Temple Ov Psychic Youth
by John Zewizz
In Early 1981 I waz introduced or should I say stumbled across a secret underground cult known az TOPY (Temple Ov Psychic Youth). Through transmissions with the leader at the time, Genesis P. Orridge, we became friendz and in 1982 I met him in Boston where I assisted in organizing a "Psychic TV" performance. (a musical off shoot of TOPY).
Most ov my interest in TOPY waz in the concept ov magick. this waz one ov my early sources ov information and ideas in magick, aka "Sex Magick". I remained friendz with Genesis thru-out the years.
I had kept in touch with him over the years mostly becauce ov our interests being so similar. I waz also familiar with hiz musickal work in the band Throbbing Gristle, an early Industrial, Noize, Subversive, band. The musick was ov interest to me because ov its originality. The style waz that ov experimental sound and non musicians playing and attitudes.
Throbbing Gristle waz probably my first concept ov "punk" musick or a rouge ideology ov musick and anti-social directions to entertainment. This interested me because most who want to be expressive though musick find the struggle to maintain any sort ov ground impossible. Because ov the major record labels and the money machines that back only the big musickal acts leaving all others efforts a war ov wills....
Psychic TV waz Genesis new big musickal attempt when I met him. It did not seem to have the impact that hiz first band had (Throbbing Gristle). It did have its merits though. It waz able to stand on its own for a while. When it went into the "Acid House" era I felt Gen waz trying too hard too be just what he despised , what he hated, a traditional rock & roll band.
Back to TOPY - After spending time with Gen & John Gossling in 82 (me and Sleep Chamber) were asked to strong arm the promoters ov the PTV show in Boston for the performance tapes ov "The Deconstruction" show at Mass College ov Art.
I met with 4 ov the main organizers from Mass College ov Art at 23 Stillings St. in Boston. I made several attempts to render the situation for Gen. At one meeting they were actually playing the 4-track masters in another part ov the loft. They seemed to be almost taunting me with the fact that they had the masters and had no plans on turning them over, meanwhile - Gen keeps asking me to either obtain the tapes by asking, demanding, or etc. He told me I had TOPY rights to obtain the show tapes.
By this time (Keith & San) had their own plans on releasing the tapes on their own. Their plans were to release the show az a limited edition in a black leather box with flyers & text from the performance. I played the middle ground but never waz able to get close enough to obtain the tapes.
Time passed and az usual most ov the posers never do shit but talk about what the are going to do (aka Keith & San)!
Sometime later Gen & John Gosling were on WZBC for a 45 min interview. They played some "Jonestown" rekordings & Jim Jones laugh loops. Gen later allowed me to release the 45 min FM show on cassette. It waz packaged with an interview booklet. The interview booklet waz from their first visit to Mass College ov Art press conference, a day before the "Tape Deconstruction" performance. I mailed him 100 copies and received one.
I had some transmissions with Cozy Fanni Tutti from Trhobbing Gristle thanks to Gen.
An interview and store appearance waz planned from my musick shop but never materialized. It waz taking too long.
I received transmissions and TOPY info for about 6-7 years most info, text, ect waz Crowley related but with a Gen spin on it. Our writing slowed then stopped around 89,
I will give him credit - we had a lot ov similar interests. Many people critized us ov copying each others style. But if you really pay any attention you would see how different out styles and opinions are. Not to mention personalities.
Gen dated an x-girlfriend ov mine while he stayed in Boston (Rahchelle).
(a section here I could not read)
Most ov the information I gained in TOPY came to an end. It az a good source for ideas on magick. My interest in magick went into different direction than where Gen waz going. He's very sharp character. Make no mistake. But TOPY grew inconsistent az time went on... last, I mutated my own style ov grammar. I know ov one word we share (the spelling ov and that's "ov")....
Neither one ov us accuse either one ov stealing it from the other, and the E(backwardsE) are not a negative logo ov the PTV symbol! SC started before PTV was formed! I took the 'Double E' from a form ov Hindu sanscript. The E(backwardsE) in SLEEP iz a symbol for "Forever & Eternity"...
The last time I met up with Gen waz at a PTV show in Boston 2008. Funny thing.. when I joined TOPY my ID card waz 'good' for getting into "all & any" PTV events... yea... 25 dollars to get in...
I talked with Ms P-Orridge and now that he's a pre-op he's also quite the bitch! A friend requested to have a PTV CD autographed... I asked Gen and she screamed "NO!" What a Gal... bitched about Spelling hiz name wrong, I presented her with a few gits (ov magick). Hiz/Her response waz "you've gotten older"... duh... I guess that naturally happens, but shit... why so bitchy?
I have no shit against him but she iz such a conceited bitch....
I met hiz daughter "Caresse". Quite a nice young lady... I didn't know who she waz... just that she waz with him. But when he screamed "NO" for an autograph and walked into the corner ov the room I turned to Caresse and said "So your taking care ov the queen mum today?" I really didn't know it waz hiz daughter.
I don't believe in being critical about musick or musickal styles so my opinion ov PTV iz insignificant, but shit... TOPY ended by really being a propaganda outlet for Gen & his projects. I did gain from TOPY influence. But like a student outgrowing the teacher at the end even the "official" ID had no credibility.
