Throbbing Gristle (formed on September 3, 1976 in London) were an British experimental rock group that evolved from the performance art group COUM Transmissions. 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.
The band members were:
- Chris Carter
- Genesis P-Orridge
- Cosey Fanni Tutti
- Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson
Throbbing Gristle was noted for its live performances, which were often experimental and quite different from their pre-recorded work. In addition to studio albums, a large number of recordings of live shows were released, of varying sound quality. A 24 CD boxed set documenting every live Throbbing Gristle performance was released in December 2002.
Throbbing Gristle is scheduled to play its first live show since the breakup in 1981, in May 2004, as the featured performer at "A Celebration of Industrial Musics in the 21st Century".
Discography
- Second Annual Report (LP)
- "United" c/w "Zyklon B Zombie" (Single)
- DOA: The Third and Final Report (LP)
- Funeral in Berlin
- Heathen Earth (LP)
- In the Shadow of the Sun (Soundtrack to Derek Jarman film of same name)
- Journey Through a Body
- Thee Psychick Sacrifice
- 20 Jazz Funk Greats (LP)
- Grief
- Mission of Dead Souls (Last Release)
- Entertainment Through Pain (retrospective compilation)
- Assume Power Focus
- "Discipline" (Single)