Psychic TV was born as the brainchild of Genesis P-Orridge and Alex Fergusson in 1982 at 50 Beck Road, Hackney, following the termination of Throbbing Gristle the year before.
Six months later the duo completed the nucleus of the new unit with ex-TG’er Peter Christopherson. By that time Genesis had already conceived, named and pioneered the genre “lndustrial Music” with Throbbing Gristle.
Along with groups like The Velvet Underground, Throbbing Gristle is and remains one of the most influential rock groups of the last 30 years if you haven’t heard their music, you will certainly have listened to someone who has.
Psychic TV | Have Mercy
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=QbkgK-eQqpk
In Throbbing Gristle, Genesis and company synthesized the influences and philosophies of Gen’s close friends and collaborators, including Beat writer William S. Burroughs Beat poet and painter Brion Gysin psychedelic shaman Dr Timothy Leary queer activist film maker Derek Jarman and those of legendary occultist Austin Osman Spare, theorist John Cage and various seminal underground authors, thinkers, artists and film makers.
The group “TG” produced some of the most unsettling and thoughtprovoking music of all time. Their pioneering “Industrial” sound and self-sufficient approach to record distribution has had a profound impact, becoming key elements of underground music production and distribution ever since.
Psychic TV | Godstar
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=s1yr8w_vZ5E
Right from the outset, Psychic TV in turn made highly innovative and unflinchingly provocative music blending elements of psychedelia and dance with Industrial sounds (named “HYPERDELIC” by Genesis). As with TG, the details of Psychic TV’s packaging, marketing and the radical lifestyle of the musicians were all treated as equally crucial components of the final aesthetic statement.
For some 14 odd years, Psychic TV recorded and released dozens of live and studio albums ending up in the Guiness Book Of Records for releasing more albums in one year than any other artist (even Elvis!). Psychic TV was terminated in the mid 90?s as Genesis pursued further musical goals with his spoken-word and expanded poetry/video installation project Thee Majesty.
Psychic TV | Black Joy (Live 1988)
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=gPWLsPisBk0
In 2003, drummer Edley ODowd of New York City’s legendary rock band Toilet Boys gently but persistently persuaded Genesis to rekindle her rock spirit and Psychic TV. Edley succeeded and they played their first public show that December. The reactivated ensemble led by ODowd, has been touring the US, Europe and Russia and releasing music ever since. Presently motivated by a love of performance recording, Genesis calls this most current lineup ‘the best version of Psychic TV ever’.
The full history of Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and her varied seminal musical exploits of the past three decades as well as her socio-cultural adventures would easily fill a book. Genesis continues to exhibit artwork around the globe (Most recently at Art Basel Miami and The Serpentine Gallery, London).
Psychic TV | Are You Experienced?
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=HgI6CMdlHM0
Already living a creative further chapter of her “life” book Genesis continues to provoke and explore in her very public private life from replacing all her healthy teeth with solid gold permanent replicas in an homage to Pierre Clemente in Luis Bunuel’s “Belle De Jour.”
Littering the dictionary and culture with new words for new, original ideas Genesis can be said to follow the serious process and joy-filled strategy of “When there is no example imagine it, when there is no word for it invent one.”
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Psychic TV LIVE
Saturday, 20 April 2013 | 20:00 CET
Festsaal Kreuzberg | Skalitzer Str. 130 | 10999 Berlin/Kreuzberg
myspace.com/ptv3 | genesisbreyerporridge.com | festsaal-kreuzberg.de
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