Throbbing Gristle (formed on September 3, 1975, in London) is a British experimental music and industrial music group that evolved from the performance art group COUM Transmissions. The founding members of Throbbing Gristle were Chris Carter, Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti and Peter Christopherson (sometimes known as "Sleazy").

Their confrontational live performances and use of often disturbing imagery, including pornography and photographs of Nazi concentration camps, gave the group a notorious reputation. However the group always maintained that their mission was to challenge and explore the darker and obsessive sides of the human condition rather than to make attractive music. Throbbing Gristle pioneered the use of pre-recorded samples, and made extensive use of special effects to produce a distinctive, highly distorted background, usually accompanied by lyrics or spoken-word performances by Genesis P-Orridge.

In 1977 they released their debut recording, 2nd Annual Report. Although pressed in a limited initial run of 786 copies on the band's own Industrial Records label, it was later re-released due to high demand.

Throbbing Gristle broke up in 1981, with founders Genesis P-Orridge and Peter Christopherson going on to form Psychic TV, whilst Cosey Fanni Tutti and Chris Carter continued to record together under the name of Chris and Cosey. Christopherson later went on to become half of the band Coil with fellow Psychic TV member John Balance.

Whilst together in Berlin, the band also finished recording their first studio album in almost 25 years. Titled Part Two. It was set to be released by Mute in September 2006 but has since been delayed for unknown reasons.

A 7-disc DVD set, titled TVG, is also scheduled to be released in 2007[1].

The group's name is British (Hull) slang for an erect penis (though 'throbbing gristle' could also refer to the heart). In an episode of the 1980s TV comedy programme Only When I Laugh, written by Yorkshireman Eric Chappell, the character Figgis, played by James Bolam, refers to a greyhound called Throbbing Gristle. It is unlikely the TV censors of the time were aware of the full significance of the reference when they approved the script.

Throbbing Gristle were influenced by the pioneering 60s experimental band Fifty Foot Hose, The Velvet Underground, Can, and classical composers such as John Cage and La Monte Young.

• The Second Annual Report (1977)
• D.o.A: The Third and Final Report (1978)
• 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979)
• Heathen Earth (1980)
• Greatest Hits - Entertainment Through Pain (1980)
• In the Shadow Of The Sun (1981)
• Journey Through A Body (1982)
• TG Now (LP/CD) (2004)
• A Taste Of TG (CD) (2004)
• Mutant TG (2xLP/CD) (2004)
• Part Two (CD) (2007 April 01)

• United/Zyklon B Zombie (7") (1978)
• We Hate You (Little Girls)/Five Knuckle Shuffle (7") (1979)
• Adrenalin/Distant Dreams (Part Two) (7") (1980)
• Subhuman/Something Came Over Me (7") (1980)
• Discipline (7") (1981)

• Best Of.... Volume I
• Best Of.... Volume II
• Pastimes/Industrial Muzak

• Grief
• Assume Power Focus 1982
• Blood Pressure (CD) 1995
• First Annual Report (LP/CD) 2001

• Post Punk
• Industrial music
• Coil
• Psychic TV
• Chris and Cosey

• RE/Search: Industrial Culture Handbook
• "Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984", Simon Reynolds
• "Wreckers of Civilization: The Story of Coum Transmissions and "Throbbing Gristle", Simon Ford, Black Dog Publishing, 2001

• The official Throbbing Gristle site
• The best online Throbbing Gristle resource
• Interview with Throbbing Gristle, December 2002 (requires Flash)
• Throbbing Gristle Live Show/CD discussion group
• Official Coil site
• Another Coil site
• Genesis P-Orridge's official site
• Official site for Carter Tutti, CTI and Chris & Cosey
• Chris Carter's homepage
• Cosey Fanni Tutti's homepage