Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth
Final lineup of the band before their 2011 breakup; from left to right: Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, Mark Ibold, Steve Shelley
Background information
Origin	New York City, U.S.
Genres	Noise rock alternative rock experimental rock indie rock post-punk no wave (early)
Discography	Sonic Youth discography
Years active	1981–2011
Labels	Neutral Sub Pop Ecstatic Peace! Blast First Homestead SST Enigma Au Go Go Geffen DGC SYR Matador
Spinoffs	Body/Head Chelsea Light Moving Ciccone Youth Dim Stars Free Kitten Harry Crews
Past members	Thurston Moore Kim Gordon Lee Ranaldo Richard Edson Bob Bert Jim Sclavunos Steve Shelley Jim O'Rourke Mark Ibold
Website	sonicyouth.com

Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City and formed 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, keyboards, guitar) 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 have been praised for having "redefined what rock guitar could do"^[1] using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings while preparing guitars with objects like drum sticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments' timbre. The band was a pivotal influence on the alternative and indie rock movements.

After gaining a large underground following and critical praise through releases with SST Records in the late 1980s, the band experienced mainstream success throughout the 1990's and 2000's after signing to major label DGC in 1990 and headlining the 1995 Lollapalooza festival. The band disbanded in 2011 following the separation and subsequent divorce of Gordon and Moore with their final live shows taking place in Brazil.^[2][3] The members have since asserted that the band is finished and will not reunite.^[4]