Throbbing Gristle: RFI

oh well if this is just a straight repress that makes more sense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AOc0VL7L7I

All you American politicians who lie down in front of wrecked cars. . . .

Shit, which song is that?

Talk of bands as dogs has reminded me of the episode of the ITV sitcom "Only When I Laugh" when Figgis put money on a greyhound called Throbbing Gristle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87FfKh5JeAk

https://thequietus.com/articles/30303-chris-carter-bakers-dozen-favourite-albums-throbbing-gristle

Nice Baker's Dozen by Chris. The accompanying pieces are full of interesting tidbits, like this one on an amazing triple bill that never was (from the The Man Machine entry)

Fast forward 28 years… while Throbbing Gristle were recording in Berlin in 2006 and our manager took us to see this enormous dilapidated old power station that was being converted into a new music venue, it was to become the Kraftwerk, which is German for power station. A plan was hatched between our Throbbing Gristle manager and our former Chris & Cosey tour manager, who is also Kraftwerk's (the band) manager, to have a triple bill of Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin and Throbbing Gristle play on the opening night at Kraftwerk (the venue). The problem was that Genesis detested Kraftwerk (the band) and Aphex Twin. His favourite insult was to snarl “they’re nothing more than a laptop band”, it tiresomely became one of Gen’s favourite put-downs for electronic bands, well that and “they’re just knob twiddlers". It would've been an awesome night but Gen hated the notion of ’supporting’ Kraftwerk and Aphex Twin and completely nixed the idea and refused to be involved.

Cosey Fanni Tutti talking about Art Sex magic and things on Book Shambles as well as her forthcoming work on female pioneers including Delia Derbyshire which is why she was on the recent biography I assume
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1t8tBddehjYtfZqqUtb2NI?si=86cbeba00ace43b1

So Chris heard a bootleg cassette copy of Joe Meek's "I Hear a New World" in the late 60s? Far be it from me to say he might be telling porkies there but...

Ha, busted! I never realised until I looked it up just now that the original 60's release was a 7" and the album (actually a compilation then, right) only became available in the 90's. But since he lived just across the studio he maybe smooth talked someone into giving him a ropey mono tape ;)

to be fair he does say "tape", it could easily have been a reel

oh, whoops, no he does say "cassette", hmm

i have heard him talk about the joe meek tape multiple times previously so am gonna believe he had it.

TG is one of those bands that I've been meaning to really "get to" forever. Eventually.

(xp) In the late 60s though? When he was still a schoolboy? Could be a misprint/misquote.

Also, famously, there are no synthesizers on "Irrlicht".

In the late 60s though? When he was still a schoolboy?

no, i haven't heard him claim that so wonder if it is a misquote. i will ask him, some day.

Raymond WHAT

you just need to start at the beginning with 2nd Annual Report and go in order, don't sleep on the singles

here:

2nd Annual Report LP (Nov. '77)
United/Zyklon B Zombie 7" (May 1978)
D.O.A Third And Final Report LP (Dec. 4 1978)
We Hate You Little Girls/Five Knuckle Shuffle 7" (May 1979)
20 Jazz Funk Greats LP (Dec. 1979)
Heathen Earth LP (June 1980)
Adrenalin/Distant Dreams/Subhuman/Something Came Over Me dual 7" release (Oct. 23 1980)

and then move on to the live stuff if you like this

other opinions may vary! "Thee Psychick Sacrifice" in its original 2Lp format is prob my fave live document

I only got into them a few years ago and this 2 disc comp was the perfect gsteway:

https://www.discogs.com/Throbbing-Gristle-Throbbing-Gristles-Greatest-Hits-Entertainment-Through-Pain/release/14103048

I'd take 2nd Annual Report over all their other records put together; they were one of these groups like Buffalo Springfield, whose members were pulling in so many different directions, that they started falling apart almost immediately. Their debut is the one where it feels like they all have a common goal - scary space music.

oh c'mon, Heathen Earth is just as coherent imo

Second annual report sounds pretty great so far

Are those anniversary 2cds from about 10yrs ago still available. Just occurring to me that I heard TG pretty much invented the limited edition in rock or industrial music. & those paired studio lp, bonus which I think included contemporary singles to whichever lp plus I think a relevant live set to each lp.

I'd take 2nd Annual Report over all their other records put together; they were one of these groups like Buffalo Springfield, whose members were pulling in so many different directions, that they started falling apart almost immediately.

That might be what happened with Buffalo Springfield but that's not what happened with TG and, whether it is or not, they both made great records anyway. TG's official four albums are great. The live stuff defines YMMV.

Don't think I've ever heard a note of TG to this day, despite being into (or having been into in the past) everything else you'd think would lead to TG fandom. I've always been put off by Genesis P-Orridge's obnoxious personality, to the point where I'd resent actually liking anything he'd ever been involved with so I avoid it. I'm determined to keep this state of affairs going until my dying day.

There's a lot to dislike when it comes to GPO but I can't imagine my life without TG having been in it. So much joy. So much! There is something for almost everyone and even my 84 year old stepmother is a bit partial to some "Heathen Earth".

I don't mind TG but joy is not at all the word I would associate with them.

They have given me so much joy was my point. But hey, if you ever get a chance to see Throbbing Gristle ‎Live At Oundle School, that is a whole lot of joy right there.

I'm sure there's a link above somewhere but I wrote about the 2011 reissues when they came out. Heathen Earth remains my pick.

A friend made me cdrs of various releases back around 2004 or so. I dipped a toe in but not much of an impression was made. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right head space then.

Would have been good to get some more perspectives as good as Art Sex Magic from those involved. Would also be great if that Wreckers Of Civilisation book had reappeared when it was advertised to do so.
Not sure how reliable a narrator Gen would be judging by Cosi's descriptio

so today I learned from Ugly Things that two 7" EPs of some "I Hear A New World" tracks were released in small quantities in 1960 as demo records for stereo shops, so CC could definitely have heard them later that decade

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0012950?fbclid=IwAR3q2xXunpXCosGV5JwPl7Tugj33Ole0sR3r0TT-Mi4JHYE28pGTMmQX2Z4

The credits on the page made me laugh - Sleazy as played by Mr Peter Christopherson

Surprised to see Spydee Gasmantell is still being played by Spydee Gasmantell though.

Shame it's the usual BBC 60 minute edit and not the full 80 mins runtime...

bump - tonight

no way to see the 80 minute version?

I enjoyed this. So many hairy people!

welp it's about time to jump in.

20 Jazz Greats, here we go

jealous. i'd love to be hearing it for the 1st time.

good choice. definitely in my wheelhouse.

what should I go to next?

either DOA or Heathen Earth imo

was this the first TG you heard? def interested in your thoughts

i'd go Heathen Earth next. also interested to hear your thoughts.

Heathen Earth seconded.

I really enjoyed it. Especially the noisier,more abrasive stuff, like "Still Walking". I'm a dude who used to enjoy listening to our old beat up lawnmower as a kid because of its weird buzzsaw sound so I like that angle.

More traditional tuneful stuff like "Hot on Heels of Love" and "Walkabout" were great too. And I like the stoney stuff as well. Definitely my wheelhouse (and def my first TG!)

Droney not stoney lol

decided to do both DoA and Heathen Earth

"IBM" is off to a great start

"Dead on Arrival", yes yes YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Hamburger Lady" is the thing of beautiful nightmares, that creepy quiet drumbeat underneath barely contained chaos. I guess this is one of their most famous ones?

surprised I slept on TG so long.

But now you understand the greatness. Anyway, read Drew's book now.

Something I've been wondering for a while now - how did they get away with the images of children on the sleeve and booklet of DOA? Now I don't know what the legal definition of child porn is exactly but I would not be surprised if it would be possible to make a case that those images count. As far as I know nobody's ever tried to stop them being distributed.

I got the 2011 reissue of this album when I was working in the civil service and had it posted to my work. Freaked out a bit when I got it home and realised that I'd just arranged for pictures of semi-naked kiddies to be delivered to a government building