Information in grey italics is uncertain-

1982
The year in which Lydia starts her collaboration with members of Sonic Youth with the recording of the "In Limbo" EP.

Late October 1982. Lydia, returns from London to New York City for about 6 months.

Through Richard Edson, then in Sonic Youth and with whom Lydia worked on the "Vortex" soundtrack, she meets Thurston Moore. For a Halloween show Lydia assembles a pick-up band with members from Sonic Youth: Thurston Moore; Richard Edson [also Konk and Sonic Youth's drummer from June 1981 till April 1982 ("Sonic Youth" album)]; Jim Sclavunos [formerly Teenage Jesus/8-Eyed Spy/Devil Dogs and to become Sonic Youth's drummer from January till March 1983 ("Confusion Is Sex" album)]. On guitar is Pat Place, a visual artist who came to New York from Chicago in 1975 [joined The Contortions/Bush Tetras].


In Limbo Line-up #1 (New York: October 1982):
Lydia Lunch (vocals)/ Pat Place (guitar)/ Thurston Moore (bass)/ Jim Sclavunos (sax) and Richard Edson (drums).

xx-Oct-82
US NY,New York City,basement of Kristian Hoffman and Bradly Field's loft (@ 240 Grand Street)

Note: Two rehearsals for the upcoming shows.


New York City 30-Oct-82

30-Oct-82
US DC,Washington,9:30 Club
[with Wanabeast]

Note: Coincides with the release of Lydia & Exene (Cervenka)'s "Adulters Anonymous" book by Grove Press.

On 03-Nov-82 Lydia attends the Sonic Youth concert @ CBGB's and on the 04-Nov-82 she has her first New York spoken word performance @ the Lucky Strike Cafe, where she's joined by Thurston Moore.

Ad: Scan of ad, taken from American Eagle 22-Oct-82.


New York City 31-Oct-82

31-Oct-82
US NY,New York City,The Peppermint Lounge

Photo: Credit Catherine Ceresole, taken from "Beauty Lies in the Eye", photobook (Edition Patrick Frey 2013).

Ad: Photo of advert. Alternative advert from the Village Voice, courtesy of Thurston Moore.

Review: Taken from the New York Times 04-Nov-82 (Internet archives).

Note: With Joe Strummer [The Clash] in the audience, shouting "Bollocks! Bollocks!".


03-Nov-82
US NY,New York City,CBGB
[Sonic Youth with Don King and Swans]

Note: A Sonic Youth show attended by Lydia Lunch. This show was Bob Bert's first time as Sonic Youth's drummer. Bob Bert would join Lydia's Retrovirus band in 2014.


November 1982
US NY,New York City,Surf Sound studio,recording the "In Limbo" EP. Engineered by Donny Bill and Dan Dreyden. All tracks composed by Lydia Lunch and Thurston Moore, except "Still Burning" (Rowland S.Howard) and "Some Boys" by Murray Mitchell [13.13], which were written at the Honeymoon In Red recording sessions in Berlin during June/July 1982 (and remained unreleased until 1988). Kristian Hoffman's piano parts were recorded one day at his (and Bradly Field's) loft (@ 240 Grand Street, NYC) by Lydia Lunch on a portable cassette recorder.


In Limbo Line-up #3 (New York: December 1982 - January 1983):
Lydia Lunch (vocals)/ Jim Sclavunos (sax/keyboard) and backing tapes.

2x-Dec-82
US NY,New York City,-

29-Dec-82
US MN,Minneapolis,First Avenue
[with Blind Obey]


30-Dec-82
US IL,Chicago,Cabaret Metro

Setlist: In Heaven Everything Is Fine (*)/ Dance Of The Dead Children(*)/ I Wish...I Wish/ Friday Afternoon/ 1000 Lies/ Some Boys/ Still Burning/ What Did You Do/ Dance Of The Dead Children(*)/ In Heaven Everything Is Fine (*).

Note: (*) Intro/outro tapes. The tracks from the "In Limbo" EP are performed in the same running order as on the actual release. "In Heaven Everything Is Fine" is taken from David Lynch's "Eraserhead" film.


New York City 07-Jan-83

07-Jan-83
US NY,New York City,The Peppermint Lounge
[with Ballistic Kisses]

Ad: Scan of advert from the Village Voice 11-Jan-83, courtesy of Thurston Moore.






1983
The year in Lydia performs her "In Limbo" EP at a festival in Vienna (Europe), with Jim G.Thirlwell.

May 1983
Lydia, returns to London @ her place in Baron's Court Road.






1984
The year in which Lydia signs a deal with Doublevision (UK) and mixes and releases the "In Limbo" EP which was recorded in 1982.

March/April 1984
UK London. Lydia sets up a deal with Paul Smith of Doublevision, a label he runs with Cabaret Voltaire, to release the "In Limbo" recordings she made in November 1982 in New York.


April 1984
UK Sheffield,Western Works [Cabaret Voltaire's] studio,Lydia Lunch mixes the "In Limbo" EP (Doublevision).


May 1984
After having received sufficient funds from Doublevision, Lydia is able to leave London for good and return to New York City, @ East 109th street (Spanish Harlem). She would live in New York City until December 1990.
She mentions her deal with Paul Smith/Doublevision to Thurston Moore, who in August sends him a demo tape with what would become Sonic Youth's "Bad Moon Rising" album. For the release of that album (in March 1985) Paul Smith would establish Blast First (a sub label of Rough Trade).


09-Jun-84
US CT,Bethel. Lydia Lunch, Jim G.Thirlwell and Bob Bert attend Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon's catholic wedding.


June/July 1984
US NY New York City-Manhattan,Wharton Thiers' basement (aka Fun City) studio, Lydia sings on "Death Valley '69" (early version/7") with Sonic Youth. Engineered by Wharton Thiers. Produced by SY with help from Clint Ruin (a.k.a. Jim G. Thirlwell). The lyrics to the song were written by Lydia Lunch and Thurston Moore one day on the bus to Spanish Harlem.


New York 30-Jun-84

30-Jun-84
US NY,New York City,Dancetaria
[with Sonic Youth and Swans]

Note: Lydia does a spoken word show and later joins Sonic Youth on "Death Valley '69". She ends up getting paid twice by the promoter, Ruth Polsky. Ruth died in 1986, when she was hit by a runaway taxi that left her pinned against the front of the Limelight club. She was thirty one years old. (from "Lydia Lunch- The War Is Never Over", a book by Nick Soulsby (Jawbone, 2020).

Ad: Scan of advert.


2x-Sep-84
UK Release of the "In Limbo" EP (Doublevision).


Sep/Dec 1984
US NY New York City,Brooklyn,Before Christ studio, Lydia sings on "Death Valley '69" ("Bad Moon Rising" album version) with Sonic Youth. Engineered by Wharton Thiers. Engineered by Martin Bisi. Produced by Sonic Youth with Martin Bisi and John Erskine. BC Studio was founded in 1981 in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn, by Martin Bisi along with Bill Laswell [Material].


December 1984
US Release of Sonic Youth's "Death Valley '69" 7" single (Iridescence).






1985

June 1985
UK/US Release of Sonic Youth's "Death Valley '69" 12" single (Blast First/Homestead).






1986

March 1986
US NY New York City,Brooklyn,Before Christ studio, Lydia writes the lyrics (2nd verse) for Sonic Youth's song "Marilyn Manson" (for their "Evol" album).


March/April 1986
US Los Angeles,Topanga Canyon,filming part of the "Death Valley '69" video clip by Judith Barry and Richard Kern. Lydia joins. At the same time she and Kern are filming their "Fingered" film in this area. The rest of the clip is a.o. using exerpts from Kern's "Submit To Me" film and live concert footage of Sonic Youth.


23-May-86
UK London,University of London Union
[with Big Stick, Live Skull and Sonic Youth]

Note: Lydia does a spoken word performance and also joins Sonic Youth for "Death Valley '69" and "Expressway To Yr Skull".






1987
The year in which Lydia polishes up the old recordings she made with The Birthday Party in 1982
and at the same time records 2 new tracks with Thurston Moore.

May 1987
US NY New York City,Brooklyn,Before Christ studio,recording with Thurston Moore "The Crumb" (released on a split 12" on Widowspeak records in March 1988) and "So Your Heart" (released on the "Honeymoon In Red" album on Widowspeak records in March 1988).

Polishing up the surviving tapes of the recordings Lydia made with members of the Birthday Party in 1982. Remixing by Jim Thirlwell and some guitar overdubs by Thurston Moore.

Line-up:Lydia Lunch (voices)/ Thurston Moore (guitar/voices) and Clint Ruin (a.k.a. Jim G. Thirlwell) (loops/treatments).






Harry Crews:Pat,Kim,Lydia,Lisa 1988
Harry Crews (1988) Photo credit: Michael Lavine. Lydia Lunch + Pat Place + Sadie Mae (a.k.a. Lisa Timocich) + Kim Gordon.

1988
The year in which "The Crumb" single with Thurston Moore [Sonic Youth] is released and in which Lydia forms the Harry Crews band with Kim Gordon [Sonic Youth], tours and disbands.

07-Mar-88
UK Release of Thurston Moore/Lydia Lunch "The Crumb" 12" single on Widowspeak records.


14-Mar-88
UK Release of "Honeymoon in Red" vinyl album on Widowspeak records, which contains the Moore/Lunch "So Your Heart" track.


Harry Crews. A project based upon Georgia born writer Harry Crew's work which, except for rehearsals, only lasted for 13 live concerts in Europe in September 1988. The project was squeezed between the recording of Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation" album and their European tour in September/October 1988.


Harry Crews Line-up #1 (New York: June/July 1988):
Lydia Lunch (vocals/guitar)/ Kim Gordon (bass)/Pat Place (guitar) and Sadie Mae (a.k.a. Lisa Timocich) (drums).

New York City June/July 1988

June/July 1988
US NY,New York City,Alphabet City Studios. Rehearsing two weeks for the upcoming European tour. Songs tried are: (a.o) JuJu/ Man Hates Man/ The Gospel Singer/ Babylon Blues/ Freddie Fingers/ and more..

Photo: Photo of recording session list from the archives of Sadie Mae.

Note: Sadie Mae had met Lydia before at a 13.13 show in 1981. Pat Place [formerly Contortions/Bush Tetras/In Limbo] leaves before the tour starts.


July/August 1988
US NY,New York City,Greene Street Recordings,Kim Gordon records the "Daydream Nation" album with Sonic Youth. Engineered by Nicholas Sansano.


Harry Crews Line-up #2 (Europe: September 1988):
Lydia Lunch (vocals/guitar)/ Kim Gordon (bass) and Sadie Mae (a.k.a. Lisa Timocich) (drums).

05-Sep-88
DK Århus,Huset

Setlist: Man Hates Man/ Distopia/ Knockout Artist/ The Gospel Singer/ The Way Out.

Note: First concert of a 16 date tour. Above tracks broadcast by Danish FM Radio. Murray Mitchell [ex Siouxsie and the Banshees roadie, The Agony Is The Ecstacy/13.13 band in 1981] is enlisted as tour manager.


København 06-Sep-88

06-Sep-88
DK København-Christiania,Loppen

Review: Scan of review, taken from Det Fri Aktuelt 08-Sep-88.


Oslo 07-Sep-88

07-Sep-88
NO Oslo,Sardine's

Listing: Scan of listing, taken from Puls music magazine #9/10, 1988.


Uppsala 08-Sep-88

08-Sep-88
SE Uppsala,Barowiak

Photo: Credit: © Robert Petersson (used with kind permission).


09-Sep-88
SE Stockholm,Ritz

Setlist: About The Author/ Distopia/ The Gospel Singer/ The Way Out/ Car/ Babylon Blues.

Note: Above tracks broadcast by Swedish FM Radio.


10-Sep-88
SE Örebrö,Kulturhus


Hamburg 13-Sep-88

13-Sep-88
DE Hamburg,Grosse Freiheit 36
[with Foetus]

Setlist: About The Author/ Man Hates Man/ Distopia/ The Gospel Singer/ Knockout Artist/ The Way Out/ Bring Me Down/ Car/ Babylon Blues/ Orphans [Teenage Jesus]/ S.O.S./ The Closet [Teenage Jesus].

Photo: Credit © Thomas Meyer . Used with kind permission.

Poster: Photo of poster.


Berlin 14-Sep-88

14-Sep-88
DE Berlin,Quartier Latin

Setlist: a.o. Car and S.O.S.

Poster: Photo of poster.


Hannover 15-Sep-88

15-Sep-88
DE Hannover,Bad

Setlist: About The Author/ Man Hates Man/ Distopia/ You're It/ The Gospel Singer/ Knockout Artist/ (She's In A) Bad Mood [Sonic Youth]/ The Way Out/ Bring Me Down/ Car/ S.O.S./ Orphans [Teenage Jesus].

Poster: Photo of poster.


Amsterdam 17-Sep-88

17-Sep-88
NL Amsterdam,Paradiso
[with Swinging Jane]

Setlist: About The Author/ Man Hates Man(*)/ Distopia(*)/ You're It/ The Gospel Singer/ Knockout Artist/ (She's In A) Bad Mood [Sonic Youth]/ The Way Out/ Bring Me Down/ Car/ Orphans [Teenage Jesus].

Poster: Photo of poster, design by Max Kisman.

Review: Scan , taken from Het Parool (Dutch newspaper) 19-Sep-88.

Note: (*) Broadcast by Dutch FM radio.


Rotterdam 16-Sep-88

18-Sep-88
NL Rotterdam,Ibiza (Parkzicht)
[with Spasmodique]

Poster: Taken from "Sonic Youth etc..: Sensational Fix" book.

Review: Taken from De Volkskrant (Dutch newspaper) 19-Sep-88.


Athina 19-Sep-88

19-Sep-88
GR Athina,Rodon

Setlist: About The Author/ Man Hates Man/ Distopia/ You're It/ The Gospel Singer/ Knockout Artist/ (She's In A) Bad Mood [Sonic Youth]/ The Way Out/ Bring Me Down/ Car/ S.O.S./ Orphans [Teenage Jesus].

Ticket: Scan courtesy of EaViL.


Athina 20-Sep-88

20-Sep-88
GR Athina,Rodon

Ticket: Photo of ticket from the archives of Sadie Mae.


Harlesden 21-Sep-88

21-Sep-88
UK London,Harlesden,Mean Fiddler
[with Head Of David]

Review: Taken from Melody Maker 01-Oct-88.


Harlesden 22-Sep-88

22-Sep-88
UK London,Harlesden,Mean Fiddler
[with Head Of David]

Setlist: About The Author/ Man Hates Man/ Distopia(*)/ You're It/ The Gospel Singer/ Knockout Artist/ (She's In A) Bad Mood [Sonic Youth]/ The Way Out(*)/ Bring Me Down/ Car/ S.O.S./ Orphans(*) [Teenage Jesus].

Ad: Taken from NME Sep-88.

Photo: Screenshot , taken from private video.

Note: Tracks (*) released on the live "Naked In Garden Hills" album (1990).


24-Sep-88
AT Wien,Metropol

Setlist: About The Author/ Man Hates Man/ Distopia(*)/ You're It/ The Gospel Singer/ Knockout Artist/ (She's In A) Bad Mood [Sonic Youth]/ The Way Out(*)/ Bring Me Down/ Car/ S.O.S./ Orphans(*) [Teenage Jesus].

Note: All, except (*), released on the live "Naked In Garden Hills" album (1990). Also recorded by Austrian ORF FM radio.

Last date of 16 date concert tour and the end of the Harry Crews project. A few days later Sonic Youth's European "Daydream Nation" tour starts.






1989
The year in which the live Harry Crews album is mixed.

February 1989
US NY,New York City,Greene Street Recordings,Kim Gordon and Lydia Lynch mix the live tracks for the "Naked In Garden Hills" album. At the same studio where Sonic Youth recorded their "Daydream Nation" album.


June 1989
US NY,New York City,Masterdisk,mastering the "Naked In Garden Hills" album.






1990
The year in which the live Harry Crews album is released.

May 1990
US/UK Release of the "Naked In Garden Hills" album (Widowspeak/Big Cat).






2008
The year in which Lydia collaborates once more with Thurston Moore.

New York City 13-Jun-08

13-Jun-08
US NY,New York City,Knitting Factory,Main Space (2 shows: 8PM and 11PM)
[with Information and Byron Coley DJ-set]

Setlist: (2nd show) Red Alert/ My Eyes/ The Closet/ Crown of Thorns/ Crown of Thorns/ Burning Rubber/ Eliminate by Night/ Eliminate by Night/ Freud in Flop/ I Woke Up Dreaming/ Race Mixing/ Baby Doll/ Orphans.

Note: Coincides with the publishing on June 1 of "No Wave: Post Punk, Underground, New York, 1976–1980", a book edited by Byron Coley and Thurston Moore. Information is Rick Brown [Mofungo], Phil Dray [Mofungo], Chris Nelson [Mofungo, NO magazine,etc..]. Line-up: Lydia Lunch (guitar/vocals)/ Thurston Moore (bass) and Jim Sclavunos (drums).

Flyer: e-Flyer courtesy of EaViL.


New York City 13-Jun-08

06-Dec-08
UK Minehead,Butlins,All Tomorrow's Parties festival (2 shows: 9PM and 11PM)
Nightmare Before Christmas (curated by the Melvins and Mike Patton)
[with Jim G.Thirlwell, The Damned, etc..]

Setlist: (2nd show) Red Alert/ My Eyes/ The Closet/ Crown of Thorns/ Crown of Thorns/ Burning Rubber/ Eliminate by Night/ Freud in Flop/ I Woke Up Dreaming/ Race Mixing/ Baby Doll/ Orphans.

Flyer: e-Flyer.



Chronology
Spoken word (1982 - to date)
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Last modified 28th of December, 2021.