From Throbbing Gristle co-founder to style guru. Psychick shopping tips from Genesis P-Orridge.

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The original incarnation of Throbbing Gristle were a massive influence on my mid-to-late teenage years. Not just the music, but the whole approach and philosophy - from their updated magick practices, the Burroughsian experiments with cut-ups and control, the visual presentation and independent attitude.

If you'd told me then that in thirty years time Genesis P-Orridge would be spending his time buying cosmetic surgery and talking haircuts and champagne in New York magazine I wouldn't have believed you.

The next step in the transformation from serious artist to celebrity style guru is the article Psychick Chic in Vice Style magazine. While nowhere not quite as banal as the New York magazine article, Psychick Chic follows Genesis through such adventures as getting bought some biker boots, drinking more champagne and falling asleep at the cinema... Gripping stuff indeed.

Pointless Genesis Breyer P-Orridge Q&A in New York magazine

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"Haircuts are luxuries and as such should be as expensive as you can possibly afford. I get mine at Seagull in Greenwich Village or recently by Ashlee of Hair Metal at my apartment. Celebrity haircuts are one of the great perks of even a little media profile."

As a teenager I eagerly devoured every Throbbing Gristle interview I could find. They were always funny, thought-provoking, honest and cut through all the crap. Reading this Q&A with the 2011 'celebrity' version of Genesis P-Orridge and comparing and contrasting with the old TG interviews really makes me wonder where it all went wrong?

William S Burroughs live at The Haçienda, Manchester, 4 October 1982, as part of The Final Academy (I was there!)

The Final Academy was a series of events curated by the newly-formed Psychic TV to showcase and celebrate the work and influence of William S Burroughs. The main event was in London, but a second, smaller event was held at Manchester's newest nightclub The Haçienda, owned by Factory Records and later to become famous as one of the first clubs to introduce house, acid house and techno to the UK. The line-up for the Haçienda event included John Giorno, William S Burroughs and video projections by Psychic TV (taken from the infamous First Transmission video). As a Haçienda member (an alcohol licence was only granted on condition that The Haçienda opened as a members-only club due to pressure from other nightclubs in the area - a condition that was later dropped) and massive Psychic TV fan, this was one of my favourite nights in the early years of The Haçienda.

Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson remembered by Stephen Thrower in The Wire

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Stephen Thrower (Cyclobe and ex-Coil) has written a touching and very personal tribute to 'Uncle Sleazy' in the latest edition of The Wire, on sale now in paper and digital editions.

Psychic TV 'Themes' box set to be released 23 December

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Cold Spring Records have announced the release of the Themes CD box set from Psychic TV:

"For the first time, all THEMES albums by PSYCHIC TV released together, in a sumptuous, matt laminate, spot-varnished box set. The music itself was designed not only as soundtrack but also for subsequent use by Initiates of The Temple Ov Psychick Youth in their rituals as Functional music intended only to aid in the process of making things happen. It is a practical tool. Thee essential collection of rare, archive and modern PTV ritual / esoteric musick! Each CD is presented in it's own matt laminate, spot-varnished mini-LP sleeve. The box also includes a 28-page booklet of rare photos and essays."

Unfortunately, Genesis P-Orridge's petty re-writing of PTV history appears to continue with this box set, and any mention of Paula P-Orridge/Alaura O'Dell's involvement early Psychic TV seems to have been removed.

The box set is released on 23 December 2010 and you can order it here.

Some more pictures from Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson's funeral ceremony

 Again, many thanks to Bee for permission to reproduce his pictures.

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The first set of pictures can be found here.

Peter Christopherson obituary from BBC Radio 4's 'The Last Word'

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A very nice tribute from Matthew Bannister on BBC Radio 4's obituary show 'The Last Word' with contributions from Cosey Fanni Tutti and Aubrey Powell.

Shortened clip via Industrial Records