100 % - Sonic Youth

[dannypmc2001]

Kind contrived

[dannypmc2001]

This is great...SY never sold out

[rhinol013]

how many guitars do they need?

[swirlingtastes]

i love thurston's royal truxx shirt

[Chubachus]

Dave looks so much younger

[Zemidjan1]

This is great

[that1guy866]

Thurston is such a spazz lol

[fingerling1231]

I love it when he asks Kim if she's alright and she says yes while smiling as if they weren't just crawling around on the floor hitting their instruments.

[DrunkenHippiesMusic]

Hey dear friends of the grunge rock...

if you like the dirty old seattle sound so you can hear some Songs of "drunken hippies" we are a german grunge band from berlin.

So if you want you can look at "Drunken Hippies - sad things"

Peace.Love.Grunge

[JeffroTV]

Sonic Youth > Life

[cicobuffy]

Hilarious. Subversive. Egg mayonnaise

[luckynumbah314]

are you all right paul?

[punchur]

I think that their first National TV appearance was in 1989 on a NBC show called Night Music.

[LeviTheActorDirector]

damn, kim looks hot in this!

[purrization]

LOL 

[6BURG9]

Ooh that was not good. Not for me

[italianshirtwaist]

bahahahahahahahaahaha! they are hilarious, "lets bring a baseball bat on David Letterman"

[thatseverin]

Cute!

[MrGerone25]

@Garkar2006 yeah because smells like teen spirit starts playing at the end

[Garkar2006]

I'm pretty sure this was 92

[alexvaronus2]

hell yess



[whpriol1]

Best Sonic Youth song.

[evokateur]

ARE YOU ALRIGHT PAUL?

[deadhead155]

3 guitarists 2 bassists ..... pretty beast

[SuperFirebird96]

i have seen Sonic Youth doing all kinds of things except smash a guitar! O.O

[RattaxTatTat]

@SuperFirebird96 That's because they can't afford any new ones. ;)

[Johnnystrychnine]

They are NEW YORK!

[ahhlyssaxox]

this is possibly the coolest thing that i have ever seen

[BillGotBanned]

This from the era where Paul Schafer and crew still insisted on playing with almost every musical act. Ugh.

[s1d2s3100]

ola nunca vi este clp estamos vendo hoje e ja estamos gostando pois os caras sao bons de mais tocam muito e dez vamos ver sempre um abraco eu sergio e luisa 05 06 20 10 este e o nosso pequeno vidio

[SD78]

Jimmy Page had his bow, Sonic Youth use a baseball bat.

[riccisantiago]

32 people will here will make thurstone moore angry and will send high freq. feedback til their ears bleed..

[TheKURANDERA]

dirty for the kids!

[diametricYouth]

@mattbpatterson: The appeal is how the band mixes bohemian pretentiousness with oddly tuned guitars. This album is a lot like Nirvana's "In Utero"....forced and somewhat superficial. You should check out Goo.

[Metllerr]

@diametricYouth Goo has that same feeling, imo; pre-Geffen is when it meant something (not to say they didn't do some great albums with DGC, it just felt less contrived before)

[mattbpatterson]

i don't get the appeal. i don't know how they got signed. i bought the album back in the day because it was "cool". i listened to it one time. i thought it sucked.

[mattbpatterson]

i never got them??? noise

[anyghost]

@mattbpatterson sonic youth usually has 4 or 5 gems per album--songs like unmade bed and dirty boots and schizophrenia...but if you don't like 100% you probably won't like those other songs.

[extmalcolm]

@mattbpatterson How do you not get them? It's art.

[afuckhead1]

DIRTY FOR THE KIDS! :D

[spartandrummer16]

this is so badass

[riccisantiago]

for me, this is the coolest band, when they finished doing their thing at the end of the song, thurstone still greeted Letterman properly. now thats something...

[22ness0hayden]

sweet song but the end was a bit tragic

[bbree333]

David lettermen- These crazy kids and their music, I just don't understand!

[SpacemanSchmuck]

anyone know when this was originally aired?

[PeachyPhipson]

Love the perfect synchronisation when Lee and Thurston drop their bat/stick.

[olsin]

What is it about New Yorkers carrying around baseball bats?

[TristanDada22]

QQUE BUENA QUE ESTA

[unseenwires]

Goin' to see 'em December 30th at the Manc Academy - can't fucking wait!

[DaArcaneNinja]

I can't help but listen to this song at least once a day, this version is just too epic.

[Nioerd]

sorry. I realy try to understand this music. What is the good thing on this song???

[oneminutewithprod]

@Nioerd try again...

[Garkar2006]

@Nioerd i tried at first... failed.. then came back to it a few years later and it sounded just right. i guess i developed the taste.

[loterual]

I think that if I was a teenager that saw that back then, I would immediately go out and get dirty.

[PAULFC93]

The first 15 seconds made me sick......then Sonic Youth cured my ilness.

[TheUnwisePhilosopher]

I've got a big question...

Was TV quality that crappy in 1992, or is it just the recording?

[ByrdWhiteMovie]

@TheUnwisePhilosopher

Mostly the recording, I'm sure. Videotape ages, gets hissy and bleached- looking. Then there's the analog-digital transfer process. That takes its own toll. But yeah, it was a little crappy. Not anything like that bad, though. I'm 30, so I was 12 then. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it was that crappy, and because I was dumb kid that didn't know better I just thought it was awesome. Who knows.

[silverglobe]

@TheUnwisePhilosopher lol.. yeah wayyyy back in 1992.. in the stone age... it was crappy... no... it's the recording......

[silverglobe]

@TheUnwisePhilosopher lol.. yeah wayyyy back in 1992.. in the stone age... it was crappy... no... it's the recording......

[MansourtheAmazing]

and that is how you play guitar with a baseball bat

[fatback2]

@MansourtheAmazing

play ball!  :^)

[diametricYouth]

Oh wait never mind - this was post-1991. So that dude at the very end probably was playing the opening riff to Smells Like Teen Spirit. My bad.

[haloblender]

2:16 almost comical!

[Buzz16110]

@haloblender 2:16 EPIC !

[rocknrollfirebird23]

I will never tire of seeing bands scaring old people on TV.

[pedroeljuego]

Awesome!

[AnEpicNotusedName]

@pedroeljuego gyvytoybit

[jimdevo]

I saw this when it originally aired on Late Nite. I had never heard of Sonic Youth but this blew me away. I thought I would never ever see this clip again. Thanks so much for posting.

[kin1889]

this video reminds me chevettz band from Brazil

soon the first album is out! more sonic youth very good!

[avzeolla]

wats that song called when they simulate a car crash.?

[KillYrIdols1]

@avzeolla In the kingdom 19

[visionelove]

first time hearing them. the best part was when they all seemed completely normal. :)

[diametricYouth]

Waitasec....at the very end of the song, it sounds like some is starting to play "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Was this a post-September 1991 performance?

[diametricYouth]

Haha Moore just jumps around at the end like some big kid

[blotchy67]

Sonic Youth shits on your favorite band.

[iFlopify]

@blotchy67 They shit on themselves?

[panchomanygonzoman]

@blotchy67 so Sonic Youth Shits over Sonic Youth?

[Cyrillion]

@panchomanygonzoman

I think he forgot a comma and actually meant to say that "Sonic youth shits on" is your favorite band.

[panchomanygonzoman]

@Cyrillion ...but i was tryingto say is that Sonic Youth is my favorite band,so...

[mrshiggs1]

@blotchy67 EXACTLY. SY still kicks ass.

[jimmypothead420]

@blotchy67 my favorite band is Sonic Youth

so

Sonic Youth shits on Sonic Youth?

lol

[joebstarsurfer]

yes

[michealdark]

Lol, I bet the general public had no idea how to deal with a band using ball bats as guitar effects devices

[GRUNGERINNIRVANA]

I think in my opinion melvins is much better than sonic youth

[bowlliam]

little mistake by letterman there, SY's first network tv debut was in 1989 on NBC's Night Music. They played "silver rocket" with their manager don fleming on keyboards, and it kicked ass, as SY always does.

[SuperGendra]

@bowlliam "network television debut WITH US"

[lostinaseaofmadness]

Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick, THE BEST BAND EVER TO PLAY ON LETTERMAN

[dj7eight]

who the fuck are all the extra musicians?

[popkorn256]

2 words: fucking genius!!

[starkrial]

beautiful, controlled noise! sonic youth combines art and music with conviction...

joe from immaculate cadaver

[L7blackwhite]

fuck, that was cool. Its awesome how they make a melody out of noise.

[ranmore30]

i'm a die hard sonic youth fan and tbh i hate this clip. Sonic youth sadly dont truly show what they can do and end up sounding like generic grunge, its kinda sad cos there such an amazing band

[manaya783]

Holy crap that was awesome! Thanks for posting this !

[silverglobe]

@manaya783 no problem!!

[iLLmaticV3]

Nice broha!

[SotR59]

Letterman is such a condescending prick. You can tell he hates the bands he has on his show, even to this day.

[Kool4Sure]

@SotR59 I know right!

[Cryptorchild92]

@SotR59 Very true.....Even while announcing their names he just does it with such a sheesh-who-the-fuck-are-these-­guys attitude....He's a funny fellow, but boy does he hate good music....

[yvolha]

The triple distortion is the thing.

[thewhimsicalwish]

CODY CRITCHELOE.

[freshacconci]

One thing I always hated about the old Letterman show was that the bands had to "jam" with the Late Night Band. I mean, really, what are they adding here? Sometimes the guest band drummer didn't even get to play! Old Letterman was great but that was the one thing that pissed me off when I tuned in to see a favourite band.

[Harmonix1994]

at the very very end just before the vid cuts i think teen spirit comes on

[SODOMITATEU]

never seen this clip.

CLASSSSSSSIIIIIIICCCCCCCCC!

[silverglobe]

@SODOMITATEU glad you liked it!! when I first put this clip on a few years ago, I never thought i'd get so many hits.. .. well, some hits.. nothing too crazy.. :) anyways..

[nujeronimo]

i THINK THIS WAS IN 1994 :)

[silverglobe]

@nujeronimo - The album was released in July of 1992 - It was not 1994 :)

[edrixie]

@silverglobe

YOU ARE CORRECT

[Kohntarkosz]

No way was this 94. Letterman was on CBS by 94, with a much bigger set. This is definitely from near the end of the NBC days, so you're talking more like 91 or 92.

[PedritoCRE250]

¿de verdad hacen falta 3 guitarras y un bajo para que no se entienda nada?

[julii51]

@PedritoCRE250 si

[dextoor]

He's wearing a Royal Trux T-shirt...

[DejectedPanda]

I don't think any of them really bothered to learn their instruments very well.

[lilledillerdaller]

@DejectedPanda .............wow, well guess you dont know anything about SY

[charlieenders]

@DejectedPanda

This is probably not the best representation of sonic youth's instrumentation. Check out teenage riot, beautiful song, really complex.

[sixerz123]

legendary

[Yaminoken]

Awesome James Spader can sing too !!!

[ElectricPhase]

Back in the day when Paul and the gang played along with every band. Insanity.

[punkrockerRHCP80]

hahah dirty for the kids wtf

[cira92]

I love the little jump Kim does @ 1:50

[Falloople]

oh thurston, you card :3

[maydecember513]

holy shit

my mind is blown

[antmichb]

whos  the dweeb on 3rd guitar>

[bigbigsound]

that was ace ,funny as fuck too.

[chopluey]

I want a bass player like that in my band.

She's fucking top!!!

Ladies this is how its done!

[hooligan6969]

This is pretty offensive to the ears, but badass nonetheless

[VinceKrat]

Is it a smells like teen spirit riff at the end? :-D baseball bat is awesome :-D

[jakkbauer85]

baseball bat + guitar = awesome

[DrWeiland]

hehe, "Dirty for the kids" haha, it's just plain DIRTY! By the way I stole my brothers girlfriend!!!!

[abunai311]

so? cool man, i guess

[mattisprettycool]

this is a fucking badass performance.

[Popfan93]

BEST ALWAYS!!

[mynameismark25]

anyone else find that really amusing? thursten has a great sense of humour.

[osauro68]

100% grandes

[Patrusha937]

haha, fucking crazy love it

[PDXorcist]

So crazy that the network had the balls to let such a great, non mainstream band play. It's terrifying that TVs regressed so much since then. Hell, I think the most cutting edge act I've seen on TV since was a ginsu knife ad.

[sonicjett]

I agree big time - nothing like it since!!

[AbsolutTazz]

4 guitars, 2 drummers.... wtf?

anyway this song is awesome

[Jedinerf]

they're letting Letterman's band play along!

[sonicjett]

NO silly - keyboards not 2 drummers

[wioholic]

Is that Jimmy Kimmel?? haha

[Timmybear]

surely SOME time between 1981 and 1992 they were on television.

[Iivewire]

especially with the release of Day Dream Nation.

and Teen Age RIot beeing their biggest hit, if anything their debut would be in like 1988 or something...

trust me, ive thought the same thing haha.

[MrMoe777]

so fucking COOL

[xgrrrl111]

Fucking Amazing

[Bottlenek6]

your mad at your dad not them!

[GiekPunk]

Dio! Sono fantastici!! Thurston Moore è un figo!

[harddrugssociety]

LOVE SONIC

[thedude00000]

this is awesome what year was this?

[adamonthetube]

1992 I think

[ccraines]

just saw them at the wiltern....just uber fantastic. one of the best things I have ever heard

[bourgoisereader]

Purely amazing as always

[Cojaru]

I don't think there's any denying how important a band SY was. I'm a fan, but even I'll admit they've got some weird stuff... and the noise-rock solo's never really did it for me. The thing that's so great about SY is the incredible influence they've had on alternative rock. Every alt rock band you listen to today is influenced by them in the same way Bands like Led Zeppelin influenced Hard Rock. And they have several great songs, like the Diamond Sea and Silver Rocket. Goo was a great album.

[wherestheunity]

yeah, i just prefer my bloody valentine or nirvana for the sludgy experimental rock of the late eighties early nineties, sorry fellows

[woolsworth32]

ahhh another great performance. Bravo derchi

[steveo13211]

i would kill innocent children to see SY live

[jda4874]

who wouldn't?

[cookieivan123]

@steveo13211 same here dude

[TheSicDominator]

What a legend band.

thurston moore is such an ageless man lol.

[MattDylan420]

sonic youth is bad to the bone

[ZurPol66]

Kim Bass Solo rocks!

[wherestheunity]

if i saw this on tv now id be like these guys suck. i can see how they're kind of important but not really.

[silverglobe]

You have no clue.... you should get one!

[jaspertine9]

Realy? My introduction to the band was when they played "Sunday" on Letterman, and my immediate reaction was. "Where have these guys been all my life!?"

[wherestheunity]

i just dont like them

[DejectedPanda]

@wherestheunity That ___ shreds guy was going to do a Sonic Youth video, but his version ended up sounding better then the original.

[evanseeworld]

Es muy divertido eso...

[frusciantewednesday]

is Thurston playing a Jaguar or a Jazzmaster?

[artofs0rr0w]

@frusciantewednesday Jazzmaster.

[AppleHankypants]

Yeah, they used Jazzmasters a lot.

Jaguars are like Jazzmasters that stay in tune.

Sonic Youth is too awesome to be in tune.

[foodsexandewes]

ESSA

[123PullOut321]

Lol Thurston is so cute hopping around at the end :D

[suppertongas34]

yeahhhh.. good times!!!!!

[shrinkhed]

KIM!!!

[HamSandwich09]

Haha, look at em, having the time of their lives. Bands refuse to have fun nowadays.

[jolsonator]

Sorry to see you think that.There are plenty of bands better than SY "NOWADAYS" that know how to rock and have fun on stage.

Examples: Them Crooked Vultures, Raconteurs

[TheSicDominator]

@ jolsonator. The raconteurs are a travesty against music, genuinely.

Sonic Youth are one of the best bands out there and have been for the past 3 and a half decades.

I agree with Them Crooked Vultures though. They are fucking amazing.

[nefryl]

@HamSandwich09 They can't play such good music and the thought that they will be always inferior to bands like this makes them unable to have fun while playing :P Nah, just joking, but have to say that you're right.