The Sonics

The Sonics are an American garage rock group from Bremerton, Washington, active from 1960 to 1968. They are associated with garage rock and proto-punk, and are widely identified with the early Northwest rock scene.

Formation and original line-up

The band forms in Tacoma in 1960 and begins with Gerry Roslie on vocals, piano and organ; Larry Parypa on guitar; Andy Parypa on bass; Rob Lind on saxophone; and Bob Bennett on drums. The verified membership also includes Freddie Dennis and Dusty Watson.

Sound and influence

The Sonics build a loud, aggressive style that draws on local Northwest teen-band rock, early British guitar music, especially the Kinks, and rhythm and blues shouting. Their records become known for their raw sound, and they are often treated as an important influence on later psychedelic and punk music. Gerry Roslie’s vocal style is a key part of that reputation.

Recordings and local success

The band records for Etiquette, the label associated with the Wailers, after the success of other local acts such as the Kingsmen and the Wailers. They achieve repeated local chart success, but do not break through nationally. One later album attempt moves them toward a more commercial style, and the group breaks up between 1966 and 1968.

Later reunions and performances

The Sonics reunite in 2007 for the Cavestomp garage rock festival in Brooklyn, with Roslie, Larry Parypa and Rob Lind joined by Ricky Lynn Johnson on drums and Don Wilhelm on bass and vocals. In 2008 they record a live session for Mark Lamarr’s BBC Radio 2 programme God’s Jukebox, play their first London shows, and perform at Primavera in Barcelona, as well as in Bilbao, Belgium, Norway and the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria. Later that year they play in Seattle at the Paramount Theatre, their first home-region show since a Seattle reunion in 1972, with Steven Van Zandt introducing and joining them on stage for part of the set. Kent Morrill also appears to sing “Dirty Robber”, and Bob Bennett sits in on drums for a few songs.