Punk pioneer Alan Vega, whose band Suicide brought a confrontational edge to rock with its jarring electronics, nihilistic lyricism and physically violent shows, has died. He was 78.

The New York artist, who once said he expected to be killed in concert, died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, his family said.

Born in Brooklyn as Alan Bermowitz, Vega first pursued a career as a sculptor but took to music when he met future Suicide bandmate Martin Rev.

They started with no instruments or songs in any remotely traditional sense.

Rev bought a $10 Japanese-made keyboard, on which he would pound as Vega shouted with unadulterated aggression. The band completed the sound with a drum machine.

Suicide's self-titled first album in 1977 brought mostly scathing reviews but the band became legendary for its live shows, as audiences would throw chairs, bottles or - one time when the duo opened for The Clash - an ax.To promote its first shows in 1971, Suicide handed out fliers for a "punk music mass," likely marking the first time an act identified itself as "punk."

"Up until then the word didn't exist. But it was just an attitude thing. We never dreamed there would be a punk movement," Vega said.

Suicide would go on to be a major influence in itself, especially in Britain where it helped paved the way for both the gloomy electronic backdrops of New Order and Joy Division and the ear-splitting guitar static of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Vega remained active until his death, with Suicide playing in London, New York and Paris in recent years. He is survived by his wife and son, as well as Martin Rev.