Sonny Vincent

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Sonny Vincent is one of the small group of New York City musicians who were instrumental in the creation of what became known as Punk Rock in the mid-1970s.

Vincent formed the Testors in 1976 with Gene Sinigalliano (guitar) and Gregory R (drums). They played the legendary New York clubs such as Max's Kansas City and CBGB with groups such as Mink DeVille, Teenage Jesus & The Jerks, The Cramps and Suicide, and toured nationwide with the Dead Boys. Testors released a 7" single, "Together" b/w "Time Is Mine" on Bleeker Bob's "Drive-In" label.

In 1981, Testors disbanded and Vincent moved to Minneapolis where he formed Sonny Vincent and The Extreme with Michael Phillips (guitar), Jeff Rogers (drums) and the late Mort Bauman (bass guitar). The group toured the U.S. and released another single, "SVE" with the songs, "Wingdale," "Top Dog" and "Phantom." The group also made the bizarre film "Mannequin World" on the streets of Minneapolis. It was shown on television in the Twin Cities only once, after which the host of the program remarked, "I sure hope the boss wasn't watching." In 1983, Sonny was involved in a performance art project that saw him banned from the grounds of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

The Extreme disbanded and Vincent went on to form groups with revolving lineups, such as Model Prisoners, Shotgun Rationale, The Dons, Sonny Vincent and the Guevaras, Sonny Vincent and his Rat Race Choir, before recording and releasing several albums under his own name in recent years.

Vincent has performed and recorded with an impressive group of musicians throughout his career, including Wayne Kramer, Maureen Tucker, Scott Asheton, Captain Sensible, Cheetah Chrome, Bob Stinson, Walter Lure, Brian James, Thurston Moore, Richard Lloyd, Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Jad Fair, John Sluggett, Greg Ginn, Lance of Athens GA and Kim Shattuk.

Widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of the New York City punk rock movement, Vincent continues to perform and record with various musicians that he has met and worked with over the years.

[edit] Discography

1980 Testors - Time is Mine/Together - 7" Drive In Music (USA)
1982 Sonny Vincent and The Extreme - SVE - 7" Flexi-EP
1985 Model Prisoners - Lesson In Life - 7" - Charm Records (USA)
1989 Shotgun Rationale - Who Do They Think They Are - LP Nomad Communications (UK)/EFA Producer: Maureen Tucker (Velvet Underground)
1991 Shotgun Rationale - s/t - 7" EP - Dog Meat Records (Australia)
1992 Shotgun Rationale - Beyond Rebellion - CD - D.D.R. Records (Germany)/RTD
1992 Sonny Vincent - Recordings 1979-91 - LP - Vince Lombardy Highschool Records (Germany)/EFA
1993 Shotgun Rationale - Roller Coaster - LP/CD - Vince Lombardy Highschool Records (Germany)/EFA;
1994 The Dons - Gunsmoke - 7" - Vince Lombardy Highschool Records (Germany)
1994 The Dons - Naked - CD - Voices Music (Germany)
1995 Shotgun Rationale - Cocked - CD - Subway Records (Germany)
1995 Sonny Vincent - Original Punk Rock Recordings, New York, 1976-77 - 10" - Incognito Records (Germany)
1997 Sonny Vincent - Good Dogs Die Young - CD - Noiseworks Records (Germany)
1997 Sonny Vincent and his Rat Race Choir - Pure Filth - CD - Overdose Records (Switzerland)
1997 Sonny Vincent - 7" - Flight 13 Records (Germany)
1997 Sonny Vincent - Electric K.O. Live In France - 7" EP - Nest Of Vipers Records (France)
1998 Sonny Vincent - Lucky Seven Inch Record - 7" EP - Incognito Records (Germany)
1998 Sonny Vincent and his Rat Race Choir - Pure Filth - 10" - Safety Pin Records (Spain)
1998 Sonny Vincent - Hard In Detroit - LP - Nest Of Vipers (France)
1998 Sonny Vincent - Parallax In Wonderland - CD - empty Records (Germany)
1998 Sonny Vincent/Else Admire - Breadless Art - Split 7" - Incognito Records (Germany)
1998 Sonny Vincent - Songs To Kick Your Ass By - 7" EP - Nest Of Vipers (France)
2000 Sonny Vincent - Parallax In Wonderland - CD - Devil Doll Records (US release)
2000 Sonny Vincent - Parallax In Wonderland - LP (European vinyl only release) - Munster Records (Spain)
2000 Sonny Vincent - Original Punk Rock Recordings, New York, 1976-77 Part Two, 10" - Incognito Records (Germany)
2000 Sonny Vincent – Resistor – 7" - NDN Records (Texas, USA)
2000 Testors featuring Sonny Vincent – New York City Punk Rock 1979 – LP (vinyl) - Rave Up Records (Italy)
2000 Sonny Vincent and The Safety Pins – Power Ride – EP - Munster Records (Spain)
2001 Sonny Vincent – Hell's Kitchen – CD/LP - Munster Records (Spain)
2003 Sonny Vincent – The Good, the Bad, the Ugly – CD/LP - Empty Records (germany), Munster Records (Spain), Acetate Records (USA)
2003 Testors featuring Sonny Vincent – Complete Recordings 1976-79 – 2CD/doubleLP - Swami Records (USA)
2003 Sonny Vincent/Jimmy Page – A Good Day for Rock/Wailing Sounds – saw-blade shaped 7"- Empty Records (Germany)
2003 Sonny Vincent – My Guitar b/w Funny Now (she blew it) – 7" - Flapping Jet Records (USA)
2006 Sonny Vincent – P.I.N.S. – 2CD - NDN Records (USA)

With Maureen Tucker of the Velvet Underground:

1991 I Spent A Week There The Other Night - LP - New Rose Records (France)
1991 Fired Up - 10inch single - New Rose (France)
1992 Oh No They're Recording This Show - Live Album
1994 Dogs Under Stress - LP/CD - Sky/Ichiban Records (USA)

Compilations featuring Sonny Vincent songs:

Found In The Subway and People's Republic Of Rock'n'Roll - Subway Records, Germany
Unexpected Flying Objects - Flying Revolverblatt Anniversary 10", Germany
1998 Moderne Menschen Kaufen Modern – CD - Noiseworks Records / The Orchard
2000 A Fistful of Rock'n'Roll Vol. 6 - CD - Tee Pee Records
2000 Munster Records Goes HiFi - CD - Munster Records (Spain)
2001 Again... This one's for Johnny - CD - Munster Records (Spain)
2003 Swami Sound System Vol. 1: 2003 Sales Conference – CD - Swami Records (USA)
2007 Greetings From Los Angeles - Eight Years of Acetate Records - CD - Acetate Records (USA)