John Balance

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.

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,^[6] 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.^[7] A short collaboration with Zos Kia produced the split tape Transparent.^[8] 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.^[9]

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

• Dreams Less Sweet
• Just Drifting
• Berlin Atonal Vol. 2
• N.Y. Scum
• Thee City ov Tokyo/Thee City ov New York
• Mein-Goett-In-Gen

With Coil

Other groups

• Merderwerkers: "Blue Funk (Scars for E)" on Sterile Records compilation Standard Response. (1979)
• Stabmental: "A Thin Veil of Blood" on compilation Deleted Funtime - Various Tunes for Various Loons. (1980)
• Sickness of Snakes: Nightmare Culture (1985)
• Rosa Mundi: "The Snow Man" on compilations The Final Solstice, The Final Solstice II and split album Grief. (1999)

Other contributions

Death

Balance died on 13 November 2004, after falling from a two-storey balcony at his home.^[10] 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.^[11] November 2014 saw the publication of a retrospective volume of his art called "Bright Lights and Cats with no Mouths" by Edition Timeless.^[12]

References