The Suicide Commandos were an American punk rock trio from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They formed in 1975 and released two 7" EPs on an indie label in 1976 and 1977 before signing with Blank Records (a subsidiary label of Mercury Records) in 1977.[1] Their first album, Make A Record was recorded and released in 1977,[2] and then re-released on CD in 1996. A live album, The Suicide Commandos Commit Suicide Dance Concert was released in 1979, which was their last performance together before the band broke up. Only 1,000 copies were pressed. In 2000 it was re-released on CD by Garage D'Or Records. The original vinyl release contained 19 tracks while the CD re-release increased this figure, bringing the total number of tracks to 32. Despite their short 4-year stint together, the Suicide Commandos were considered the pioneers for jump-starting a punk rock music scene in the Twin Cities, which eventually produced bands like the Suburbs, Hüsker Dü, The Replacements and Soul Asylum.[3]
Their 1977 song "Burn It Down" inspired a short film directed by rock video pioneer Chuck Statler, which featured the burning of a house the band had used for rehearsing for several years.[4]
The band was a headline act at the Minnesota State Fair in 2007; their music was used for a Target commercial in 2004.
Ahl and Osgood were street corner musicians in St. Paul for the 2008 Republican convention.
On January 17, 2009 the Suicide Commandos played a benefit at Nick & Eddie in Minneapolis for Laura Kennedy, bassist and founding member of the NYC no-wave band the Bush Tetras, who had recently received a liver transplant. David Thomas of Pere Ubu was guest vocalist.
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