PSYCHIC TV
and
and
Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth
or TOPY
Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth or TOPY was a fellowship founded in 1981 by members of Psychic TV, Coil, Current 93, and a number of other individuals.The ever-evolving network is a loosely federated group of people operating as a unique blend of artistic collective, and practitioners of magic.
TOPY is dedicated to the manifestation of magical concepts lacking mysticism or the worship of gods. The group focuses on the psychic and magical aspects of the human brain linked with "guiltless sexuality". TOPY's research has covered both left hand and right hand ritual magic and elements of psychology, art and music. Brion Gysin, the Process Church of the Final Judgement, William S. Burroughs, Aleister Crowley and Austin Osman Spare have stood out as major influences.
On the 23rd hour (11:00pm) of the 23rd day of each month TOPY members were encouraged to make magical sigils. If an individual chose to do so, they were invited to mail their sigils to a central location where the magical energy in them could be used to enhance each other.
The reason for the use of "TOPY cant", such as the spelling of "thee" and "ov" in the network's name, derives from the writings of Genesis P-Orridge, which advocate a deconstruction of 'normal' or consensus modes of communication in order to achieve a more integrated understanding of the Self.
In the early 1990s a "rift" occurred within the network when Genesis P-Orridge of Psychic TV, one of the few founding members still involved at that time, and probably the most famous public face of TOPY during the 1980s, announced his departure from the organization. This was later exacerbated when he later claimed that he had shut down the network upon his leaving. The remaining members of the network chose not to go along with this and carried on with their activities. TOPY continued to grow and evolve throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century while Genesis P-Orridge moved on to other projects such as The Process, as well as a similar project to TOPY called Topi.
In 2008, TOPY underwent its biggest change as it evolved into the Autonomous Individuals Network (AIN). The new organisation was built on the foundations of the TOPY network and "all the history and knowledge that community has gathered since its creation in the 1980s"
Psychic TV (sometimes spelled Psychick TV) or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music. The band was formed by performance artist Genesis P-Orridge and video director Peter Christopherson (after the break up of Throbbing Gristle) with Alex Fergusson, musician and producer (a key member of Alternative TV for whom P-Orridge had played percussion).
The band began publishing a monthly series of 23 live albums in 1986, but stopped without explanation after only 17. The tenth, a picture disk most commonly referred to as Album 10, could only be obtained by submitting tokens contained in each of the previous nine releases. The band subsequently earned an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for most records released in one year.
T.O.P.Y. was formed as an organisation at the same time as the band. T.O.P.Y. was intended to be the philosophical wing of Psychic TV, but also presented an image of being a cult-like fanclub for the group. P-Orridge left it in 1991.
The band began publishing a monthly series of 23 live albums in 1986, but stopped without explanation after only 17. The tenth, a picture disk most commonly referred to as Album 10, could only be obtained by submitting tokens contained in each of the previous nine releases. The band subsequently earned an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for most records released in one year.
T.O.P.Y. was formed as an organisation at the same time as the band. T.O.P.Y. was intended to be the philosophical wing of Psychic TV, but also presented an image of being a cult-like fanclub for the group. P-Orridge left it in 1991.
The irony of a song about Brian Jones themed around some Keef-alike riffing is not lost on me. But it doesn't detract from one of the best singles of the 1980s. And one of the biggest commerical successes for PTV.
I don't think Genesis had a lot to do with this song. Gen only paid for the studio time and drove Caresse to the studio, dropped her off and left us to make this version. Was recorded in the summer of 1988. Caresse was about 7 when we recorded it. She wasn't able to remember all the words at the same time so we had to stop tape and punch in every line. Still sounded like she spoke back then. She was very focused and did her vocals in a few hours at the studio