MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Psychic TV.

Psychic TV.

posted 9 months ago by TheMan18 (13184)
2 replies | jump to latest

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/psychic-tv-mn0000375945

Briefly speaking, what are our thoughts on this early 80s controversial and fairly acclaimed British industrial, experimental, ambient, electronic, alternative dance band, led by the controversial figure and lead, I believe singer, Genesis P-Orridge, who also was a member of Throbbing Gristle and who while in Psychic TV has been investigated for Satanic rituals and even, well, some disturbing stuff I wouldn't mention, and he himself passed away in 2020 as did one or two other members of the band?

And has anyone also seen their 1982 4-hour pseudo snuff documentary entitled "First Transmission"?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475584/
My God, I never knew they were this into controversy as well as the experimental and weird nature of their music. Imagine if Cabaret Voltaire or Current 93 entered death metal territory or got themselves involved in the likes of "Faces of Death" series?

From what I know, "First Transmission" to date has been banned in Britain and O-rridge was also investigated by police for it somehow.

Anyways, our thoughts on the group, thanks.

[–] TheMan18 (13184) 9 months ago

Also, notice how...

Certain bands and artists, famous ones, nearly, well, at least a certain amount of them, often get involved in controversial stories and even in trouble with police and law over their work, music, art, performance, film etc or even questionable behaviour themselves.

But in case of Psychic TV (anyone a fan also?) for one - it doesn't detract much from their work, right - in this case, music?

[–] pumpspunk (185) 9 months ago

throbbing gristle were a formative band for me, i suppose. not so much for their music, but for their overall influence on industrial culture. re/search's industrial culture handbook & their other publications that featured the tg guys (their burroughs publication, modern primitives) were fun & full of the kind of crazy transgressive stuff i couldn't get enough of when i was a 20 something.

it doesn't really speak to me in any way now that i'm old and tired, but i still look back fondly at it, & i think tg's heathen earth is great music to zone out to.

tbh, i never really got too deeply into psychic tv. i believe i only owned one of their releases, which was a house remix album (temple of psychic youth was the title i think). i remember really liking it, but who knows how well it would hold up now.

my deepest connection to them was that i did write to the temple to get plans to build my own dream machine. that was the only way i knew how to get something like that done back in the pre-internet days. i was probably the only guy in my rural area who had his own functioning dream machine.

the guy i wrote to at the temple was really nice & helpful, wrote a nice letter when he sent me the plans. wish i still had it. don't know who it was. not genesis, definitely. some guy in colorado, i believe.

i read cosey's book a few years ago, & came away thinking that genesis was the least talented & interesting member of tg. someone who had no real ability other than to scream 'look at me!'

i really like coil. they made tons of great albums, great recordings. one of the best bands to come out of industrial culture. that's a great group.

maybe i'd have liked psychic tv as much if i'd ever fallen down that hole, but i never did & i don't have the interest in pursuing it now.