Had he lived, legendary punk singer Stiv Bators would have celebrated his 75th birthday today (October 22). Bators, who was born Steven Bator in Youngstown, Ohio, is best-known as the founding lead singer the influential Cleveland punk band the Dead Boys.
The Dead Boys formed in Cleveland in 1975 under the moniker Frankenstein. In 1976, a re-formed version of the group relocated to New York City and adopted the name the Dead Boys. The band soon became a fixture at CBGB, drawing attention thanks in part to Bator’s over-the-top stage antics.
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After The Dead Boys broke up in 1980, Bator launched a brief solo career. He then formed the short-lived band The Wanderers with three members of the U.K. punk group Sham 69—bassist Dave Tregunna, guitarist Dave Parsons, and drummer Ricky Goldstein.
In 1981, Bator and Tregunna formed the goth-punk supergroup The Lords of the New Church with founding Damned guitarist Brian James and Barracudas drummer Nicky Turner.
The Lords of the New Church brought Bator his greatest commercial success, including a number of tunes that impacted the U.K. indie chart. The group disbanded after releasing three studio albums, and Bator then began working again on solo material.
Sadly, Bator died in June 1990 at age 40 in Paris. He’d been riding a motorbike in the city and was hit by a car. Not realizing he was seriously injured, Stiv returned home, but passed away in his sleep from a traumatic brain injury.
In honor of Bator’s birthday, here are four great songs from his various music projects:
“Sonic Reducer” – The Dead Boys (1977)
“Sonic Reducer” is the Dead Boys’ signature tune, and one of the great songs from the early U.S. punk scene. The Dead Boys’ version of “Sonic Reducer” appeared on the band’s 1977 debut album, Young, Loud and Snotty.
The song originally was recorded by the Cleveland-based proto-punk band Rocket from the Tombs and was co-written by frontman David Thomas and guitarist Gene O’Connor, a.k.a. Cheetah Chrome. After Rocket from the Tombs broke up, Chrome and the group’s drummer, Johnny Blitz, became founding Dead Boys members. Thomas went on the found the experimental band Pere Ubu.
“Sonic Reducer” is a blazing slab of melodic punk, showcasing Bator’s barked vocals and Chrome’s staccato riffs.
The song has been covered by various other band’s over the years, including Overkill, The Dictators, and Pearl Jam. The Dead Boys’ version, though, remains the definitive one.
“Evil Boy” – Stiv Bators (1980)
In December 1980, Bators released his debut solo album, Disconnected. The record featured a more melodic sound than that of the Dead Boys, combining garage-rock and power-pop influences.
Bators was backed on the album by the musicians who had joined Stiv in the last touring lineup of the Dead Boys before the band broke up—Bassist Frank Secich, guitarist George Cabaniss, and drummer David Quinton.
“Evil Boy” was the first song from Disconnected. It was co-written by Secich and Dead Boys guitarist Jimmy Zero during the aforementioned tour.
“Ready to Snap” – The Wanderers (1981)
“Ready to Snap” was The Wanderers’ debut single, released in 1981. The song also was included on the band’s sole studio album, Only Lovers Left Alive, which arrived that same year.
“Ready to Snap” is an inspired melodic punk anthem that was co-written by Bators and Parsons. The tune is highlighted by Stiv’s emotive vocals and Dave’s chiming guitar riffs.
“Open Your Eyes” – The Lords of the New Church (1982)
The Lords of the New Church released their self-titled debut album in July 1982. “Open Your Eyes,” the second single issued from the album, was co-written by Bators and James.
The tune offered an accessible, goth-influenced New Wave sound. It showcased Bators’ crooned verses, as well as synth organ lines. The tune also featured a funky, horn-driven break.
Lyrically, “Open Your Eyes” delvers an ominous critique of society at the time, decrying political corruption and government’s insidious manipulation of people.
A music video for “Open Your Eyes” garnered some MTV airplay, while the song reached No. 7 on the U.K.’s indie chart and No. 27 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock tally.