Liz Lamere with Ashley Dalle: Infinite Dreams: The Life of Alan Vega

​Musician and Author Liz Lamere discusses her book "Infinite Dreams: The Life of Alan Vega" with NYPL Librarian Ashley Dalle.

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor.

Best known for co-founding the early punk duo Suicide, Alan Vega lived a complex and labyrinthine life, driven by a desire to express himself uncompromisingly through art. From his first sketch in art class at Brooklyn College to the 2021 release of the album Mutator five years after his death, Vega continues to shock and inspire.

This first-ever biography of Vega tells the story of the man’s life and art, beginning with his early attempts to live a “normal” life and his epiphanic encounter with Iggy Pop in 1969. Although becoming a performer on stage had been at the bottom of Vega’s list of lifetime ambitions, Iggy changed his mind: he needed music to truly express his vision. Infinite Dreams goes on to describe Vega’s many experiments across a variety of media, including the partnership with Marty Rev that became Suicide, which challenged audiences to look deep inside themselves and to not settle for distractions.

A raw but engaging exploration of a man whose artwork, music, and philosophy inspired thousands, written by award-winning author Laura Davis-Chanin together with Liz Lamere, Alan Vega’s wife and long-term creative collaborator.

At this event, author Liz Lamere will discuss her new book and more with NYPL Librarian Ashley Dalle.

To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz Lamere is the co-writer of Infinite Dreams – The Life of Alan Vega.   She was Vega’s wife and long-term creative collaborator. After graduating from Columbia Law School, she met Alan
in 1985 when she was a corporate lawyer at a major Wall Street firm and played drums in a punk band, SSNUB.  For over three decades, she co-wrote, co-produced, and recorded numerous songs with
Vega and together they released seven albums. 

Liz managed Alan Vega’s art and music careers starting in the late 80s.  Liz and Alan raised their son Dante in Lower Manhattan, and she coached youth sports in the downtown sports leagues for over ten years.  She was appointed to and served on Community Board One in Lower Manhattan for 16 years (until 2022).  For the past 18 years she has been very active in the boxing community and was a manager of professional boxers licensed by the NYS Athletic Commission for over seven years.  She currently coaches women’s sparring.  

As the owner of Saturn Strip, Ltd., the company she co-founded with Vega, Liz now spearheads the ongoing release of recordings from the “Vega Vault,” a vast library of unreleased albums, songs, and sound recordings. Since Vega’s passing, together with Jared Artaud, she has co-produced two albums Mutator (2021) and Insurrection (2024).  Lamere has also recorded and released two solo albums Keep it Alive (2022) and One Never Knows (2024) on In the Red Records. She has toured and performed internationally with Alan Vega and as a solo artist.

Liz also oversees the Vega archives of fine art (light sculptures, drawings and paintings), and extensive writings of lyrics and poetry that Vega created until his passing in 2016. 
 

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

In-Person

• Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.


• You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.


• This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

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Please submit all press inquiries to Lizzie Tribone at least 48 hours before the event: email lizzietribone@nypl.org.
 

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All programs are subject to change or cancellation. 

The 7 Stories Up Series at SNFL is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).