Throbbing Gristle

Throbbing Gristle was formed in London, UK in 1976 out of the ashes of international performance art group COUM Transmissions. Founding members Cosey Fanni Tutti, Chris Carter, Peter Christopherson and Genesis P-Orridge, as well as artist Monte Cazazza (a collaborator and friend of the band), coined the phrase "Industrial Music For Industrial People" to describe the dehumanization and mechanization of music making they in part wanted to evoke. Aside from inventing a completely new musical genre (industrial music) Throbbing Gristle also founded their own record label, Industrial Records, which became home to artists such as Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA, SPK, William S. Burroughs and Monte Cazazza. Throbbing Gristle were dubbed "wreckers of civilisation" by Tory MP Nicholas Fairbairn because of their 1976 exhibition "Prostitution" at the I.C.A. in London. After terminating their first mission in 1981, TG split and the members went their seperate ways. Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti went on to form chris and cosey and started their label CTI (Conspiracy International) and recently Carter Tutti. Genesis P-Orridge and Peter Christopherson (Sleazy) went on to found Psychic TV; later Sleazy and fellow PTV member Jhonn Balance left PTV to form Coil. Genesis P-Orridge still remains active with PTV3 and Thee Majesty. Chris Carter & Cosey Fanni Tutti are still recording, collaborating and touring and in 2001 became known as Carter Tutti. Cosey Fanni Tutti also has a successful career as an international artist (recently exhibiting at Tate Britian, Barbican, Los Angeles, Washington, Zurich). Peter Christopherson is now recording and performing live with Ivan Pavlov as Soi Song and solo as The Threshold Houseboys Choir. In 2003 Throbbing Gristle regrouped. The first new studio album from the regrouped TG was entitled 'Part Two: The Endless Not' and was released in 2007. Each of the initial CD pressings included one of a series of four different Totemic Gifts in either copper, bone, rubber or wood and the gifts were encased within the CD jewel case. The Totemic Gifts were handmade under Peter Christopherson's personal supervison in Thailand and each of the Totemic Gift CDs came in an edition of 1000. TG have also recently released a limited edition DVD boxed set titled 'T G V'. Details are available on the TG webite (http://www.throbbing-gristle.com/). In 2007 TG performed live at the I.C.A. in London as a three-day installation entitled 'The Desert Shore'. This installation consisted of the band recording a cover version of Nico's classic album 'Desert Shore'. A limited edition of the live recording was later released on Industrial Records. In 2007 TG also performed a live 'soundtrack' concert to a series Derek Jarman films, with a full choir (conducted by Hildur Guðnadóttir) at the Turine Hall in Tate Modern. In 2008 TG performed two special concerts in Barcelona and Paris entitled 'Thirty Second Annual Report'. These concerts were commemorative recreations of their first album:'Second Annual Report'. Both concerts will be available as a framed limited edition vinyl release (777 copies) in 2008. TG website links: Throbbing-Gristle.com Throbbing Gristle on MySpace Industrial Records on MySpace TG members individual website links: Chris Carter Genesis P-Orridge Peter Christopherson Cosey Fanni Tutti