Wednesday, November 10, 2010

X-Industrial


Well the writing has been on the wall all along, but after the TG show in Hoxton London a week ago, which was relatively painless, enjoyable, and even began to pay off some of the cost of tickets, Genesis decided to move, first hotels, and then cities, un-announced, making herself unavailable for the remaining tour dates, and leaving the rest of TG and all the promotors and fans in a certain amount of a quandry.

Either we could bow to Gen's seemingly senseless and out-of-the-blue decision and pull the tour completely, and so be jointly responsible for all the money paid out, to get us to London, and round Europe, put us up in in hotels etc, or we could play the remaining shows as best we were able (albeit at a reduced fee since Genesis chose not to be there) to lessen our joint losses....

Fortunately, to our great gratitude, and the relief and appreciation of the fans who showed up (amounting to some 99% of ticket holders - very few were only there to see Gen it seems), what Chris, Cosey and I did as X-TG was greeted with just as much enthusiasm as TG had been in the past.

Apparently the public share our interest in "Chamber Music for the Coming Hard Times", and, despite missing the jumping-up-and-down-encore factor led by our undoubtly-skillful and curious looking, trans-dressing (though not trans-gendered) figure head - everyone said X-TG was just as good, if not better, than the old style TG.

On her website Genesis is keen to point out she only left THAT tour and still considers herself part of TG. For anyone that is interested, her included, I can confirm that TG will continue to complete all existing contracts, sales, ongoing negotiations and the recording/delivery obligations already in place, but it's clear neither Gen nor the rest of TG have the interest, time, energy (or even spare cash) to risk pursuing further live performances together, fraught as they are with the possible problems we all suffer from: concerns about health, unequal treatment or contribution, availability of the appropriate medications for pain, stress or lack of sleep, not to mention our own outside/personal commitments...

Also about the future of TG live, I do not regard it as possible for any changed band or variation of personel to perform live as Throbbing Gristle without all the original four of us on stage. If Chris, Cosey and I play live together again it will be as X-TG to make it clear it is a new entity, despite its Provenance which will draw on our own individual work and interests, just as much as any TG reference, which feel to me at least, tired, though the approach to music composition, remains as unique and exclusive to us, as any band I have ever come across....

I for one bear Genesis no ill will, though it would be nice to recieve some communication explaining what happened, rationally, and accepting that her precipitous actions had consequences for all of us, even though I am still several thousand pounds worse off than when we all agreed to do these dates...Money I can ill-afford to lose at this point...

As luck would have it, the "doors" Genesis opened by flying home, and out of the way unexpectedly, have revealed hitherto unseen paths into the future that are both interesting, exciting, as well as being ones I would probably not have pursued, if I'd just been Harry Pottering around in Bangkok with my HouseBoys...

So I thank you all for that, from the bottom of my heart!

Sathu, Sathu, Sathu....

Nobody knows the future, after all.... All we can do is try to make it as enjoyable, inspiring, helpful, encouraging and illuminating for everyone as possible, in the time that we have left.

In my book that means not only remembering the past and music of 30 years ago, (whether or not it's good enough to satisfy drunken Americans!) BUT NOT REPEATING IT, no matter how easy.

best2all
unklesleazy

35 comments:

DIL23 said...

il23mailHi

Loved the gig at Hoxton :) but very sorry to hear you guys lost money over the whole TG-->X-TG ?thing? But it meant I missed out on X-TG's first performances! :( - hopefully get a chance to see you three play one-day?

All the very best
DIL23
:)

Roger said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
andetsteds adm said...

What I love about our dear Unkle is that he's such a gentleman.
I hope X-TG will do a more extensive tour of Europe soon, bringing them to Copenhagen and/or Berlin.

Love,
Thomas

andetsteds adm said...

X-TG X-TG X-TG... HAVE NOT COME TO EXPLAIN OR TIDY UP. X-TG BEAR NO SICK WORDS, JUNK WORDS, LOVE WORDS, FORGIVE WORDS FROM JESUS. THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF LIARS, AND COWARDS, AND COLLABORATORS AND TRAITORS. COLLABORATORS WITH INSECT PEOPLE, WITH ANY PEOPLE ANYWHERE WHO OFFER YOU A BODY FOREVER, TO SHIT FOREVER. FOR THIS YOU HAVE SOLD YOUR SONS FOREVER. THE GROUND UNDER UNBORN FEET FOREVER! TRAITORS TO ALL SOULS EVERYWHERE! LEAVING YOUR HUMAN ANIMALS TO BE EATEN ALIVE BY THE CRAB PEOPLE, TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN IN GREEN SHIT AND PISS. TRAITORS TO ALL SOULS EVERYWHERE! SOLD OUT TO SHIT FOREVER. X-TG RUB OUT THE WORD FOR EVE-R

psychcomm said...

Hi Unklesleazy,

I take it you have recordings of the X-TG gigs?
Have you thought about releasing one of them for download sales? The costs would be minimal as I'm sure even just word of mouth would get you a reasonable return which might go some way to offset the short term losses.
Perhaps give the other a proper release next year sometime?


Gimp masks and Moonbeams,

S.:

GEØ! said...

Greetings. :) No offense, but for Gen to leave the three of you to clean it all up was a very insensitive and cruel way to depart. I believe the underlying positivity within this negativity is that the three of you, the true pioneering forces behind TG, are now able to create without restraints (dead weight as I've heard). I wish you the best and hope these new beginnings bring you a smile and that you may prosper as well. Thank you for all you create, as this world is full of blandness without the creations the three of you do.
XOXO

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the TG show here in San Francisco last time around, so I contented myself by watching the videos presented of the event by Mr. Carter and others.

Watching the videos of yourself, Mr. Carter and Ms. Tutti improvising at the soundchecks was highly inspirational and very listenable for just being 'mucking around to test the levels'.

Watching yet another self-impressed performance of 'Persuasion'... um, not so much.

Very excited to hear what the three of you do... I'm sure it will be gorgeous.

Arik Tillman said...

Any chance of a X-TG show in Bkk?

Unknown said...

XTG
Respect and full support to the 3 of you.
You have worked hard and the results are amazing.
Your illusive 4th member was baggage.

Jeff said...

This unexpected turn of events makes me all the more glad that I was able to attend the second night in Chicago last year (though I did have to leave the event a bit early, due to train schedules heading out to the west suburbs). Unfortunate though Gen's departure is (even more so because of the manner in which s/he chose to depart) all things must, eventually, come to an end. I wish Genesis the best of luck in whatever s/he chooses to peruse in the future. And hope, Peter, that you Chris and Cosey continue to create together regardless of future live events. TG may be finish but I imagine that X-TG could be quite fertile soil for the three of you.

Babaluma said...

r.i.p.

XshadowX said...

rest in peace unkle sleaz...

weeping heretic said...

I was at my lowest, and contemplating suicide when I read this post. The final two paragraphs, in some weird way helped me see things a little differently. Those words were an incredible way to close a blog post. Now they mean even more. May you rest eternally peaceful Peter Christopherson...

Red Cell said...

Goodbye, Peter. You have been a beacon for us all. May your spirit live on and continue to inspire. - Red Cell

Red Cell said...

Goodbye, Sleazy. You have been a beacon to us all. May you spirit live on and continue to inspire. Thank you for having existed. - Red Cell

matt.texlahoma@gmail.com said...

Thank you for everything... x

Simon said...

I saw you in PTV at the Ritz in '83, I was so fucking young. I remember eyeballing you on the stairs at a Disobey (Non & Panasonic) gig in London in '95 and thinking 'oh, that's Sleazy'. And you did meet my dad when you were directing some godforsaken Robert Plant video in Blackpool. I asked him about you and he said 'Oh that fellow was very professional and called everyone luvvie and darling'!! Bye bye big clever man I never spoke to xx

ayportfolio said...

Goodbye old friend.

LauraLoves said...

I missed the show in Bologna (Italy) because my mom was very ill on those days.
Nov 10, the day this last post was published, was the day my mom passed away.

"We are all only temporary curators of our present bodies, which will all decay, sooner or later. In a hundred years or so all the humans currently alive will have died. I take great comfort in knowing, with certainty, that thing that makes us special, able to enrich our own lives and those of others, will not cease when our bodies do but will be just starting a new (and hopefully even better) adventure ... " (Unkle Sleazy)

Jeff said...

Goodbye Peter. You will be missed.

howisya said...

Sigh. Another music icon and favorite artist gone. Rest in peace.

Rui Carvalho said...

ATÉ BREVE PETER....
TIVE A FELICIDADE DE TE VER AO VIVO NO PORTO, PORTUGAL, NO DIA 6 DE NOVEMBRO.

Unknown said...

The world will be a less interesting place without you. May you rest in peace Peter.

Hélder António said...

Here is my tribute to Peter:

http://cordialconstriction.blogspot.com/2010/11/peter-christopherson-aka-sleazy-1955.html

http://cordialconstriction.blogspot.com/2010/11/fire-of-mind-coil.html

Thank you, Sleazy.

Anonymous said...

Good bye and peace. Thank you for all the musick.

Raindog951 said...

Very sad day for me and all Peter's fans and friends.
A good and honest man who left the world a better place.
RIP Uncle Sleazy.

JoaoPQ said...

Your words are unique and so is your work. I'm sad you passed away. It's such a loss, seriously... Thank you for everything you've done.
João Quintela

Unknown said...

I am very said

Unknown said...

Der gut gebaute Gorilla aus Jamaika mit Tarnanzug auf der Bühne.
Roadie von Throbbing Gristle.
Stellt einen langen Tisch auf.
Stellt auf den Notebooks von Apple und andere Kästchen auf..

Peter Christopherson von Throbbing Gristle erscheint
Unscheinbar.
Füllig,
Unauffällig
Harmlos.
Schaut wohl ab und zu ein Kinderporno im Internet an.

Testet die Lautsprecher.

„raschelraschel“ vorne links
„raschelraschel“ hinten links.
„raschelraschel“ ganz hinten links

Das gleiche dann rechts.
Links und rechts insgesamt sechs Lautsprechertürme.

Peter schaut zufrieden.
Drückt ein Knopf.
Geht.

Stille

Menschliche Stimmen,
mal aufgeregt,
mal beruhigend,
Schluchzen
Lachen
Schnarrende Geräusche.
Blaues Laserlicht
Sanft streicht es über das Publikum.

Stille

Die Töne
werden lauter
Gemeiner,
Pfeifen,
Tiefe Töne
Hohe Töne.
Blitze von Scheinwerfer
Stroboskop Licht auf das Publikum.
Die Menschen um mich herum bewegen sich im Zeitraffer
Bewegen sich abgehackt.

Hohe Töne
Pfeifen von links nach rechts
Von rechtts nach links
Durch mein Gehirn
Die Moleküle in meinem Kopf beginnen zu tanzen.

Etwas tiefere Töne
Hämmern auf meine Brust

Tiefe Töne
Ab und zu nur
Schagen in meinen Magen
(Hoffentlich kommt mir nicht das Abendessen hoch)

Zehn Zentimeter unter meinem Magen
Körperteile fangen an
Zu
Vibrieren
(Gehe jetzt nicht in das Detail was für Körperteile ich meine)
Finde es angenehm.

Die Hosenbeine flattern.

Doch
So langsam denke ich an
Flucht

Geht aber nicht
Habe Angst
Im
Stroboskop Licht
Leute zu überrennen

Schaffe es doch
Zum
Ausgang

Das Mädchen,
das den Eingang kontrolliert
schweißgebadet
verängstigt

drückt sich gegen die Wand

Plötzlich Stille

Schaue in den Konzertsaal.

Sehe keine
Tote

Alle haben
Überlebt

Unknown said...

rest in peace sleazy, thank you for changing my perception of all the world, since my teens. I will miss you. Thank you .

Brokedick said...

Its been over a year already, can you believe it? Thank you Sleazy for continuing to be an inspiration on industrial musicians and artists; including this one :)

Anonymous said...

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jão da silva said...

810 days after His physical demise, Café Europa on Radio Ás paid due tribute in fully hearted manner http://cafeeuroparadioas.blogspot.pt/

and

event:http://soundcloud.com/cafe-europa-radioas-2/cafe-europa-58-20130211-2h

event:http://soundcloud.com/cafeeuropa/cafe-europa-58-20130211-1h

event:http://soundcloud.com/cafeeuropa-radioas/cafe-europa-57-20130204-1h

event:http://soundcloud.com/cafeeuropa-radioas/cafe-europa-57-20130204-2h

You are forever and ever.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Odd request, a friend will be visiting Bangkok. He's looking for Peter's home address in Bangkok. Would anyone know where his residence was located. House number and street. Would like to get a photo of his last residence.
Thank You
Eric