THROBBING GRISTLE

'Throbbing Gristle' (formed on September 3, 1975, in London) are a British Avant-Garde group that evolved from the performance art group COUM Transmissions. They are responsible for establishing industrial music. The founding members of Throbbing Gristle were Chris Carter, Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti and Peter Christopherson (sometimes known as "Sleazy").

Contents

Beginning

End

Live performance

Reunion: Part Two

Influences

Discography

See also

Footnotes

Further reading

External links

Beginning

Their confrontational live performances and use of often disturbing imagery, including pornography and photographs of Nazi concentration camps, gave the group a notorious reputation. However the group always maintained that their mission was to challenge and explore the darker and obsessive sides of the human condition rather than to make attractive music. Throbbing Gristle pioneered the use of pre-recorded samples, and made extensive use of special effects to produce a distinctive, highly distorted background, usually accompanied by lyrics or spoken-word performances by Genesis P-Orridge.
In 1977 they released their debut recording, ''The Second Annual Report''. Although pressed in a limited initial run of 786 copies on the band's own Industrial Records label, it was later re-released due to high demand.

End

Throbbing Gristle broke up in 1981, with founders Genesis P-Orridge and Peter Christopherson going on to form Psychic TV, whilst Cosey Fanni Tutti and Chris Carter continued to record together under the name of Chris and Cosey. Christopherson later went on to become half of the band Coil with fellow Psychic TV member John Balance.

Live performance

Main articles: Throbbing Gristle live

Throbbing Gristle was noted for its live performances, which were often experimental and quite different from their recorded work. In addition to studio albums, a large number of recordings of live shows were released.

Reunion: Part Two

Whilst together in Berlin, the band also finished recording their first studio album in almost 25 years, titled ''Part Two'', which was released on April 2nd, 2007. It was originally set to be released by Mute in September 2006 but was delayed for unknown reasons.
A 7-disc DVD set, titled ''TVG'', is also scheduled to be released in 2007^[1].
In March 2007 Side-Line announced Part Two's final release date, adding that a string of special live events would take place in 2007. ^[2]
Throbbing Gristle are currently recording a new album based on their interpretation of Nico's classic Desertshore album. ^[3]

Influences

Throbbing Gristle were influenced by the pioneering 60s experimental bands Fifty Foot Hose, The Velvet Underground, Can, and classical composers such as John Cage and La Monte Young.

Discography

Main articles: Throbbing Gristle discography

During Throbbing Gristle's extensive career they have released numerous volumes of music including studio albums, live releases as well as box sets.

See also

★ Post Punk

★ Industrial music

Footnotes

1. TVG (Throbbing Gristle DVD set) announced for 2007
2. Throbbing Gristle announce special live events to celebrate first new album in over 25 years
3. Desertshore (new Throbbing Gristle album) planned for 2008

Further reading

★ RE/Search: ''Industrial Culture Handbook''

★ "Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984", Simon Reynolds

★ "Wreckers of Civilization: The Story of Coum Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle", Simon Ford, Black Dog Publishing, 2001

External links

★ Throbbing-Gristle.com Official website

★ Throbbing Gristle at Brainwashed

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