The Genitorturers are an American
industrial metal
Industrial metal is the fusion of heavy metal and industrial music, typically employing repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Prominent industrial metal acts include Ministry, Nine In ...
band with influences extending into the 1990s
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...
and
electronic music
Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...
. They proclaim themselves to be "The World's Sexiest Rock Band".
History
Originating in
Orlando, Florida
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...
, the band was founded by lead singer Jennifer "Gen" Zimmerman while attending Rollins college.
Originally called The Festering Genitorturers, the band consisted of Marisa (vocals), Yvonne (guitar), Gen (bass), Larry (guitar) and Mike (drums). Their first performance was at the Ocean Club in Cocoa Beach, Florida, in late 1986. Also on the bill was Declared Ungovernable, Belching Penguins, and The Rhythm Pigs. Shortening their name to The Genitorturers, the band underwent various personnel changes and progressed in the 1990s
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
"hardcore" music scene,
with contemporary bands such as
Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids,
who also became a success in later years. According to the band's official biography, "What emerged would be a band that would go beyond shaking up the house that 'Mickey' built and extend to paving the way and breaking ground for performance based music artists thereafter worldwide".
In 1993,
IRS Records
I.R.S. Records was an American record label founded by Miles Copeland III, Jay Boberg, and Carl Grasso in 1979. I.R.S. produced some of the most popular bands of the 1980s, and was particularly known for issuing records by college rock, new wave ...
owner
Miles Copeland III
Miles Axe Copeland III (born May 2, 1944) is an American music and entertainment executive and former manager of The Police. Copeland later managed Sting's musical and acting career. In 1979, Copeland founded the I.R.S. Records label, producin ...
sent his assistant
Nick Turner
Nick Turner, sometimes credited as Nicky Turner, is a drummer who briefly played with The Raincoats and became a founding member of The Barracudas. He left that band to help form The Lords of the New Church. In August 2015 he was invited to play d ...
(former drummer for
The Lords of the New Church
The Lords of the New Church were an English/American supergroup with a line-up originally consisting of four musicians from 1970s punk bands. This line-up comprised vocalist Stiv Bators (ex- the Dead Boys), guitarist Brian James (ex- the Da ...
) to see the band perform. The quality of the performance, as well as their musical style containing fused elements of hardcore punk, metal and industrial electronics, led them to a record contract.
Soon after that, they recorded ''
120 Days of Genitorture
''120 Days of Genitorture'' is the debut album of American industrial metal/industrial rock band Genitorturers. The title is a reference to the book "120 Days of Sodom", by the Marquis de Sade.
Track listing
Personnel
* Gen – vocals
...
''.
After recording this album,
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling ...
bassist/vocalist
David Vincent (Gen's husband) joined the Genitorturers on bass. He left Morbid Angel in 1995, after the album ''
Domination
Domination or dominant may refer to:
Society
* World domination, which is mainly a conspiracy theory
* Colonialism in which one group (usually a nation) invades another region for material gain or to eliminate competition
* Chauvinism in which ...
'', to join his wife's band.
The band has extensively toured the United States, Japan, and Europe, and is internationally renowned for its exploits and
erotic
Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, scul ...
show content.
By the time of their second album ''
Sin City
''Sin City'' is a series of neo-noir comics by American comic book writer-artist Frank Miller. The first story originally appeared in ''Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special'' (April 1991), and continued in ''Dark Horse Presents'' #51â ...
'' in 1998, Genitorturers had gained a notable reputation with their flamboyant
BDSM
BDSM is a variety of often erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be engaged ...
-themed shows resulting in the band appearing in various television features in the USA; including
VH1,
Fox News
The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...
, ''
Hard Copy
''Hard Copy'' is an American tabloid television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. ''Hard Copy'' was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence.
The original hosts of ''Hard Copy'' ...
'', HBO's ''
Real Sex
''Real Sex'' is a documentary television series broadcast on and a production of HBO. As its name implies, ''Real Sex'' is a sexually explicit "magazine" which "explores sex '90s style."
''Real Sex'' explores human sexuality. Gary R. Edgerton a ...
'' and Playboy TV's ''
Sexcetera
''Sexcetera'' is an American television series airing on Playboy TV. Formatted as a newsmagazine, the program focused on human sexuality.
''Sexcetera'' is repeated from time to time on Real Lives, Pick and Virgin1 in the United Kingdom, RTL 7 ...
''.
The ''
Flesh is the Law
The Genitorturers are an American industrial metal band with influences extending into the 1990s hardcore punk and electronic music. They proclaim themselves to be "The World's Sexiest Rock Band".
History
Originating in Orlando, Florida, t ...
'' EP includes the track "Lecher Bitch", which was also included in the November 2004 video game ''
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines''.
Earlier releases included ''
Machine Love
''Machine Love'' is an album by American industrial rock band Genitorturers, consisting mainly of new mixes of songs from the previous album, ''Sin City''.
Track listing
# "Stitch in Time" (Dave Ogilvie & Scott Humphrey mix) 3:37
# "Touch Mys ...
'', which contains a cover of
Divinyls
Divinyls () were an Australian rock band that were formed in Sydney in 1980. The band primarily consisted of vocalist Chrissy Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. Amphlett garnered widespread attention for performing on stage in a school unifo ...
' hit "I Touch Myself", which was produced by
Dave Ogilvie
Dave "Rave" Ogilvie is a Canadian record producer, mixer, songwriter and musician. The former member of bands Skinny Puppy and Jakalope started his recording career in Vancouver working as an engineer at Mushroom Studios. He has been described by ...
and
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie (born Robert Bartleh Cummings; January 12, 1965) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and voice actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes, and his live shows have be ...
producer
Scott Humphrey
Scott Humphrey is a Canadian record producer and mix engineer. He began his music career as a keyboard player and programmer. He is best known for his work with multiplatinum recording artist Rob Zombie and has co-written, co-produced and mixed ...
.
In 2004, Genitorturers featured in a 12-page spread in the monthly pornographic publication ''
Hustler
Hustler or hustlers may also refer to:
Professions
* Hustler, an American slang word, e.g., for a:
** Con man, a practitioner of confidence tricks
** Drug dealer, seller of illegal drugs
** Male prostitute
** Pimp
** Business man, more gener ...
'', the magazine's only multi-page spread with a rock band.
''Hustler'' described Genitorturers as "the world's sexiest band".
In 2006, they toured Australia with Dead Inside the Chrysalis.
The band's last album, ''
Blackheart Revolution'', was released in 2009.
In 2014, Genitorturers celebrated over 20 years since the release of their debut album by going on tour, '20 Years of Depravity'. On Halloween 2020, during a livestream, Genitorturers debuted their first song in 11 years "Scars & Stripes Forever".
Members
Current Members
* Gen – lead vocals
(1986–present)
*
Eric Griffin
Eric Michael Griffin is an American heavy metal and rock guitarist. He has been the lead guitarist in the industrial metal band Genitorturers since 1999. He is most famous for playing bass in the horror punk band Murderdolls as well as guitar ...
– guitars, backing vocals
(2009–present)
*Kriz D.K. - drums
(2011–present)
*Abbey Nex – bass, backing vocals
(2004–2009, 2022–present)
Former members
;Guitars
*Yvonne Lievano – guitars
(1986–1989)
*Scott Beckey – guitars
(1989–1991)
*Jerry Ôutlaw – guitars
(1991–1994)
*Chuck "Chains" Lenihan – guitars
(1995–2002)
*
Bizz – guitars
(2003–2009)
;Bass
*
Paweł Mąciwoda
Paweł Mąciwoda (; born on 20 February 1967) is a Polish bassist who began playing with the hard rock band Scorpions in 2003 and became an official member in January 2004.
Early career
Born in Wieliczka, MÄ…ciwoda began playing bass guitar se ...
– bass
(1990)
*
David "Evil D" Vincent – bass, backing vocals
(1990–1992, 1994–2004)
*Sean Colpoys – bass
(1992–1994)
*Ryan Seelbach – bass, backing vocals
(2009–2022)
;Drums
*AW Reckart – drums
(1991–1993)
*Howard 'H-Bomb' Broadnax – drums
(1993–1997)
*Racci Shay – drums
(1997–2001)
*
Angel Bartolotta
Andrew "Angel" Bartolotta (born November 26, 1981) is an American drummer. He is best known as the drummer for American alternative metal band Dope and for industrial metal band Genitorturers. He is also the founder of the large collaborative ...
– drums
(2001–2005, 2006–2009)
*
Joe Letz
Joe Letz is an American drummer and DJ best known as the former drummer for the electro-industrial band Combichrist. Letz has also drummed for Amen, Mortiis, horror punk band Wednesday 13, Genitorturers, Hanzel und Gretyl, Imperative Reaction ...
– drums
(2005–2006)
*Sean Davidson – drums
(2009–2011)
;Keyboards
*James Creer – keyboards
(1994–1995)
*Vinnie Saletto – keyboards
(1995–1999)
Discography
;Studio albums
* ''
120 Days of Genitorture
''120 Days of Genitorture'' is the debut album of American industrial metal/industrial rock band Genitorturers. The title is a reference to the book "120 Days of Sodom", by the Marquis de Sade.
Track listing
Personnel
* Gen – vocals
...
'' (1993)
* ''
Sin City
''Sin City'' is a series of neo-noir comics by American comic book writer-artist Frank Miller. The first story originally appeared in ''Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special'' (April 1991), and continued in ''Dark Horse Presents'' #51â ...
'' (1998)
* ''
Blackheart Revolution'' (2009)
;Remix albums
* ''
Machine Love
''Machine Love'' is an album by American industrial rock band Genitorturers, consisting mainly of new mixes of songs from the previous album, ''Sin City''.
Track listing
# "Stitch in Time" (Dave Ogilvie & Scott Humphrey mix) 3:37
# "Touch Mys ...
'' (2000)
;Extended plays
* ''Flesh Is the Law'' (2002)
* ''Touch Myself EP'' (2009)
;Videos
* ''Society of Genitorture'' (VHS) (1997)
* ''The Society of Genitorture'' (DVD) (2001)
* ''Live in Sin'' (DVD) (2007)
;Movie soundtrack appearances
*The Society of Genitorture (1997)
*Raging Hormones (1999)
*Bike Week Exposed (2003)
*Vampire Clan (2002)
;Video game soundtrack appearances
*''
True Crime: Streets of LA'' (2004)
*''
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines'' (2004)
References
External links
*
*
*
{{Authority control
1991 establishments in Florida
American industrial metal musical groups
American industrial music groups
BDSM people
Heavy metal musical groups from Florida
Musical groups from Orlando, Florida
Musical groups established in 1991
Musical quartets