Industrial Records Information
Industrial Records was a record label established in 1976 by art/music group Throbbing Gristle. The group, fronted by Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Chris Carter, and Peter Christopherson, were to release their experiments in non-entertainment sound and multimedia through the label; in addition to a host of other artists on the periphery of the music business. The label gave a name to the industrial music genre.
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Background
Industrial Records was perhaps even more important an attack on the public consciousness than Throbbing Gristle. Whereas contemporary punk rock bands were instantly co-opted into the music business, providing product for the teen-rebellion and fashion markets, Industrial Records output resolutely refused to compromise their stance, even to the audience they attracted.
Other artists released through the label included Clock DVA and The Leather Nun, plus outrage artist Monte Cazazza, the author William S. Burroughs and a solo album by TG member Chris Carter. One of the most incongruous releases on the Industrial Records label was a version of the blues standard "Stormy Weather" sung by Elisabeth Welch, taken from the soundtrack of Derek Jarman's film The Tempest.
Marketing was purposely anti-commercial, ironic and propagandist. P-Orridge pointedly noted that gratuitous content was a commonplace in entertainment marketing and questioned why his use of pornography, sado-masochism and genocide should be objectional in the light of their being a pointer to existing, and acceptable, ploys within the industry. Disturbing and thought-provoking imagery and packaging complemented Industrial Records output: TG's debut LP was limited to 786 copies and came in bootleg packaging, a plain white card sleeve with glued-on xerox information strips; the Industrial Records logo appears to be a stark black and white depiction of the chimney at Auschwitz death camp - industry at its darkest - but is in fact a low-definition photo of the Bankside Power Station, now the Tate Modern art museum in the U.K., where TG have played on occasion[1]; and the Woolworths bargain-bin kitsch packaging of 20 Jazz Funk Greats portrayed TG as pop artists, posing in casual-wear on Beachy Head, Britain's most popular suicide location. Not content with a single live release, the label released a cassette box set 24 hours of TG; documenting the first 24 TG live performances in their entirety.
The label served to provide a record of the industry of Throbbing Gristle and their label-mates and by the time of its dissolution was one of the most successful British independent labels, boasting full-page ads in music weeklies and unfailingly selling out its limited edition releases. Fittingly, a TG 'greatest hits' album was subtitled Entertainment Through Pain.
Throbbing Gristle disbanded in 1981 and went on to pursue their own projects. As Chris And Cosey, Coil, Psychic TV, Genesis, Cosey (solo), Chris (solo) and Sleazy continue to elaborate and expand upon what they originally discovered back in the early seventies together. The Industrial Records label lay dormant for twenty years, although its products, still popular to a niche audience, continued to be made available through material licensed to specialist independent label Mute and others throughout the world. Then, in 2002, the label was reactivated for a special remastered re-release of 24 hours of TG in a 24 CD box set format. More recent Industrial Records releases include: Part Two, The Endless Not, TGV (DVD boxed set) and a multi-disc CD release of the Throbbing Gristle 'Desertshore' installation at the I.C.A London in 2007. Due for release in 2008 is the vinyl limited edition live album 32nd Annual Report.
Discography
- IR 0002 - Throbbing Gristle - The Second Annual Report (LP)
- IR 0003 - Throbbing Gristle - United/Zyklon B Zombie (7")
- IR 0004 - Throbbing Gristle - D.o.A: The Third and Final Report (LP)
- IR 0005 - Monte Cazazza - To Mom on Mother's Day (7")
- IR 0006 - The Leather Nun - Slow Death EP (7")
- IR 0007 - Thomas Leer & Robert Rental - The Bridge (LP)
- IR 0008 - Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats (LP)
- IR 0009 - Throbbing Gristle - Heathen Earth (LP)
- IR 0010 - Monte Cazazza - Something For Nobody (7")
- IR 0011 - Surgical Penis Klinik - Meat Processing Section (7")
- IR 0012 - Elisabeth Welch - Stormy Weather (7")
- IR 0013 - Throbbing Gristle - Subhuman/Something Came Over Me (7")
- IR 0014 - Dorothy - I Confess (7")
- IR 0015 - Throbbing Gristle - Adrenalin/Distant Dreams (Part Two) (7")
- IR 0016 - William S. Burroughs - Nothing Here Now But The Recordings (LP)
- IRC 00 - Throbbing Gristle - Best Of.... Volume I (Cass)
- IRC 01 - Throbbing Gristle - Best Of.... Volume II (Cass)
- IRC 02 - Throbbing Gristle - At the ICA London (Cass)
- IRC 04 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Nag's Head, High Wycombe (Cass)
- IRC 05 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Brighton Polytechnic (Cass)
- IRC 06 - Throbbing Gristle - At Nuffield Theatre, Southampton (Cass)
- IRC 07 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Rat Club (Cass)
- IRC 08 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Highbury Roundhouse (Cass)
- IRC 09 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Art School Winchester (Cass)
- IRC 10 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Rat Club The Valentino Rooms (Cass)
- IRC 11 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Brighton Polytechnic (Cass)
- IRC 12 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Architectural Association (Cass)
- IRC 13 - Throbbing Gristle - At Goldsmith's College (Cass)
- IRC 14 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Industrial Training College (Cass)
- IRC 15 - Throbbing Gristle - At the London Film Makers Co-Op (Cass)
- IRC 16 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Crypt Club (Cass)
- IRC 17 - Throbbing Gristle - At Centro Iberico (Cass)
- IRC 18 - Throbbing Gristle - At Ajanta Cinema (Cass)
- IRC 19 - Throbbing Gristle - At Now Society (Cass)
- IRC 20 - Throbbing Gristle - At the Factory (Cass)
- IRC 21 - Throbbing Gristle - At Guild Hall (Cass)
- IRC 22 - Throbbing Gristle - At The Y.M.C.A. (Cass)
- IRC 23 - Throbbing Gristle - Pastimes/Industrial Muzak (Cass)
- IRC 24 - Throbbing Gristle - At Butlers Wharf (Cass)
- IRC 25 - Throbbing Gristle - At Leeds Fan Club (Cass)
- IRC 26 - Throbbing Gristle - At Scala Cinema (Cass)
- IRC 27 - The Leather Nun - At Scala Cinema, London/Music Palais Kungsgatan (Cass)
- IRC 28 - Monte Cazazza - At Leeds Fan Club/Scala, London/Oundle School (Cass)
- IRC 29 - Throbbing Gristle - At Goldsmiths College (Cass)
- IRC 30 - Throbbing Gristle - At Oundle Public School (Cass)
- IRC 31 - Clock DVA - White Souls In Black Suits (Cass)
- IRC 32 - Chris Carter - The Space Between (Cass)
- IRC 33 - Throbbing Gristle - At Sheffield University (Cass)
- IRC 34 - Richard H. Kirk - Disposable Half-Truths (Cass)
- IRC 35 - Cabaret Voltaire - 1974 - 1976 (Cass)
- (none) - Throbbing Gristle - The Taste of TG (CD)
- (none) - Throbbing Gristle - TG Now (CD)
- (none) - Throbbing Gristle - Live December 2004 A Souvenir of Camber Sands (2xCDr)
- IR 2009/4 - Throbbing Gristle - The Third Mind Movements (CD)
See also
References
External links
Official
Unofficial
Categories: British record labels | Record labels established in 1976 | Industrial record labels
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