The Sonics are an American garage rock band from Tacoma, Washington, that formed in 1960. Their aggressive, hard-edged sound has been a major influence on punk and garage music worldwide, and they have been named inspirations to the White Stripes, LCD Soundsystem, Nirvana, The Hives, and other musical artists.
The Sonics performing at the Double Door in Chicago on February 27, 2014. Left to right: Freddie Dennis, Rob Lind, Larry Parypa, Dusty Watson, Jerry Roslie
Andy Parypa, 2011
Rob Lind, 2008
Garage rock is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The style is characterized by basic chord structures played on electric guitars and other instruments, sometimes distorted through a fuzzbox, as well as often unsophisticated and occasionally aggressive lyrics and delivery. Its name derives from the perception that groups were often made up of young amateurs who rehearsed in the family garage, although many were professional.
The D-Men (later the Fifth Estate) in 1964
Link Wray, pictured in 1993, who helped pioneer the use of guitar power chords and distortion as early as 1958 with the instrumental, "Rumble", has been cited as an early influence on garage rock.
The Pleasure Seekers in 1966 (Suzi Quatro far right)
Paul Revere & the Raiders in 1967