Psychic TV

Psychic TV
Company type	Collective
Industry	Music, Video art
Founded	1981
Founder	Genesis P-Orridge, Alex Fergusson
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Experimental music albums, video art

Psychic TV—also referred to as PTV or Psychick TV—was an innovative English collective focused on experimental video art and music, established in 1981 by performance artist Genesis P-Orridge and songwriter Alex Fergusson after the dissolution of Throbbing Gristle. Over their career, the group produced more than one hundred full-length albums.

Notable collaborators involved with Psychic TV included artists such as Coil, Current 93, Monte Cazazza, Larry Thrasher, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Soft Cell, Fred Giannelli, Hafler Trio, The Cult, Master Musicians of Jajouka, William Breeze, Derek Jarman, John Gosling, Timothy Leary, Rose McDowall, Andrew Weatherall, and Z'EV. Alongside the band, Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (T.O.P.Y.) was founded to serve as a philosophical and organizational branch, operating similarly to a devoted fan community with cult-like characteristics.

Psychic TV was instrumental in the early development of acid house music, issuing influential faux compilations such as Jack the Tab and Tekno Acid Beat that helped spread the genre’s popularity. Some credit Genesis Breyer P-Orridge with coining the phrase "acid house." Following their disbandment in 1999, the group reassembled under the name PTV3 with a refreshed lineup in 2003, ultimately concluding activities in 2020 after P-Orridge’s passing.

History

Since Genesis P-Orridge was predominantly responsible for Psychic TV’s lyrics, the band’s evolution closely reflects the main songwriter active during each phase.

1981–87: Alex Fergusson era

Formed in 1981 by Genesis P-Orridge (formerly of Throbbing Gristle) and Alex Fergusson, who had roots in punk and experimental music with Alternative TV, Psychic TV’s name combined P-Orridge’s "Psychic" with "TV," derived from Fergusson’s earlier band. In 1982, ex-Throbbing Gristle member Peter Christopherson joined, enhancing the project’s visual dimension. P-Orridge characterized Psychic TV as "a video group who does music unlike a music group which makes music videos."

Their first live performance occurred in Autumn 1982 at an event called the "Final Academy," held in tribute to William S. Burroughs. The debut studio album, Force the Hand of Chance, was released in November 1982 through Some Bizzare Records with distribution by WEA International; its single "Just Drifting" followed in December. The subsequent album, Dreams Less Sweet (1983), combined P-Orridge’s lyrics with Fergusson’s compositions and pop elements alongside experimental contributions from Christopherson and John Balance, who would later co-found Coil. Vocals by Marc Almond of Soft Cell were also featured.

Their live performances, including appearances at the Berlin Atonal festival, often incorporated improvised noise until Christopherson departed and Fergusson brought in new musicians. In 1986, Psychic TV initiated an ambitious series of 23 live albums—each recorded in a different country—released monthly on the 23rd over nearly two years. This project earned them recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest number of records released within a single year, although it was discontinued after 17 volumes. Nearing the end of this period, Fergusson and P-Orridge completed their third studio album, Allegory and Self, which was recorded in 1986 but issued in 1988. Fergusson departed early in 1987 due to disagreements regarding management.

1988–92: Fred Giannelli era

Throughout this timeframe, Fred Giannelli, Dave Ball (of Soft Cell), Richard Norris, John Gosling, engineer Richard Evans, and other techno musicians produced tracks under the Psychic TV name and various aliases. This approach was designed to simulate a vibrant UK acid house movement by presenting fabricated "compilations" featuring fictitious artists. Significant studio albums from this period include Jack the Tab – Acid Tablets Volume One (1988), Tekno Acid Beat (1988), Towards Thee Infinite Beat (1990; credited to Psychic TV), and Beyond Thee Infinite Beat (1992; containing remixes of tracks from Towards). Live performances during these years primarily showcased material from these albums. Between 1988 and 1990, Psychic TV maintained a consistent live lineup, extensively touring throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe.

In 1990, Psychic TV issued "I.C. Water," a single from Towards Thee Infinite Beat, commemorating the tenth anniversary of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis's passing. The release featured cover art with hand-drawn elements inspired by Curtis.

During the early 1990s, Howard Thompson, vice-president at Elektra Records, aimed to sign Psychic TV to Almo Sounds, a new label launched by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss following A&M Records' acquisition. Genesis P-Orridge, Fred Giannelli, and Matthew Best recorded demo tracks at Brilliant Studios in San Francisco; nevertheless, Almo Sounds declined four songs: "Snowflake," "Intoxication," "E-Lusive," and "Avatar." Concurrently, the band performed at events hosted by Oakland's Mr Floppy's Flophouse.

1992–93: exile

In 1992, a video linked to Psychic TV was mistakenly presented as proof of Satanic ritual abuse on Channel 4's documentary series Dispatches. Initially stating that they had been deported, P-Orridge later disclosed that they had opted not to return to England after traveling to Kathmandu, funded by the sale of an Austin Osman Spare painting for US$10,000. Following interactions with Tibetan refugees there, P-Orridge entered a period of "self-imposed exile" in California due to fears about unjust treatment in the UK amid police investigations and sensationalist media coverage.

Shortly after settling in the United States, P-Orridge experienced a difficult divorce. Most creative output during this phase consisted of reissues of earlier albums released by industrial music labels recognizing P-Orridge's impact on the genre.

1993–1999: Larry Thrasher era

In 1992, Kim Cascone, founder of Silent Records, introduced P-Orridge to Larry Thrasher, co-founder of the American experimental noise group Thessalonians from the mid-1980s. This collaboration marked Psychic TV’s resurgence into psychedelic pop music, with Thrasher co-producing and co-writing the critically praised albums Trip/Reset and Cold Blue Torch. They also ventured into experimental projects centered around P-Orridge's spoken word poetry, particularly evident in works such as Thee Fractured Garden and Breathe. The album Thee Fractured Garden typified this era by merging ambient music, sampled sounds, and collages with spoken word performances. This partnership spawned side projects like Splinter Test and later Thee Majesty, which concentrated on spoken word alongside sonic experimentation.

Additional notable releases included Electric Newspapers—an open source collection of sample CDs combining sampling techniques with stream-of-consciousness listening experiences. Content for these six planned volumes (four released) was sourced from PTV CDs featuring Thrasher and collaborators including Skinny Puppy. The Electric Newspaper project aimed to preserve PTV’s sample archives following the destruction of their entire sampling library in a catastrophic fire at the Houdini Mansion located in Laurel Canyon. The 18,000-square-foot mansion was engulfed in flames during an incident that severely injured P-Orridge—who escaped by leaping from a bedroom window alongside members of Love and Rockets. P-Orridge underwent two years of recovery at Cedar Sinai hospital for life-threatening injuries sustained during the fire. Subsequently, they successfully pursued a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Rick Rubin, owner of the property. The injuries resulted in permanent disability in one arm requiring surgical insertion of a metal plate and eight screws.

By 1998, P-Orridge shifted primary focus toward spoken word performance, leading Campagna to depart in order to pursue other ventures. P-Orridge then concentrated on developing Thee Majesty, which featured Larry Thrasher and Bryin Dall.

In 2005, Voiceprint Records in England reissued several early Psychic TV and Genesis P-Orridge albums under Thee Majesty’s name alongside a new album recorded with Cotton Ferox. That same year saw the release of Mary Never Wanted Jesus, credited to Genesis P-Orridge & Thee Majesty—a blend of archival PTV material combined with fresh recordings. Psychic TV’s final rock concert took place in 1999 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, coinciding with P-Orridge’s return from exile in the UK.

2003–2020: Revival and the Era of PTV3 with Edley ODowd

Motivated by drummer Edley ODowd from Toilet Böys, Genesis revitalized Psychic TV, unveiling a fresh ensemble in 2003 under the name PTV3 in New York. This formation featured Edley ODowd on drums, Alice Genese handling bass, Douglas Rushkoff on keyboards, and Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge operating the sampler. Their performances included video art by Sam Zimmerman of Crash Worship. By September 2004, the group embarked on an extensive tour spanning sixteen countries across Europe and North America. In 2005, they produced their first album in over ten years, while P-Orridge simultaneously collaborated with Throbbing Gristle on their first album after a 25-year hiatus. Additional concerts throughout Europe followed.

In early 2006, Genesis P-Orridge announced the forthcoming album Hell Is Invisible... Heaven Is Her/e, recorded in New York and featuring guest contributions from Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Gibby Haynes of Butthole Surfers. P-Orridge characterized this work as "The Dark Side of the Moon for the 21st century."

The lineup for 2006 included Genesis Breyer P-Orridge providing vocals and "noise bass," Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge on samples, Edley ODowd on drums, Alice Genese playing bass, David Max on guitar, Markus Aurelius Cirkus Maximus Dangerous Fabulous Persson handling keyboards, and Zef Noi$e performing electric violin. Their live shows integrated sophisticated video lighting designed by Sterile Cowboys & Co., showcasing visuals connected to Breyer P-Orridge’s exploration of 'pandrogyny.'

PTV3 held a five-night residency at Williamsburg’s Galapagos Art Space in September 2006 to debut Hell Is Invisible... Heaven Is Her/e, followed by a European tour that included stops in Sheffield, Birmingham, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Moscow. The album officially launched in 2007.

In February 2007, the Fee Lee label released Live in Russia, a live album capturing their performance. That same year saw Psychic TV appear at the ZXZW festival.

On 9 October 2007, Lady Jaye passed away unexpectedly due to an undiagnosed heart condition linked to her prolonged battle with stomach cancer. Her death occurred in the arms of Genesis and was chronicled in Marie Losier’s 2011 documentary "The Ballad Of Genesis And Lady Jaye."

December 2008 marked the release of Mr. Alien Brain vs. The Skinwalkers on CD-DVD by PTV3—their first full-length project following Lady Jaye’s passing. The duo had been engaged in 'pandrogyny,' undergoing plastic surgeries to achieve gender neutrality and closely resemble one another.

Genesis P-Orridge was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia in October 2017 and died in New York City on 14 March 2020 at age 70.

Live performances

Psychic TV has maintained an extensive live presence featuring a rotating cast of musicians. Approximately half of their discography consists of live recordings, including an ambitious series where seventeen live albums were released within eighteen months—a feat recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

On 4 November 2009, Genesis P-Orridge declared retirement from touring to concentrate on artistic endeavors, writing, and studio work. Despite this announcement, PTV3 briefly toured Europe again in 2013 and continued to perform sporadically across the United States and other locations.

In 2016, Psychic TV undertook an international tour supporting their release of Alienist.

Timeline

Final roster

Genesis P-Orridge – lead vocals, lyricist, production
Edward "Edley" ODowd – drums, production
Jeff Berner – guitar
Alice Genese – bass guitar
John Weingarten – keyboards

Key past members

Alex Fergusson – guitar, bass, vocals, production
Peter Christopherson – keyboards, production
Paula P-Orridge – vocals, percussion, tape manipulation
Matthew Best – drums
Fred Giannelli – guitar, keyboards, production
Larry Thrasher – various instruments, production
Jessica Stewart – keyboards, flute

External Links