Wreckers of Civilisation: The Story of Coum Transmissions & Throbbing Gristle
by Simon Ford
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Description
"These people are the wreckers of civilisation", exclaimed the conservative Member of Parliament Nicholas Fairbairn in 1976. His outburst was meant to describe four artists and musicians - Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fani Tutti, Peter Christopherson and Chris Carter. What "these people" had done to deserve such an epithet, and what they were about to do, is the subject of this book. Wreckers of Civilisation recalls a time which despite volumes of print remains occluded, obdurate, even show more intimidating: that moment before the conservative reconstruction. To be awake in London in the late 1970s was to be plunged into turmoil: externally manifest in riot, internally within various forms of damage and depression and, if one felt brave or driven, extreme aesthetics. COUM Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle mark the furthest reach of that impulse: even more so than Punk, they plunged into a technological and personal examination of the dark side - the forbidden, the taboo, the dystopian future on the doorstep. Today this might seem like science fiction or deliberate shock tactics, but then it seemed like reportage, front line dispatches from a convulsed country. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
An awesome book I inexplicably sold -- not for the faint of heart, but I am not that.
Lots of images you may be able to find elsewhere, but not in such a convenient form.
If you are intrigued by industrial culture, 'difficult' music/art/humans, or Throbbing Gristle / COUM in particular, getting and reading this is a no-brainer. You are the choir and the book will preach.
On the other hand, the content and subject(s) will infuriate, offend and disturb many people ... and that's okay, too. I'm of the opinion that it's a good thing to be disturbed/offended because it gives one an idea where one's boundaries lie.
Lots of images you may be able to find elsewhere, but not in such a convenient form.
If you are intrigued by industrial culture, 'difficult' music/art/humans, or Throbbing Gristle / COUM in particular, getting and reading this is a no-brainer. You are the choir and the book will preach.
On the other hand, the content and subject(s) will infuriate, offend and disturb many people ... and that's okay, too. I'm of the opinion that it's a good thing to be disturbed/offended because it gives one an idea where one's boundaries lie.
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Author Information
4 Works 315 Members
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Throbbing Gristle; Genesis P-Orridge; Peter Christopherson; Cosey Fanni Tutti; Chris Carter
Classifications
- Genres
- Music, Nonfiction, Reference, Art & Design, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, History
- DDC/MDS
- 703 — Arts & recreation Arts Dictionaries, encyclopedias, concordances of fine and decorative arts
- LCC
- ML285.5 .F67 — Music Literature on music Literature on music History and criticism By region or country
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 163
- Popularity
- 200,351
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.23)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
