{"id":68,"date":"2009-09-03T07:32:50","date_gmt":"2009-09-03T11:32:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/foetus.org\/content\/?page_id=68"},"modified":"2009-09-03T07:32:50","modified_gmt":"2009-09-03T11:32:50","slug":"biography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/press\/biography\/","title":{"rendered":"Biography"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/foetus.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/JG-10.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2828\" style=\"border: 1px solid #444;\" title=\"JG 10\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/foetus.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/JG-10.jpg\" width=\"296\" height=\"290\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>JG Thirlwell is a composer\/producer\/performer based in Brooklyn, NY. Born in Melbourne, he moved to London in 1978, then relocated to NYC in 1983, where he has been based ever since. As well as his own name, he works under many pseudonyms including Manorexia, Foetus, Xordox, Steroid Maximus, Baby Zizanie, Hydroze Plus, Clint Ruin and Wiseblood.<\/p>\n<p>He has released over <a href=\"\/content\/discography\/textual-discography\">thirty albums<\/a>. If there is a common thread to his varied musical styles, it is a dramatic intensity and an evocative, cinematic quality. Thirlwell has also featured as producer, remixer, collaborator or arranger for a wide variety of artists including Karen O, Noveller, Excepter, Zola Jesus, Melvins, Swans, Nine Inch Nails, Lydia Lunch, The The, Coil, Z\u2019s, Simon Hanes, Nick Cave and many more.<\/p>\n<p>JG has completed commissions for Kronos Quartet, Bang On A Can, Thyssen-Bornemisza ArtContemporary, Experiments in Opera, Zephyr Quartet, Great Learning Orchestra, Gotland Film Symposium and League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots, and is a member of the\u201cfreq_out\u201d sound-art collective, curated by CM Von Hausswolff, who create on-site sound and light installations. He is also an acclaimed graphic artist. In 2010, he received a fellowship from New York Foundation of the Arts in sound \/ composition.<\/p>\n<p>Thirlwell has created solo sound installations which have exhibited in Santarcangelo, Italy and Kaliningrad, Russia. In recent years he has performed live with a chamber ensemble version of his Manorexia project, with his electronic project Xordox and his solo electroacoustic project Cholera Nocebo.<\/p>\n<p>JG also creates the musical score for the Emmy-winning FX show Archer, and for Adult Swim \/ Cartoon Network show The Venture Bros, for which he was nominated for an Annie Award. JG has also created several motion picture scores. He has been in residency at Elektronmusikstudion in Stockholm, and recently completed a composition for solo contrabass for James Ilgenfritz and a commission for solo cello for Jeffrey Zeigler. He also scored Tony Oursler&#8217;s film installation, Imponderable, which was on exhibit for six months at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2017.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thirlwell&#8217;s Projects:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Foetus<\/strong> \u2014 Thirlwell&#8217;s main project. From 1990 until 2006&#8217;s &#8216;Damp&#8217;, most Foetus songs featured lead vocals. Though popularly known as simply &#8220;Foetus&#8221;, Thirlwell released albums under diverse variations of the name, including: <em>Foetus Art Terrorism; Foetus \u00dcber Frisco; Foetus Corruptus; Foetus In Excelsis Corruptus Deluxe; Foetus Inc.; Foetus Interruptus; Foetus Over Frisco; Foetus Under Glass; Philip and His Foetus Vibrations; Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel; The Foetus All-Nude Revue; The Foetus of Excellence; The Foetus Symphony Orchestra; and You&#8217;ve Got Foetus On Your Breath<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Steroid Maximu<\/strong>s \u2014 Primary instrumental project.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Manorexia<\/strong> \u2014 Experimental instrumental project.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other projects<\/strong>\/involvements too numerous to mention here. For complete details view the <a href=\"https:\/\/foetus.org\/content\/discography\/textual-discography\">detailed discography<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Archive:<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/bio\/bio2005.html\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">JG Thirlwell Biography, 2005<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/bio\/tebio.html\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Foetus Biography (Thirsty Ear\u2019s version, 2001)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/bio\/amgbio.html\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Foetus Biography (AMG\u2019s version, ca. 1996)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/bio\/sonybio.html\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Foetus Biography (Sony\u2019s version, 1995)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/bio\/waxbio.html\" target=\"blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Foetus Biography (Wax Trax!\u2019s version, ca. 1990)<\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #444; padding: 10px;\">\n<h3>Abridged biographical timeline<\/h3>\n<p>(for detailed timeline, <a href=\"\/content\/press\/timeline-1980-1989\">click here<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1960<\/strong><br \/>\nBorn in Melbourne, Australia in Chinatown during Chinese New Year<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1977-78<\/strong><br \/>\nStudied art at Melbourne State College<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1978<\/strong><br \/>\nMoved to London<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1980<\/strong><br \/>\nMember of Spec Records (pragVEC) for nine months.<br \/>\nMade recordings with Nurse with Wound and Come (Whitehouse)<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1981<\/strong><br \/>\nReleased first two Foetus singles and Foetus LP DEAF on JG&#8217;s own Self immolation label.<br \/>\nRecording with Nurse with Wound.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1982<\/strong><br \/>\nReleased Foetus single, 12&#8243; EP and second album ACHE.<br \/>\nBegan work and promoting Einsturzende Neubauten in assembling Stratagien Gegen Arkitektur for his Hardt Records label.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1983<\/strong><br \/>\nSigned with Some Bizzare.<br \/>\nToured as guest vocalist with Soft Cell.<br \/>\nBriefly a member of first incarnation of Bad Seeds.<br \/>\nProduced Coil Scatlogy.<br \/>\nMember of The The live band for shows at the Marquee, London.<br \/>\nJoined Immaculate Consumptive with Lydia Lunch, Marc Almond, Nick Cave for shows in NYC and DC.<br \/>\nMoved to NYC.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1984<\/strong><br \/>\nFormed Wiseblood with Roli Mosimann.<br \/>\nRelease of landmark album HOLE, three 12&#8243; EPs and an empty box called Foetus of Excellence.<br \/>\nStinkfist collaboration and other work with Lydia Lunch.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1985<\/strong><br \/>\nBegins to score Richard Kern&#8217;s Deathtrip films.<br \/>\nRelease of Foetus NAIL album.<br \/>\nTours with fresh pig heads adorning the stage.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1986<\/strong><br \/>\nRelease of Wiseblood album DIRTDISH and ensuing touring.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1988<\/strong><br \/>\nFormed first Foetus live band and toured Europe to support Foetus THAW.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1989<\/strong><br \/>\nRelease of Foetus SINK.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1990<\/strong><br \/>\nFormed instrumental guise Steroid Maximus.<br \/>\nFounds Ectopic Ents inc.<br \/>\nUS tour as Foetus.<br \/>\nVoiceovers for MTV sports show (5 seasons).<br \/>\nEngaged in career as hotshot remixer.<br \/>\nRelease of Foetus Butterfly Potion<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1991<\/strong><br \/>\nFirst releases as Steroid Maximus.<br \/>\nUS tour as Foetus.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1992-4<\/strong><br \/>\nProduced Silverfish, Beyond, White Zombie, Lydia Lunch and Rowland S.Howard, Mesomorph Enduros comp.<br \/>\nWorks with Swans, Cop Shoot Cop, Unsane. Remixes for NIN, Front 242, RHCP, Pantera and many more. Composes and records.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1995<\/strong><br \/>\nFoetus GASH is released by Sony\/Columbia in an ill-fated relationship.<br \/>\nUS tour as Foetus.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1996<\/strong><br \/>\nTwo European Foetus tours.<br \/>\nJapanese Foetus tour.<br \/>\nPerforms semi-improv set with large ensemble as Foetus Symphony Orchestra with guest Lydia lunch at the Anchorage for Creative Time.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1997<\/strong><br \/>\nReleases Foetus NULL\/VOID and YORK<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1998<\/strong><br \/>\nDJ Otefsu is born.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2000<\/strong><br \/>\nFoetus plays at Royal Festival Hall, London.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2001<\/strong><br \/>\nManorexia is born.<br \/>\nRelease of Foetus FLOW and BLOW and first Manorexia album Volvox Turbo.<br \/>\nFoetus tours US and Europe as &#8220;rock band&#8221; format for final time.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2002<\/strong><br \/>\nBaby Zizanie, a collaboration with Jim Coleman, is born.<br \/>\nCommissioned by UCLA to create Steroid Maximus 18 piece big band in Los Angeles.<br \/>\nSolo electronic serial performance, Yale University.<br \/>\nRelease of Steroid Maximus Ectopia.<br \/>\nRelease of Manorexia Radiolarian Ooze.<br \/>\nBaby Zizanie tour.<br \/>\nJoins Murnau with Oren Bloedow for one show.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2003<\/strong><br \/>\nBecomes member of Freq_out sound art collective at the invitation of CM Von Hausswolf to create installation in Copenhagen.<br \/>\nSteroid Maximus 18 piece plays Nantes, Tilburg and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Baby Zizanie tour.<br \/>\nRelease of Baby Zizanie Thalassaphobia.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2004<\/strong><br \/>\nPerformed in Kastanienball opera in Munich.<br \/>\nScored Venture Brothers cartoon series for Adult Swim \/ Cartoon Network.<br \/>\nFreq_out installation in Oslo.<br \/>\nConducted audio worksop with CM Von Hausswolf at Staedelschule, Frankfurt.<br \/>\nRecorded Murnau album.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2005<\/strong><br \/>\nPremiered 18 piece version of Foetus at the Donaufestival.<br \/>\nFreq_out in Paris at Centre Communiste.<br \/>\nCommission for Bang on a Can premiers at Merkin Hall.<br \/>\nRelease of Foetus album LOVE.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2006<\/strong><br \/>\nCommission for Kronos Quartet performed at Carnegie Hall.<br \/>\nSecond season of &#8220;The Venture Brothers&#8221; airs.<br \/>\nWorks with Tony Oursler and Dorit Chrysler.<br \/>\nPremiere of Manorexia live ensemble in Russia .<br \/>\nFreq_out installation in Berlin.<br \/>\nSpoken word debut in London.<br \/>\nCreated Miasma with Lary 7.<br \/>\nRelease of Foetus album DAMP.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2007<\/strong><br \/>\nCommission for LEMUR.<br \/>\nFreq_out installations in Chiang Mai and Budapest.<br \/>\nScoring third season of the Venture Brothers.<br \/>\nRelease of Foetus album VEIN.<br \/>\nJG Thirlwell Composer Spotlight concert at Whitney Museum NYC.<br \/>\nManorexia European debut in London.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2008<\/strong><br \/>\nTerry Bozzio and his big brass section performed opening and closing themes to venture bros. based on arrangements by JG Thirlwell, at a tribute to Buddy Rich at Hammerstein Ballroom.<br \/>\nJG sculpture at Farfabriken Norr.<br \/>\nManorexia at ATP and Brainwaves fest.<br \/>\nJG curates a month of concerts at The Stone NYC.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2009<\/strong><br \/>\nRelease of Venture Bros soundtrack album Vol 1.<br \/>\nRelease of Foetus LIMB CD + DVD.<br \/>\nSolo sound installation at Santarcangelo festival.<br \/>\nScores fourth season of Venture Bros.<br \/>\nField recording travels to Oman.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2010<\/strong><br \/>\nAwarded 2010 fellowship by the New York Foundation for the Arts, in the music &amp; sound category.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JG Thirlwell is a composer\/producer\/performer based in Brooklyn, NY. Born in Melbourne, he moved to London in 1978, then relocated to NYC in 1983, where he has been based ever since. As well as his own name, he works under many pseudonyms including Manorexia, Foetus, Xordox, Steroid Maximus, Baby Zizanie, Hydroze Plus, Clint Ruin and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":65,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-full-width.php","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":361,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68\/revisions\/361"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.foetus.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}