it's available at the san francisco public library, hooray!

((why of course, everything is)

what do you think of this review?

'Beware of post-postmodern types name-dropping COUM and Throbbing GristleTM as the proud parents of industrial music and industrial bands like Nine Inch Nails; that's the half-assed version to expect from people who think they invented black. Here, Ford shows the patience and respect of an extragenerational fan while detailing the frenetic evolution of COUM from a hippie freak-out band to a performance art troupe to TG, an anti-rock, anti-high art missionary. Although TG's attacks on social, political, sexual, musical, and artistic mores were brave, they often bordered on the hypocritical--e.g., TG desired intimacy with its audience but used halogen lights and P.A. barricades to alienate people at live shows. Using his interviews with Chris Carter, Peter Christopherson, Genesis P-Orridge, and Cosey Fanni Tutti, Ford convincingly defends TG on every front--including its use of fascist album imagery--and proves that COUM and TG elevated civilization more than they wrecked it. A dense but enlightening work; for larger public libraries.' Heather McCormack, "Library Journal"

I always regret not buying this book when it came out. I've not read it, even. I remember, though, that the first printing was missing a section of pages. This was why I didn't buy it, waiting for the next printing. Was this ever corrected...?

WOW YES !!!

i've read it twice! one of the most INSPIRING books EVER!

.deet

Have read it cover to cover, three times thus far! The complete discography in the back helped me identify one of my TG bootleg records.