Cold Waves / Wax Trax! Los Angeles Showcase

Front 242’s history starts in 1981 when Daniel B. lays out his ideas on a first single: « Body to Body ». Patrick Codenys (keyboards) and Jean-Luc De Meyer (vocals) join the band for the first album « Geography » in (1982), followed by Richard 23 (vocalist/stage performer) in 1983. While developing their own independent recording and graphic units, along with a unique presentation on stage, the band progressively reaches a larger audience in Europe, touring and releasing records of its brand new genre they soon label « Electronic Body Music (aka EBM) ». EBM being a collage and synthesis of music and sounds, recycled from the media or TV, often reflecting or enriched by other artistic disciplines. In 1984, Front 242 sign on the label Wax Trax from Chicago. The EP « Take One » (1984) is their first U.S. release, their success there will be massive.

Hailing from Chicago’s renowned Wax Trax! Records stable of recording artists, MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT have been conjuring up sonic tales of sex, blasphemy and kitschy horror since 1987. Along with label mates such as Front 242, Ministry and KMFDM, TKK (as often abbreviated), helped develop the industrial music genre, but they themselves continued to evolve, creating one of the most diverse repertoires in modern day music. Their sound can be described as electronic rock, heavily influenced by both disco and funk. One of their most distinctive characteristics is the use of spoken-word samples lifted from B-movies laced throughout their songs. Since debuting, they have released 13 studio albums, and their music has been featured in a variety of films, television/cable shows and soundtracks, all the while making a reputation for themselves as one of the most notorious and controversial cult bands of their generation.