Sonic Youth was an American
rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members
Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals),
Kim Gordon (bass guitar, vocals, guitar) 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, and rounded out the core line-up. In their early career Sonic Youth were associated with the
no wave art and music scene in New York City. Part of the first wave of American
noise rock groups, the band carried out their interpretation of the
hardcore punk ethos throughout the evolving American
underground that focused more on the
DIY ethic of the genre rather than its specific sound.