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Thurston's Statement Following The WTC Attack
September 13, 2001

We understand that with the events of September 11, 2001, Sonic Youth is probably not the first thing on your mind. However, just for the record, Thurston gave this statement to Les Inrockuptibles, a French newspaper:

"I thank all those friends, contacts or just acquaintances from all 4 corners of the world who sought to find out the news about me.

It's a sad day. Coco and myself are in Northampton, MA, where we arrived by road on Sunday night.

As for Kim, she stayed in our apartment on Huston street, in the south of Manhattan. We talked on the telephone just after the first newsflash about the attacks, then later in the afternoon, but the lines are currently jammed. She was to getting ready to take the plane to go play in Paris on Friday. She hopes at the moment to leave NY tomorrow by train,
towards Springfield, MA or to Connecticut where we will go and meet her.

Lee and his family have been evacuated from their building, which is situated 6 blocks away from the world trade centre, and they are taking refuge in our appartment.
I think that they will try too to leave Manhattan tomorrow, to go to Long Island.

At the moment of these events, Jim was sleeping in our studio, which is 3 blocks from the twin towers of the WTC.
He had to flee through a cloud of opaque dust so he too could take refuge in our apartment. Right now, i imagine that our studio must be pretty devastated.

For the time being, no one close to me seems to have been injured. I have received messages from some friends who have having personnally witnessed the crash of the planes into the towers and the chaos which followed. It is really beyond all comprehension.

I have cancelled all the concerts in which i was to participitate this week.

Coco is a little on edge, and i am staying with her.

Peace."

- Thurston Moore
(translated by Louise Cooke)

Greg 18 @ SLSY Forum

Neven

Sonic Youth, initially comprising of guitarist / vocalists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, guitarist / bassist / vocalist Kim Gordon and drummer Richard Edson, were formed in New York City in 1981. A product of the No-Wave music scene of the late 1970s, the group had their roots in abrasive, experimental music, with Moore and Ranaldo having previously worked with the experimental composer Glenn Branca. The band were joined in 1985 by drummer Steve Shelley, and have now recorded 14 albums together, as well as many side and solo projects. Their work has been consistently challenging and innovative, and they are widely regarded as one of the most intriguing and influential bands of their time.