Nothing quite like it, though back in the day I rather liked Wraith, a more industrial goth version and less punk. There were times back at the start of the 90s when Slimelight would start to get heavy at 4 in the morning and I’d be weighing up a nightbus home. Wraith on the other hand had enough to keep me interested until sun up and a bleary tube train home.
We Lie and We Cheat
We are men of the millennium
We lie and we cheat
We can’t find our way
So we use who we meet
There’s nothing we can’t do
Nothing we can’t take
So we’ll eat you
Steal what we can’t make
Pollute what is pure
Rape all we find
Taking from the poor
Stealing from the blind
Time has made us cruel
We feel so strong
Hatred is our fuel
Our reason is so wrong
Nothing we can’t do
No one we can’t hate
We can’t turn back
It’s just too late
Reaching for stars
Crippled by fear
Falling to Earth
Our time is near
Lyrics by Paul Toohill
Flying High, No Way Down. The Stars, My Crown
Life support is falling
Ground control isn’t calling
Time is passing slowing down
Oxygen is running out
Sirens sound a warning
So clear this morning
Batteries about to die
So blue the sky
Flying high no way down
The stars my crown
My life machine
My glory obscene
All I see is open sky
All I need is why
Diagnosis deception
It screams rejection
My lights they flicker
Descent is quicker
Destiny is coming down
No chance to turn around
Controls no response
See me just once
White light in my face
Impact my embrace
Flashing light
Heart beat getting faster
Cold fear is my master
Cold sweat kills my time
All my readings flatline
Flatline!
Lyrics by Paul Toohill
Photographs Published in New Book on EBM
I am thrilled to announce that some of my historical artist and band photographs have been included in a new book about Electronic Body Music called Elektronische Korpermusik and written by Yuma Hampejs and Marcel Schulze. This book is a comprehensive and fascinating exploration of the history, culture and aesthetics of this genre of music that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It features interviews, essays, reviews and photos of some of the most influential and innovative artists and bands in the scene. I just wish I could read German to enjoy it more!
My photos included include Clock DVA, Dive, Nitzer Ebb and Insekt: some of the pioneers and legends of electronic body music, who combined electronic and industrial sounds, electronic beats, aggressive vocals and provocative performances to create a unique and powerful musical expression. I had the privilege of capturing some of their live shows and backstage moments with my camera, and I am honoured that they are now part of this amazing book.
If you are a fan of electronic body music or curious about its origins and evolution, I highly recommend you check out Elektronische Korpermusik. It is a must-have for anyone who appreciates this genre of music and its impact on the contemporary musical landscape.
Chicken Head
We all know a Chicken Head.
In The End, It Doesn’t Even Matter
Many years ago I found myself alone in my studio with an Access Virus on loan for the evening.