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7th out of 44 books
—
12 voters
Wreckers of Civilisation: The Story of COUM Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle
by
Simon Ford
Wreckers of Civilisation tells the story of two interconnected groups; the performance art group COUM Transmissions and the music group. Throbbing Gristle. The four key members of these groups were Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Christopherson and Chris Carter. COUM shocked art audiences with their public nudity and often masochristic art actions. TG, likewise...more
Paperback, 300 pages
Published
June 1st 1999
by Black Dog Publishing
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I'll go ahead and say this is "amazing." Obviously, if you 1) don't care about Throbbing Gristle and/or 2) don't care about performance art, you might not get as much out of this book. Ford does a good job of not just summarizing what TG (and COUM Transmissions) did, but rooting it firmly in the context of what was happening politically and socially around them. If I ever doubted the power of art and the possibilities for making meaningful, politically-driven art, this book dispelled my doubts....more
I was incredibly impressed with just how much information there was on COUM transmissions in here. This is THE primary source to get information on the group. It's sad that there is no online source to get such information, especially since I don't believe this book was ever released in America.
Ford does a good job of covering all bases, and transcribes multiple viewpoints of the same situation whenever there was a conflict of memory between the members. One wishes there was more documentation o...more
Ford does a good job of covering all bases, and transcribes multiple viewpoints of the same situation whenever there was a conflict of memory between the members. One wishes there was more documentation o...more
An exhaustive and inspiring study of Throbbing Gristle and Coum Transmissions that tries to avoid the hysteria that surrounded both projects when they were active. Also a cool exploration of what it means to attempt to live off a creative project and keep one going in a hostile environment. Anyone not familiar with these projects will still get a lot out of this book and will be amazed at what they produced when they produced it. You get a sense of the performance art scene in Europe in the late...more
I originally read this when it first came out, which was a time when Throbbing Gristle seemed all but forgotten except to hardcore acolytes, shortly after the exile to California of P-Orridge following bogus scandals set up by the UK tabloids. It's the story of the birth of Throbbing Gristle, COUM Transmissions and the early manifestations such as The Prostitution Show at the ICA; and of the early work of the core artists - Chris Carter, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Christopherson [of Hipgnosis] and...more
This was well worth the read. I was always interested in Coum Transmission and what they were about. The depth of history on CM was great and enthralling.
At the beginning of the book Genesis P. Orridge is quoted as saying (paraphrasing here), An artist's life is usually more interesting their work. Not true with CM and TG. Both their lives and work are very interesting.
At the beginning of the book Genesis P. Orridge is quoted as saying (paraphrasing here), An artist's life is usually more interesting their work. Not true with CM and TG. Both their lives and work are very interesting.
This is one of the most important books that I have in my library. I read this book once a year for inspiration. The one band that I honestly never get sick of. All of the living members stay current within the avant garde and still remain on the cutting edge of art and music. I honestly couldn't recommend this book highly enough.
An amazingly in-depth and, for the most part, chronological telling of the philosophical and artistic evolution of a group of artists who shaped underground culture for nearly 30 years.
This group--known as Coum and later as Throbbing Gristle--worked for years in a variety of media (including popular music) updating and popularizing magickal practice and thinking, confronting the hypocrisy of social convention, and expanding the boundaries of what is called art.
This book is probably the only pl...more
This group--known as Coum and later as Throbbing Gristle--worked for years in a variety of media (including popular music) updating and popularizing magickal practice and thinking, confronting the hypocrisy of social convention, and expanding the boundaries of what is called art.
This book is probably the only pl...more
an absolutely essential document of both coum transmissions and throbbing gristle. dense with detail and information.
Throbbing Gristle/COUM bio, heavy on the praise.
May 10, 2009
Ian
added it
Recommended
TG all the way.
If nothing else, read the part where Genesis & Cosey do their "Cease to Exist" performance piece in Los Angeles. Never has so much been done with so many bodily fluids...
If nothing else, read the part where Genesis & Cosey do their "Cease to Exist" performance piece in Los Angeles. Never has so much been done with so many bodily fluids...
an invaluable history of COUM Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle. The pictures are great and some of them are not seen elsewhere. Another book that motivated me to "get out there and do something".
5 stars with a bullet! If you're a Throbbing Gristle obsessive, this is just going to make it even harder to sleep at night. Great, exhaustive history of this great, exhausting band.
I didn't finish this book, but...
The incredible tale of COUM Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle. Absolutely astounding larger-than-life story.
The incredible tale of COUM Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle. Absolutely astounding larger-than-life story.
Sep 13, 2007
Steven
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in the early days of industrial music.
Obsessive documentation about the history of the once great Throbbing Gristle.
SIMPLY AMAZING
Jun 18, 2013
Andrew Cole
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