JOHN BALANCE

John Balance of the pioneering electronic experimental group Coil died Saturday, November 13, 2004, as a result of a fall at his home...somewhere in the UK, they don't say where.
http://www.thresholdhouse.com/index2.html
http://www.boingboing.net/2004/11/15...lance_rip.html

Moderator: If you think this thread would be better in avant-garde--experimental, please move it there.

CF

This is really bad news. Coil were one of those bands that consistently broke barriers.

It's unfortunately ironic as he died by losing his balance.

As far as I'm concerned, John's death is the saddest thing to happen to music in my lifetime. I e-mailed him once, many years ago, and got the most charming reply, he seemed like such a joyful character, nothing like the image you'd get from listening to his music.

I've listened to little else but Coil all week.

Cage, if you would've read down a little bit further, we've already had a thread like this. Hell, I've even mourned him in a few threads myself. It is a sad thing, very much. I'm keeping it here.

After I posted, I thought there might be a thread about it already. I was just sort of stunned at the news. Coil fused so many of the elements of electronic and industrial music I like so well and added a great metaphysical presence to them.

The first song I listened to after I heard was "Heartworms." That was John Balance's own contribution to the "Foxtrot" project from 1997. The CD was a benefit to help John get cleaned up.

One of the lines from "Heartworms" is "There's too much blood in my alcohol."

I too thought Balance was an ironic name for John, made even more so by his fatal fall.

Coil's "Horse Rotorvator" is one of my favorite records by anyone anytime. Period.

I'll miss you, John.