John Balance

For the 19th-century New Zealand premier, see John Ballance.
John Balance

John Balance
Background information
Birth name Geoffrey Laurence Burton
Also known as John Balance, Jhonn Balance, Jhon Balance
Born (1962-02-16)16 February 1962
Origin Mansfield, England
Died 13 November 2004(2004-11-13) (aged 42)
Genres Industrial, ambient, electronic, acid house, drone, noise
Occupation(s) Musician, poet
Instruments Vocals, synthesizer, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, chapman stick, organ, violin
Years active 1979–2004
Labels Chalice, Threshold House, Eskaton
Associated acts Coil, Psychic TV

John Balance (first name also spelled Jhon and Jhonn); a pseudonym for Geoffrey Laurence Burton, later Geoff(rey) or Geff Rushton (his stepfather's last name) (16 February 1962 – 13 November 2004), was an English[1] musician, poet and a co-founder of the experimental music group Coil, in collaboration with his partner Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson.[2][3] He was responsible for vocals, lyrics, chants, synthetics and various esoteric sound-making instruments and devices. Outside of Coil he collaborated with Nurse with Wound, Death in June, Psychic TV, Current 93, Chris & Cosey,[4] Thighpaulsandra and produced several Nine Inch Nails remixes.[5] His early work and wide-ranging collaborations made him one of the most influential figures in the industrial, experimental minimalist and neofolk music scenes.

Balance died on 13 November 2004, after falling from a two story balcony at his home.[6] Peter Christopherson announced Balance's death on the Threshold House website, and provided details surrounding the accident. Balance's memorial service was held near Bristol on 23 November, and was attended by approximately 100 people.[7] November 2014 saw the publication of a retrospective volume of his art called "Bright Lights and Cats with no Mouths" by Edition Timeless.[8]

Discography

Balance first recorded using the alias "Merderwerkers". The Merderwerkers track, "Blue Funk (Scars for E)", was included on the Sterile Records cassette compilation Standard Response. Balance also published an underground zine, Stabmental,[9] and released a track, "A Thin Veil of Blood", also using the nom du guerre Stabmental. "A Thin Veil of Blood" was included on the cassette compilation Deleted Funtime – Various Tunes for Various Loons. Balance then joined up with Peter Christopherson and Boyd Rice to record Nightmare Culture under the moniker "The Sickness of Snakes". Balance subsequently joined Psychic TV and performed alongside Christopherson; however in 1984, Balance and Christopherson left the group to develop Coil.[10] A short collaboration with Zos Kia produced the split tape Transparent.[11] Credit for the album was shared, and marked Coil's first release. The original Coil / Zos Kia tape, Transparent, was released as a "His-Storical" CD reissue in 1997.[12]

During Coil's 23-year career, Balance collaborated with a number of his peers, including Jim Thirlwell/Clint Ruin (Foetus), Marc Almond, Thighpaulsandra, NON, Current 93, and CoH; appearing on many of these artists' albums.

With Psychic TV

With Coil

Main article: Coil discography

Other groups

Other contributions

Date of first pressing Song title Released on Group name released under Musical Role
1981 "Yellowsong" Video Rideo Cultural Amnesia organ and violin
1982 Endzeit (various) compiled songs on compilation
1983 "Here to Go" Sinclair's Luck Cultural Amnesia wrote lyrics, also designed packaging and sleeve notes for album
1983 "Scar for E" The Uncle of the Boot Cultural Amnesia wrote lyrics
1983 Music for Hashashins Vagina Dentata Organ created wolf growl sample (along with Peter Christopherson) and helped in the recording process of the album
1984 January LAShTAL Current 93 featuring
1985 Bar Maldoror Current 93 bass guitar, miscellaneous
1985 Live at Bar Maldoror: Gyllensköld, Geijerstam And Friends Nurse with Wound featuring
1985 The Sylvie and Babs Hi-Fi Companion Nurse with Wound featuring
1986 Happy Birthday Pigface Christus Current 93 featuring
1986 In Menstrual Night Current 93 featuring
1987 "Europa: The Gates of Heaven" To Drown a Rose Death in June vocals
1987 "We Are The Lust" Brown Book Death in June co-wrote and appears on track
1987 Dawn Current 93 bass guitar, miscellaneous
1987 Imperium Current 93
1988 Earth Covers Earth Current 93 performer
1988 "Anti-Christ Anti-Christian" Peyrere Current 93 performer
1988 Swastikas for Noddy Current 93 featuring
1988 The Red Face of God Current 93 featuring
1989 Crooked Crosses for the Nodding God Current 93 vocals
1991 A Document of Early Acoustic & Tactical Experimentation Lustmord featuring
1992 "LAShTAL", "Salt" Nature Unveiled Current 93 performer
1992 "All the Stars Are Dead Now", "Rosy Star Tears from Heaven" Thunder Perfect Mind Current 93 vocals
1993 The Nodding Folk The Apocalyptic Folk In The Nodding God Unveiled
1993 "Great Black Time I (Excerpt)", "Sucking Up Souls (Excerpt)", "Great Black Time II (Excerpt)", "Great Black Time III (Excerpt)", "Maldoror Is Ded Ded Ded Ded" Emblems: The Menstrual Years Current 93 featuring
1993 "Hitler As Kalki (SDM)", "Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow" Hitler As Kalki Current 93 featuring
1994 "Lucifer Over London Parts I & II" Lucifer Over London Current 93 vocals
1995 "Where the Long Shadows Fall (Beforetheinmostlight)" Where the Long Shadows Fall (Beforetheinmostlight) Current 93 vocals
1996 "The Long Shadow Falls", "Twilight Twilight Nihil Nihil", "The Inmost Light Itself" All the Pretty Little Horses Current 93 vocals
1998 "To Drown a Rose" Kameradschaft Death in June provides vocals, this is an outtake version of the song
1999 "Grief" Borderlands Tactile provides vocals
1999 "The Snow Man" The Final Solstice Rosa Mundi provides vocals
1999 "Lucifer Over London" Calling for Vanished Faces Current 93 vocals
1999 "Misery Farm" Misery Farm Current 93 featuring
2000 "Silence Is Golden" Vox Tinnitus CoH wrote lyrics
2000 March 1 "Black Nurse", "Tudor Fruits" Some Head EP Thighpaulsandra vocals
2001 "Love's Septic Domain (Health & Deficiency)" Love Uncut CoH provides vocals, duet with Louise Weasel
2001 Cats Drunk On Copper Current 93 featuring
2001 August 6 Fouled The Michel Publicity Window E.P. Thighpaulsandra "vocals and text", album art
2001 Optical Black I, Thighpaulsandra Thighpaulsandra "vocals and text"
2003 June 23 "He Tastes of the Sea" Double Vulgar Thighpaulsandra featuring
2004 "Lucifer Over London" Sixsixsix Sicksicksick Current 93 vocals
2004 "E2 = Tree 3" Toilet Chants Black Sun Productions provides vocals
2005 "Fj Nettlefold", "Make Room for the Mushrooms" A Nature of Nonsense Aural Rage vocals, written by
2005 "A List of Wishes" operettAmorale Black Sun Productions vocals
2005 December 23 "Christ's Teeth" ...It Just Is Thighpaulsandra vocals
2006 February "Star Malloy" Not Alone Thighpaulsandra ARP 2600 synthesizer
2006 July 1 "A Tree Now" The Impossibility of Silence Black Sun Productions provides vocals (howling)
2007 July "Fetish for Today", "Scars for E", "Here to Go" Enormous Savages Cultural Amnesia wrote lyrics
2007 November "Hot in the House", "Scars for E (alternate take 2)", "Spoilt Children" Press My Hungry Button Cultural Amnesia wrote lyrics, album cover features sleeve notes by Balance dating from 1983
2007 November "Scars for E (alternate take 1)" Still Hungry Cultural Amnesia wrote lyrics
2009 May "Fetish for Today", "Scars for E", "Here to Go" Enormous Savages Enlarged Cultural Amnesia wrote lyrics

References

  1. ↑ "JOHN BALANCE". brainwashed.com. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Smith, Richard (11 December 2004), "Obituary: John Balance", The Guardian, retrieved 22 August 2007.
  3. ↑ Brandon; Genesis P-Orridge (29 November 2010). [e First Five Minutes After Death: Various Artists Remember Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson "The First Five Minutes After Death: Various Artists Remember Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson (UPDATE: Genesis P-Orridge eulogy)"] Check |url= value (help). Steriogum. BUZZMedia. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  4. ↑ Scott Treleaven (11 March 2001). "Coil". disinformation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  5. ↑ Nick Kushner (2004–2012). "Coil and the Occult" (Article). nachtkabarett.com. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "John Balance 1962–2004". heathenharvest.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson (30 November 2004). "John Balance". Threshold House. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Coulthart, John (13 November 2014). "Peter Christopherson Photography & The Art of John Balance Collected". { feuilleton }. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Stabmental". culturalamnesia.com. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "They Are Going To Take Me Away Ha Ha, 1984" (Interview from 'zine (PDF)). Coil Text Archive. Brainwashed Inc. 1984. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  11. ↑ Christoph Fringeli (1986). "Introduction: COIL – Interview from 1986" (Interview). Datacide. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  12. ↑ Coil (14 July 1997). "Coil: news 1997". Brainwashed Inc. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
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