Infinite Dreams: The Life of Alan Vega

by Laura Davis-Chanin, Liz Lamere

Best known for co-founding the early punk duo Suicide, Alan Vega lived a complex and labyrinthine life, driven by a desire to express himself uncompromisingly through art. From his first sketch in art class at Brooklyn College to the 2021 release of the album Mutator five years after his death, Vega continues to shock and inspire. This first-ever biography of Vega tells the story of the man’s life and art, beginning with his early attempts to live a “normal” life and his epiphanic encounter with Iggy Pop in 1969. Although becoming a performer on stage had been at the bottom of Vega’s list of lifetime ambitions, Iggy changed his he needed music to truly express his vision. Infinite Dreams goes on to describe Vega’s many experiments across a variety of media, including the partnership with Marty Rev that became Suicide, which challenged audiences to look deep inside themselves and to not settle for distractions. Written by acclaimed musician and author Laura Davis-Chanin in collaboration with Vega’s widow Liz Lamere, Infinite Dreams is a raw but engaging exploration of a man whose artwork, music, and philosophy inspired thousands.

Genres: Music, Biography, History

384 pages, Hardcover

Published June 18, 2024

About the author

Winner of the ASCAP Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for Excellence in Writing and named one of Billboard's top 10 Music books of 2018 for her book "The Girl in the Back," Laura has spent her career as an attorney but is now pursuing her second love, writing. Her first love, her daughters, bring her eternal sunshine everyday. In 2020, her “second book, “I Am Michael Alago" about the inspiring music producer, Michael Alago, who discovered Metallica, was released and last year, her book on the enigmatic musician, Alan Vega with a Foreword by Bruce Springsteen was released. She is currently working on a novel based on true events entitled "A Finished Noise.”

Reviews

[Wendi Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re just grabbing this because you like the era or music biographies, you’re in for a treat!

Alan Vega lived. I don’t mean he was alive at some point, I mean he took advantage of every day. This loving, but real book shows this. It brings a man that even some Suicide fans didn’t know well and brings him back to life on the page.

I sank into this and couldn’t let it go. The writing was great, the information well researched, and it was a hell of a story.

I knew who Alan Vega was going in and it was a bit of a surprise to see how well liked he was by people. I had always thought he was extremely private and didn’t have a lot of friends. He had lots of them! It’s things like this that make this book great, you actually get to know the guy. That’s rare. I’m trying not to give away a lot, because this was such a great and surprising read that, I want everyone to have the same joy of discovery that I did.

Great book! I’m already recommending it highly. Read it!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions s are my own.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. I learned a lot about his art and solo work. I wish there was some Martin Rev interviews. It didn't seem like he was left out for any reason. This was a love letter from his wife, and there's nothing wrong with that, but there's something to be said for objective biographies.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Globe Pequot- Backbeat for an advance copy of this biography dealing with one of the mysterious yet influential musicians of the early punk scene, a singer whose performances drove crowds to hysterics, became a friend to many, and an influence to bands yet to come for his love of performance, and being true to the artist inside.

In the early 1970's music was starting to change again and new bands, with new music, and ways of performing began to appear. One band, a duo was asked by legendary owner of CBGB Hilly Kristal, “I hope you’re not planning for this to be your career.” A band that other bands would ask to open for them, knowing either a riot would happen, or something so the headliners could take a night off. A band that would have so much stuff thrown at them, that roadies could make hundreds cleaning the stage of spare change off the stage. A band that locked doors to keep people in. A band whose name made Alan Ginsberg physically angry. A band called Suicide. With Alan Vega and lyrics, singing and moaning, and Marty Rev creatin musical soundscapes, the band angered listeners, radio people, and bar owners, yet crafted a musical legacy that lasts to this day, with music that still sounds like tomorrow. Infinite Dreams The Life of Alan Vega is a biography by Laura Davis-Chanin and Vega's wife Liz Lamere, discussing the life of a man who was so mysterious and dark on stage, yet a man who was loved my many in the music industry.

Alan Vega was born Alan Bermowitz, and raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in 1939, something that Vega never discussed, always pretending to be at least ten years younger. Alan grew up in a traditional family, one not particularly Jewish but one that pretty much regulated where his life was going to go. And though he loved art, he knew the world was not for him. Until college, when studying physics his sketchbook was spotted, and he was able to switch majors, something his father was not happy about. This started a split that never healed. Vega married and began an art career, but soon found both music and drugs. Alan left his wife, and began to experiment in art and in his life. Soon he found a like minded person in Marty Rev and after some feeling out, the idea of Suicide was born, and a career began to grow.

A wonderful complete look at a man who embraced his art in every way he could. Vega was a rebel, one who loved to stand out and was patient enough, to put up with the slings and arrows, and occasional knives and axes that came his way, until others began to see how the art really was complete. The book looks at Vega's youth, his art and solo career, soundtracks installations and best of all his numerous friendships with people in the music industry one would not expect. Ric Ocasek of the Cars, Bruce Springsteen, Henry Rollins, all those still around discuss working with or listening to Vega, and what a great person he seemed to be. There is a little drifting around in time. This happens in the interviews and in the book, but one could see Vega saying life isn't chapters, so one can forgive that. Vega really comes across as a great person, and one that the world, especially this current world could use a lot more of.

Recommended for music fans, art fans, and for those who love stories about New York City especially in the 70's and 80's. Just be sure to play a lot of Vega's music while listening.

[Blane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who know Alan Vega's incredible artistic reach, which includes painting, sculpture, poetry, (more or less) the creation of what would eventually be known as "punk rock" music, and being one of the forefathers of electronic music, know Alan Vega. For everyone else (including myself), there is this biography/oral history/love letter co-written by his widow, which explores his uncompromising vision in each of these pursuits.

Considering he is notoriously well-known for his violent & confrontational stage presence, it came as quite a surprise to me (that as depicted here) he was a pretty down-to-earth nice family guy from Brooklyn. Who knew?

"We're all Frankies; we're all lying in hell."

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew of Alan Vega from Suicide, but didn't know anything about his art before, and all his collaborations after. Very readable, but probably only interesting if you already know something about his music. Life told through short pieces from friends and collaborators, weaved together by the aitheors. One star off because of the photos of Vega with Andrew Eldritch, but no mention of their meeting in the book!

[Leah Weyandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infinite Dreams brings Alan Vega to life through the voices of his family, collaborators, and fans, including the likes of Henry Rollins, James Murphy, Bruce Springsteen, and Iggy. The stories span his music and art, showing a man who never stopped chasing creation. It’s raw, inspiring, and a must for anyone who loves Suicide.