Cosey Fanni Tutti - The British Masters Season 3 - Chapter 5

After Dizzee Rascal, Jimmy Page, Bryan Ferry and Mark E Smith, it's Cosey Fanni Tuti's turn to get the British Masters treatment as she tells Noisey’s John Doran about her career as an artist and musician which has spanned four decades.
In John's own words, "Cosey's work has continually innovated, challenged and outraged since the start of the 1970s, Whether as a member of the transgressive art collective Coum Transmissions or the boundary destroying industrial group Throbbing Gristle, or as an electronic musical with her partner Chris Carter. Since the 70's, her work has brought her into direct conflict with the police, the tabloid press, the British government, the music industry and the art establishment, and despite this, she remains to this day a uniquely progressive artist."
WATCH MORE EPISODES OF THE BRITISH MASTERS
Viv Albertine: • Viv Albertine - The Br...
Mark E Smith: • Mark E Smith - The Bri...
John Lydon: • John Lydon - The Briti...
Johnny Marr: • Johnny Marr - The Brit...
Liam Gallagher: • Liam Gallagher - The B...
You Should Subscribe Here Now: bit.ly/Subscrib...
**
Subscribe to Noisey on KZbin to stay updated on our daily releases: bit.ly/Subscrib...
Videos, daily editorial and more: www.noisey.com
Like Noisey on Facebook: noisey
Follow Noisey on Twitter: / noiseymusic
Read our tumblr: / noiseymusic
Check out our Instagram: / noisey
More videos from the VICE network: www. vic...

[@coalhalo]

Cosey is a true living legend and I'm so very glad that she is finally starting to get some recognition for her trailblazing work. I can't recommend her book "art sex music" enough. After years of only hearing one side of the story, it's very satisfying to hear Cosey set the record straight. Thanks to John Doran for giving Cosey a chance to talk.

[@renedream66]

Absolutely she one of my fav artists and women in music ❤️‍🔥

[@jayveebloggs9057]

yeah odd person... extreme lifestyle on one hand and very ordinary on the other

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

One of Noisey's best interviews. She's one of the most fascinating figures in music and the interview shows that.

[@heftywefty5266]

Trance (1982) & Technø Primitiv (1985). 2 of her album titles are literally the names of 2 later major dance genres and the guys in Chicago and Detroit were massively influenced by European electronic music including Chris and Cosey. She doesn't get enough props for sure.

[@SunBleachedFries]

Her book, Art Sex Music is phenomenal! Highly recommend it for anyone interested in her work with Throbbing Gristle and beyond.

[@TheVeryBlondeOne]

I've never heard of a lead guitarist that awesome since John McLaughlin. Cosey Fanni Tutti may as well be a guitar hero to us all.

[@rochfordsnrubbs6855]

One of Hull's finest. Performing with COUM more than 10 years before I was born in the same city though sadly. Groundbreaking artist.

[@10fcull44]

No throbbing gristle, means no Cabaret Voltaire, no New Order - as we know them -... No Joy Division... well, I dread to think. God bless TB and the city of Hull.

[@montyryan3018]

Don’t know about Joy Division as I don’t think they were influenced by TG, there would be no Killing Joke, Depeche Mode or Godflesh as far as I know but in general there might not have been any industrial Music at all

[@ВладиславСмирнов-к6й]

@@montyryan3018 yes

[@colete888]

@@montyryan3018 Genesis P-Orridge was close friends with Ian Curtis, I think they definitely influenced Joy Division

[@montyryan3018]

diego matuk oh didn’t know that but it would make sense they both read the same books by William Burroughs and Friedrich Nietzsche and we’re both from around Manchester so yeh

[@whatamalike]

Nah, i think they did their own thing tbh. But without Joy division And TG and Cabs they'll be no decent music post 1982

[@cptahabvancleef89]

An absolute pioneer and hero. Genuine class.

[@Tom-wd5bs]

What a lovely woman.

[@mikesilva5085]

So down to earth and straight forward- no pretence about her practice at all . Really inspiring interview.

[@jalijali8448]

Legends,still producing excellent music. Nice one John!

[@leadmine_vinyl]

Legend!!! Can't Wait to read her book 《¤》

[@Kkidzz]

Beyond influencing today's generation..... just a bit of 'borrowing'... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4aYqYiEmdiFi6M

[@n3r0n3]

Cosey = classic!

[@angelforfreedom]

ALL. HAIL. THE. QUEEN!!!!!

[@kevcatnip7589]

please come to halifax cossi ,,,we have a great venue ,,square chapel ,,come to see us

[@pedrojosee6898]

Best guitar player ever!

[@ВладиславСмирнов-к6й]

Yes

[@joshjuanfifarek7382]

There needs to be a proper documentary of TG and Chris and Cosey. There is so much great footage floating around. It should be compiled as a dvd set. Very important work. She is so awesome ❤

[@72sunshine21]

Cosey is my favourite lead guitarist, forget Hendrix & Clapton.

[@ВладиславСмирнов-к6й]

Yes

[@jonesy2111]

Lol

[@snagle09]

clapton racist fuuckk

[@blahblah606]

Hahaha ok

[@lexzidiagonzo7837]

John Duran has LITERALLY evolved. Wow I love only one (1) man.

[@MeathookCinema]

Shes a fucking legend. Can you interview Siouxsie Sioux next?

[@vollsticks]

Fucking legend. And now....incredible writer, too. What a bloody life.

[@CS-sf1rz]

Thanks 🙏🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@Watts660]

Really good video and a very interesting woman.

[@karllux-d6g]

with no societal double moral standards in the 70s UK , TG wouldn't have had the impact and reached the relevance they are due, and, that goes almost without saying, it also ricocheted inside the music scene. Being 15 in 78, still in the age of the mag and the fanzine, there was no way one could catch with the whole thing going on , living in a Southern European country and all, but having known about them on French Rock&Folk mag, from an excellent article by Yves Adrien, and then the ensuing k7-trading circuit at my Secondary school made me realize their aim was sheer creation and creativity...the work of gods, actually. Two are dead now, two will live on and make more Music, but these four musical persons are irrefutably THE MOST SEMINAL BAND OF THE 70S in Britain, at least. Loyalty doesn't end with death, and that's the way it's going to be...

[@maurizioantoniovetrugno7150]

Yves Adrien was great in championing a lot of great musician back then from Nico to Alan Vega to TG

[@christopherbest82]

This series is amazing! I love the Mark E Smith interview, the Viv one. Really the whole series is lovely. I even enjoyed the washed up ramblings of Mr Lydon.

[@tuskedbeast]

In You Make Me Feel Mighty Real, was she the dark haired woman in the red top? They WERE choreographed (somewhat sloppily) with the other women for part of their sequence. Crazy!! Never knew this! Big fan of Sylvester and TG from way back.... two worlds colliding, super freaky!

[@cubistrebel]

2 suggestions for NOISEY British Masters. 1. Drop the background music during interview. The people being interviewed are interesting enough and do not need more “artistic” editorializing on the video image. It can be distracting and it’s mood usually clashes with what is being discussed on the video. 2. Ask your interviewers to take it easy on the syncophantic comments within the questions. I’m sure the artists have heard it all before. It’s a bit of a time waster when you fawn over the subject as a prelude to each question, especially if the question is just a simple one. A bit embarrassing I must say and I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought this watching this interview. Ciao!

[@the_local_bigamist]

Agreed.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

I also noticed there's no conversational flow. The interviewer doesn't ever seem caught off guard by an answer and in turn, delighted and intrigued enough to pursue a new line of questioning. It's quite stilted in that 'high school paper' interview style where when he has a list of questions to march through so when he gets an answer he just moves onto his new question, with maybe only a few interjections here or there. I'd like someone more intelligent to interview her and with an easier sense of engagement with the subject, someone dynamic and able to think wittily and quickly on his feet.

[@youjoker9647]

He's always arse licking especially with anyone from the North.

[@zaranski23]

I fucking love her. And the book is fantastic. Cosey up!

[@triplesevensix291]

And did those feet, in ancient times...... William fuckin' Blake man! Classic!

[@briantunzi2462]

She Looks Like That woman who played in the HBOs OZ .... But rocks on !

[@triplesevensix291]

Cosey.....what a fuckin' woman! Legend. R.I.P. Gen too. RIP IT UP Gen.

[@mickeybaumann]

on 12:00 ....yep, the oundle school gig in´80...so funny...

[@johnkowalski_]

great series

[@ononenfouanglemessager6329]

good work

[@saturnianitch8384]

Interesting.

[@officialbigalproduct]

Saturnian Itch this is

[@maxmatson1578]

wasn't that boy who wrote the letter from the school Geoff (AKA) John balance!¡¿?¡!

[@spkelse8677]

From what I understand, the boy who wrote Throbbing Gristle and asked them to play was a 17 year old named Nigel Jacklin. Balance was an 18 year old fan and in the scene when he met Christopheron. The show at the school was in 1980, which is the same year that Balance turned 18 and the year he met them. I think that is why it became lore that it was him who wrote the letter.

[@regplasma7906]

NICE SHIRT

[@devon6valentine]

te amo porla cresta

[@DJSTOEK]

🖤

[@Mistressofthegroove]

Now THAT'S a female role model right there.

[@escherita]

She's great. I like her as much as Kim Gordon. Maybe more. But hey, hats off to all the women of industrial noise!

[@alexisfannitutti7779]

Im cosey fanni tutti

[@thehowlingterror]

Interesting interview. Very annoying music in the background

[@boredsilly3]

Her autobiography is a must read along with Kim Gordon's

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

Kim Gordon's book needed more attention in the secondary editing stage. It has some unintentionally cringey passages which are at least good for a laugh. I have no idea what happened at the editor's end at the publishing house. Such a shame.

[@boredsilly3]

@@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293 Which ones? I remember a few unnecessary bits at the end

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

@@boredsilly3 I can't recall them off by heart, I read it years ago. I enjoyed the book, but only because I went in with an interest in her. The whole thing was just off, with mainly editing issues-- were they intimidated by her or rushing the publication? Can't figure it out. I felt disappointed by it having read so many much better music/art autobiographies, like Patti Smith's 'Just Kids', which I read just before Gordon's so the comparison was notable. But we all have different tastes. I do love a good recommendation in this genre though, so if you pr anyone else has a worthwhile one to suggest, I'm all ears! Have a great day, stay safe. :)

[@alexisfannitutti7779]

TG girls xoxo

[@alexanderpaschalis4795]

Make a Liam Howlett one.

[@sturdeehouse]

Is that some kind of existential statement request

[@badfreddytube]

lol. i see you

[@petecampbell3929]

She was pretty cute in her day

[@levoldunom]

I'm waiting for my copy of her book to read it.

[@neilsun2521]

I hadn't heard about the GPO abuse

[@arrowfitzgibbon7775]

nor have i. still processing those words.

[@neilsun2521]

@@arrowfitzgibbon7775 You'd think with all the anti-GPO sentiment within the Industrial community someone would've been more vocal about it before.

[@arrowfitzgibbon7775]

@@neilsun2521 i was unaware of this sentiment as well. i mean, there's definitely a low key anti - LGBTQIA sentiment in some sections of the industrial scene, so i guess i shouldn't be that surprised. i'm recording a tribute to Gen right now. this is really weird. i tend to err on the side of believing allegations of abuse.

[@neilsun2521]

@@arrowfitzgibbon7775 I don't know about any low key "anti LGBTQAIXI++". But people in the Coil group; and Rose McDowall; all had a very low opinion of him since the '80s because he wouldn't credit artists for their work on the music he sang on. That's why PTV sucked after 1986, all the way until the end. No one wanted to work with him again.

[@merlussaoficial]

hard core gristle

[@cuthere93]

The question may be irrelevant but I would like to know if her guitar had standard tuning...?

[@TbsDltn]

RIP:NAM & TG

[@TenementFunster.74]

didnt john balance organise the oundle school concert?

[@claytantor]

We just did an episode on how COUM was a type of situational folk subculture. The Richest Family - EP 8 Emergent Situational Subcultures and The Industrial Folk Phenomenon. Gets into the originals of Industrial culture including a big section on Cosey. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJapZK2sdrNgY6M

[@meninomaria7003]

JUST credit the artist for the guitar loop please, how come a Noisey Video doesn t leave references for soundbites

[@therank4167]

Heyuuu hoooooo

[@zaradragonia9863]

I read her book without knowing anything about her. Interesting 🤓

[@kadin7852]

hi john

[@luca_di_memmo_7313]

Hi

[@user-lo6vw8kv4e]

She's asmrtist???

[@martinjohnston6685]

What year is this from?

[@newforestpixie5297]

I haven’t studiedSocial History or Music in the University context but can’t help feel if this lady had been born 10 years earlier, wouldn’t she be as ‘ famous ‘ as Andy Warhol for example ? Most people over 46 with half a brain in england have heard of him but outside the Art or Indie Music world , IMO very few have. Britain doesn’t celebrate non mainstream artists bar Banksy or have just I spent too long in the cultural wilderness? Love from wessexshire anyway.😃🏴

[@deepindercheema4917]

Kissing on-stage or 'pissing' ?

[@neilsun2521]

pissing

[@GMDark]

Yes

[@JaredConnell]

DOING IT STEALTHY

[@dd52161]

who?

[@charleswesley7435]

That constant guitar loop in the background is so irritating! Why this? ridiculous. As if the listener needed that to stay hooked on what is being said. Unfortunately, its the contrary. I'll skip your itw.

[@meninomaria7003]

i loved it, i was actually roaming the comments looking for the track name. does anyone know? not descrediting your discontent of course mate!!

[@louisgardner5580]

@@meninomaria7003 Also looking for the name of the track coz i love it. I am discrediting charles' discontent

[@COURTESAN_BAND_UK]

yes Coum Transmissions pushing the boundary's but,.. they never got close to vulvas take on perforemence art - kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4HNdad4g7-chKM

[@sexobscura]

*NON-BINARY*

[@ccxlolz]

7k views in 35 days?? is she not famous or something?

[@kevcatnip7589]

fuck off are yiu famous

[@Jlipnicki]

They were garbage, pretentious, meaningless attention seekers. G P O used to cash the Giro in Bethnal Green post office where a friend worked. She said he had ' nice eyes '

[@Virolaxion]

Sounds like you're jealous of your mate haha

[@Jlipnicki]

@@Virolaxion Not mates of mine.

[@birdiedog5]

I'm not quite understanding how she falls in the same category as Johnny Marr, Jimmy Page. Really a British Master?

[@MemoriesOfStuff]

Throbbing Gristle and PTV, Coil, Chris & Cosey had a massive effect on the British electronic music scene, a lot of bands that came after them would have had them as an influence, they opened doors. It's always the innovators that open doors, but the big success comes for those that follow and soften it down to make it available to a wider audience.

[@MeathookCinema]

Dottie Dig Stick with your painfully mainstream choices instead

[@neilsun2521]

She invented a new musical genre with Throbbing Gristle. And has remained a consistent part of Britain's avant garde ever since. She also broke down more cultural boundaries than Marr or Page. That good enough a reason for ya, Dottie Dig?

[@Spinnaker36]

Often the art that has the most profound effect is the least accessible. So, the mainstream lauded by the press and general public often look like they define an era, but its bands like TG that give birth to it in the first place

[@Reprodestruxion]

She’s stretched the guitar idiom after all. Gone pear shaped 🍐, but still stretched.

[@richardthayer5907]

um....funny how people think Trump is a total piece of shite liar but if you piss on stage your not manipulating anybody and your a great person without question?

[@edgarroberts8740]

[Chad face:] Yes.

[@MarkWolfeDesign]

Never heard of her or anything she was part of I'm sad to say.

[@KlausVonMork]

Get Googling! Plenty to find out

[@tree-of-lies537]

A book!?! Cash grab sellout not so Avantgarde in the end! Money that’s what I want........