Richard Hell and the Voidoids

Richard Hell and the Voidoids were a Punk band from New York City that formed in the late 1970s. Their lead singer, Richard Hell, was also a member of the bands The Neon Boys, The Heartbreakers and Television. Their signature song, "Blank Generation", quickly became an anthem of the early punk rock movement.

Fast Facts

1. Origin: New York City, New York
2. Years Active: 1977-1982
3. Members: Richard Hell, Robert Quine, Ivan Julian and Marc Bell
4. Robert Quine passed away May 31, 2004 from a heroin overdose
5. Marc Bell is also known as Marky Ramone, the drummer of the group The Ramones
6. Record Label: Sire Records

That Punk Look

Hell is often credited with being the first person to embrace the Punk Rock style of clothing and appearance. The spiked hair and the torn or cut shirts that were often held together by safety pins can all be linked to the fashion of Richard Hell. Though often disputed by members of The Sex Pistols, the Pistols' manager Malcolm McLaren has often stated that Richard Hell was the inspiration for The Sex Pistols look and for the safety pin adorned clothing line that he sold in his London sex shop.

Band Members

• Richard Hell - Vocals/Bass
• Robert Quine - Guitar
• Ivan Julian - Guitar
• Marc Bell - Drums
• Naux - Guitar
• Fred Maher - Drums

Discography

• 1977: Blank Generation
• 1982: Destiny Street
• 1989: Funhunt

Quotes

• "Richard Hell identifies with no movement, with few people in fact. If you listen between the sonic blasts, his music is about a sense of aloneness beyond the old alienated antihero syndrome, but before that Richard Hell is a rocker." — Lester Bangs

• "Rarely has a rocker been so influential with such a small body of recorded work" — Robert Palmer of Rolling Stone

Categories