perfidy

Robert Quine, one of the finest guitarists of the New York City punk movement, has died of a heroin overdose at age 61.

Owing more to Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground than to the Rawk chaos of the Ramones, Stooges, or Dolls, Quine joined with peers Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd of Television, David Byrne of the Talking Heads, and Richard Hell (his counterpart in the the Voidoids) in bringing nervous, angular, thoughtful musicianship to the punk scene. With his balding pate, beard, sport jacket, and ever-present dark shades, he was certainly nobody's idea of a rock star. Indeed, the cerebral, almost anti-rock style Quine and his corevolutionaries pursued shows itself to be the true legacy of the New York punk scene, once you step away from the deafening buzzsaw of the Ramones. All the major bands of the era-- Blondie and the Talking Heads as well as lesser lights like Mink Deville, all owe huge credit to Quine's sound.

Although Richard Hell and the Voidoids are unfairly forgotten, remembered mainly by punk enthusiasts and then mainly for their great single "Love Comes in Spurts," Quine's career after the Voidoids ably demonstrates the breadth of his talent and influence. He made a guest appearance on Tom Waits' 1985 masterpiece "Rain Dogs," played with spiritual father Lou Reed, is largely responsible for Matthew Sweet's career, notably "Girlfriend" and "Altered Beast," and had long associations with iconoclasts Lloyd Cole and John Zorn. His spidery leads and angular attack were unmistakeable, and his tasteful contributions improved every record he appeared on.

Yet again, heroin does its rock and roll thing and kills one of the good ones.

See you in hell, Quine.

[wik] I should note that Quine is an Ohio native, of Akron specifically. Northeast Ohio is criminally under-appreciated as the birthplace of some great music. Chrissie Hynde, Lux Interior of the Cramps (KNIF!), DEVO, Joe Walsh, me, Rocket from the Crypt, Pere Ubu, and the Dead Boys all hail from that corner of the country. Good stuff!

[wik] Let's not forget Phil Dennison or Miz. B, wife of Buckethead either. I tell ya, Northeast Ohio has a serious talent pool.