Sonic Youth Co-Founders Splitting Up

Sonic Youth, a band that has been around for 30 years, has announced its co-founders, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, are divorcing after 27 years of marriage. Though it's uncertain what the future holds for the band, their upcoming tour in South America will continue as planned, starting in November with five dates in Brazil and Argentina.

The band's inception came in 1981 in New York City, and they are considered one of indie rocks' pioneer bands.

The couple and their daughter, Coco, have been living in Massachusetts, where 17-year-old Coco Gordon Moore is the singer for local punk band, Big Nils. She has also been a part of the band, She Murders.

In the world of rock 'n roll, where many, if not most, marriages end quickly, 27 years must surely be one of the longest matrimonial records in music, and it is likely a great shock to other band members, as well as the family of Moore and Gordon to see the long standing relationship break.

Sonic Youth was the beginning of the No Wave art and music scene in New York City, a move that was short lived but highly influential. The band itself was one of the most influential and innovative of the era.

They've been considered a mix of punk, noise rock, post-punk and alternative rock throughout the years.

In 2008, the band's story was told by author David Browne, who followed the band since its early years, starting in 1985. Most don't think of Sonic Youth as being one of the biggest influences in rock history, but they have had a large impact, especially for musicians and bands who are considered unique, and possibly "weird," and have been able to sustain that image over such a long period of time.

In 2001, Music critic Michael Azerrad, wrote the book: "Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991," and in it Gordon talks about the first time she met husband Moore.

Gordon said of the meeting, "I guess it was love at first sight." The pair met when Gordon was a member of the band called, "CKM."

It's too bad that they weren't able to sustain that relationship into one that was life long, and it doesn't bode well for the future of Sonic Youth either. Divorce is hard enough without trying to maintain a professional relationship while going through a break up. It's likely to be a sad ending for the long time, unique sounding band.