Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson of Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, Coil: 1955-2010

Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson, musician, designer, and member of the pioneering "industrial music" band Throbbing Gristle, of Coil, and related projects, has died.

A message on the TG website reads:

"We are saddened to announce the death of Peter Christopherson.
Sleazy passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 24th November 2010 at his home in Bangkok."

Our respect and condolences to his friends and creative partners.

(Photo courtesy Chris Carter; more portraits of Sleazy by Chris on Flickr)

Link to a BBC 6Music Tribute broadcast today for the passing of Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson. (audio)

Guardian obituary.

This summer, after Throbbing Gristle concerts were cancelled amid rumours of an illness, Christopherson insisted: "We are all only temporary curators of our present bodies, which will all decay, sooner or later. In a hundred years or so all the humans currently alive will have died. I take great comfort in knowing, with certainty, that thing that makes us special, able to enrich our own lives and those of others, will not cease when our bodies do but will be just starting a new (and hopefully even better) adventure ... "

Related:

YouTube: Boing Boing - The Throbbing Gristle Interview

Throbbing Gristle: What A Day. (Boing Boing Video shoot notes)

Boing Boing Video: The Throbbing Gristle Interview

• [silly bobs]

  i was lucky enough to share a meal and hang out in italy with Jhonn and Peter at a festival, lovely fellas they were.

  R.I.P. Peter.

• [kaini]

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqnVneEBpgQ

  such an amazing track. 1979!

• [Anonymous]

  He will remain immortal & missed through thee memories We have ov His creativity, productivity and generousity….Adios Friend

• [blendergasket]

  I expect the afterworld “feels” a bit like later COIL sounds.

• [bjacques]

  There are people who’ve never heard of Coil or TG but still know Sleazy’s work quite well. He was co-founder of Hipgnosis, whose album cover art blew many a mind in the 1970s and 1980s. May he have a speedy journey to the Western Lands.

• [peebz]

  Very sad news indeed. In my view he was the most creative and imaginative of all the early industrial pioneers. His influence has been enormous.

• [Guesstimate Jones]

  Just the other day, I happened to be listening to the mp3 recordings I made of KFJC’s Day of Throbbing Gristle, from 2009…

• [Anonymous]

  Coil is reunited.
  R.I.P. Sleazy, you will be missed.

• [glamaFez]

  Now I can never die happy.

• [mobilization.com]

  A few weeks out from this, and I still have no words to fully express my feelings around this unfathomable loss. This will take a long time to process…

• [kaini]

  very sad and shocking news. the man’s contribution as a member of coil and throbbing griste, as an artist, and as an electronic music pioneer was huge.

  time to break out horse rotorvator… i’ll be listening to a lot of coil tonight.

• [Anonymous]

  sadness.

• [Anonymous]

  just was too early. a great artist.

• [neph13]

  sadness. :(

• [Xenu]

  Sad!

• [Anonymous]

  This man has brought me more musical joy than I ever knew possible.

• [Anonymous]

  People don’t always know how much of an influence he really was. He was an understated, doing the work behind the scenes kind of guy. At least his passing might earn him more of the recognition he deserves. I’m truly saddened by the loss of this creative force.

• [Joseph93]

  this a ******* tragedy. rip sleazy. my thought are with his friends and family. i was lucky enough to see him perform as The Threshold HouseBoys Choir – a musical inspiration beyond compare. his music and philosophies will live forever in us. 93

• [Anonymous]

  horrible. he was an inspiration.

• [Nawel]

  sad news indeed

• [scifijazznik]

  He’ll make an interesting addition to the great jam band in the sky. My love to Genesis, Chris, & Cosey. This is a stunning and sad loss.

• [user23]

  Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

  PTV/Coil & TOPY were 3 of the most important influences in my life.

  Thank you Sleazy for…being. Words can’t express…

  Love is the law, love under will.

• [cherry shiva]

  this thanksgiving day i am thankful for TG, COIL, and inspired, defiant, creative freaks everywhere…

  • [mindysan33]

    Me too. Sad news, none the less.

    • [Quiet Wyatt]

      I’m still not over the loss of Jhonn Balance… and now Peter joins him. Many thanks for all the wonderful music, Sleazy.

• [Anonymous]

  I am so sad to hear of this. Sleazy, you will be missed by many. Thank you for everything.

• [greyishblue]

  You truly are a big inspiration for me in my life both artistically and spiritually, Sleazy. Thank you for the imprint you’ve left in my psyche creatively.

  May your glorious contribution to music be remembered by those whose art matters…every now & again! ;)

  Cheers mate!
  Aum.

• [andrew brandou]

  this morning, thanksgiving, i was woken up by my roommate telling me we had a problem.

  it was a dead coyote my doorstep.

  we looked at it and thought if it was somehow symbolic.

  to get it out of my mind, i turned to boing boing.

  now i know .