Maurizio Bianchi (born 4 December 1955 in Pomponesco in the Province of Mantua) is an Italian pioneer of

industrial music Industrial music is a genre of music that draws on harsh, mechanical, transgressive or provocative sounds and themes. AllMusic defines industrial music as the "most abrasive and aggressive fusion of rock and electronic music" that was "initiall ...

, originating from

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

Biography

1979–1983

Bianchi was inspired by the music of

Tangerine Dream Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese having been the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup ...

, Conrad Schnitzler and Throbbing Gristle. He wrote about music for Italian magazines before beginning to release his own cassettes under the name of Sacher-Pelz in August 1979. He released four cassettes as Sacher-Pelz before switching to his own name or simply "MB" in 1980. Bianchi corresponded with many of the key players in the

and noise music scenes including

Merzbow is a Japanese noise project started in 1979 by , best known for a style of harsh, confrontational noise. Since 1980, Akita has released over 400 recordings and has collaborated with various artists. The name Merzbow comes from the German dada ...

GX Jupitter-Larsen GX Jupitter-Larsen (sometimes erroneously spelled ''Juppiter-Larsen'') is an artist, based in Hollywood, California, who has been active in a number of underground art scenes since the late 1970s. Jupitter-Larsen has been involved in punk rock, ma ...

, SPK, Nigel Ayers of

Nocturnal Emissions Nocturnal Emissions is Nigel Ayers's sound art project that has released numerous records and CDs in music styles ranging from electro-acoustic, musique concrète, hybridised beats, sound collage, post- industrial music, ambient and noise ...

and William Bennett of

Whitehouse Whitehouse may refer to: People * Charles S. Whitehouse (1921-2001), American diplomat * Cornelius Whitehouse (1796–1883), English engineer and inventor * E. Sheldon Whitehouse (1883-1965), American diplomat * Elliott Whitehouse (born 1993), ...

. After this exchange of letters and music, his first LPs were released in 1981. ''Symphony For A Genocide'' was released on

Nigel Ayers Nigel Ayers (born 1957 in Tideswell, Derbyshire) is an English multimedia artist.Fernando Cerqueira, '' Antibothis Occultural Anthology Vol.3 p.72'' (Thisco Portugal, 2010), His sound art has included numerous audio releases and live performanc ...

' Sterile Records label after Bianchi had sent Ayers the money to press it. Each track on the LP was named after a Nazi

extermination camp Nazi Germany used six extermination camps (german: Vernichtungslager), also called death camps (), or killing centers (), in Central Europe during World War II to systematically murder over 2.7 million peoplemostly Jewsin the Holocaust. The v ...

. The cover featured photographs of the Auschwitz Orchestra, a group of concentration camp prisoners who were forced to play classical music as people were herded into the gas chambers. The back cover included the text "The moral of this work: the past punishment is the inevitable blindness of the present". Also in 1981,

William Bennett William John Bennett (born July 31, 1943) is an American conservative politician and political commentator who served as secretary of education from 1985 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. He also held the post of director of the Office of ...

, head of the band

and the British Come Org. label, offered Bianchi a record contract, which Bianchi signed unchecked. It was based on a "joke contract" that Steven Stapleton of Nurse With Wound had sketched. The contract assumed all rights to Bianchi's work. After delivery of the tapes Bennett edited-in speeches by Nazi leaders, and instead of the relatively unsensational name MB, it was published under the alias ''Leibstandarte SS MB'', named after the SS unit that worked as bodyguards to

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...

. By 1983 and the release of the ''Plain Truth'' LP on U.K. power electronics label Broken Flag, Bianchi had become a

Jehovah's Witness Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8.7 million adherents involved in ...

. At the end of 1983 Bianchi announced his withdrawal from music, stating "The end is very near, and we have a very short time to recognise our mistakes and to redeem ourselves... I stopped doing music, and now my life is going towards its full awareness".

1998–2009

In 1998, encouraged by Alga Marghen label head Emanuele Carcano, who offered him a label of his own, Maurizio Bianchi resumed making music. The label was EEs'T Records, through which he released new editions of old MB albums and many new recordings. Bianchi then proceeded to work on over a hundred new projects both solo or in collaboration with other Italian and international artists including

Atrax Morgue Marco Corbelli (3 April 1970 – 6 May 2007), better known professionally as Atrax Morgue, was an Italian noise musician. Many of Atrax Morgue's early material was released on cassette, as part of the industrial/noise 'cassette underground' of t ...

Aube Aube () is a French department in the Grand Est region of north-eastern France. As with sixty departments in France, this department is named after a river: the Aube. With 310,242 inhabitants (2019),Francisco López,

Mauthausen Orchestra Mauthausen Orchestra is a musical group founded by Pierpaolo Zoppo, Italian noise musician of the early industrial and power electronics school from the 1980s. Along with Maurizio Bianchi he was one of the pioneers of Italian noise. Zoppo's work ...

, Ryan Martin and

Philip Julian Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philip ...

/Cheapmachines. Bianchi has worked with record labels including

Dais Records Dais Records is an American independent record label founded in August 2007 by musicians Gibby Miller and Ryan Martin, based in Los Angeles, California, and Brooklyn, New York. The label has released recordings from artists including Drab Majes ...

, the Carrboro, North Carolina based Hot Releases and the Italian Menstrual Recordings to re-release some of his out-of-print material. On August 19, 2009, for unspecified personal reasons, Maurizio Bianchi decided again to completely stop making music. This decision was soon after reversed; Maurizio Bianchi continued to release new music.

Sample

In 2005, a 2-CD-Set named ''Blut und Nebel'' was released, consisting of a remix of his first ten LPs. Bianchi submitted the set's first CD, remixing the first 5 LPs from 1981 and 1982, to Wikipedia. The track, over 45 minutes long, is split into three

.ogg Ogg is a free, open container format maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. The authors of the Ogg format state that it is unrestricted by software patents and is designed to provide for efficient streaming and manipulation of high-quality ...

files: * "Blut Und Nebel", CD 1, Pt. 1 * "Blut Und Nebel", CD 1, Pt. 2 * "Blut Und Nebel", CD 1, Pt. 3

Discography

Sacher-Pelz *"Cainus", Tape C-60, 1979 *"Venus", Tape C-60, 1979 *"Cease to Exist", Tape C-60, 1979/1980 *"Velours", Tape C-60, 1980 *"Mutation For A Continuity", 4CD, 2001, Marquis Records *"Clerzphase", CD-R, 2006, Stridulum Recordings *"In Hoc Urbia Miazi", CD, 2007, Old Europa Cafe *"Hibakusha", CD-R, 2009, CPS, with Amun Cell MB / Maurizio Bianchi first phase Cassettes *"Mectpyo Blut", Tape, 1980, Mectpyo Sounds *"Gene P", Tape, 1980, self-released *"Atomique Tape", Tape, 1980, self-released *"Cold Tape", Tape, 1980, YHR *"Voyeur Tape", Tape, 1980, YHR *"Industrial Tape", Tape, 1980, self-released *"NH/HN", Tape, 1980, self-released *"I.B.M.", Tape, 1980 *"Computers S.p.A.", Tape, 1980, self-released *"Com. SA", Tape, 1980, Mectpyo Sounds *"Dicembre 1980", Tape, self-released *"Technology", Tape, 1981, Mectpyo Sounds (also as Doubletape "Technology I + II") *"Nervo/Hydra", Tape, 1981, self-released *"S.F.A.G. 81", Tape, 1983, Broken Flag Vinyl albums *"Symphony For A Genocide", LP, 1981, Sterile Records *"Menses", LP, 1982, Mectpyo Sounds *"Neuro Habitat / Mörder Unter Uns", LP, 1982, Mectpyo Sounds *"Regel", LP, 1982, Mectpyo Sounds *"Mectpyo Bakterium", LP, 1982, DYS *"Das Testament", LP, 1983, Mectpyo Sounds *"Endometrio", LP, 1983, Mectpyo Sounds *"Carcinosi", LP, 1983, Mectpyo Sounds *" ktivitat, LP, 1983, Tegal Records *"The Plain Truth", LP, 1983, Broken Flag *"Armaghedon", LP, 1984, Mectpyo Sounds *"Industrial Murder / Menstrual Bleeding", LP, 1992, Banned Production Leibstandarte SS MB As his releases on Come Org have been massively manipulated, Maurizio Bianchi does not count these records as part of his discography. However, in 2013 Triumph of the Will and Weltanschauung were re-issued with bonus tracks as separate CDs and as part of the Teban Slide Art box set, which also contained the unofficial release Lebensraum, all under the name "M.B." *"Triumph Of The Will", LP, 1981, Come Org *"Weltanschauung", LP, 1982, Come Org MB / Maurizio Bianchi second phase *"Colori", CD, 1998, EEs'T Records *"First Day Last Day", CD, 1999, EEs'T Records *"Dates", CD, 2001, EEs'T Records *"Frammenti", CD, 2002, EEs'T Records *"Antarctic Mosaic", CD, 2003, EEs'T Records *"Maurizio Bianchi Plays The Clockwork Orange", LP, 2003, Marquis Records *"Cycles", CD, 2004, EEs'T Records *"A M. B. Iehn Tale", CD, 2005, Small Voices *"Mind Us Trial", 2CD, 2005, EEs'T Records *"M. I. Nheem Alysm", CD, 2005, Silentes *"Dead Colours", CD, 2005, Silentes *"Niddah Emmhna", CD, 2005, Silentes *"Mokushi XVI, XVI", MP3, 2006,

Mirakelmusik Mirakel Musik is a netlabel, based in Sweden, releasing experimental music in genres such as ambient, electronica, industrial, and noise, (not idm, techno). All releases are under Creative Commons. The label's artists include Maurizio Bia ...

*"Blut Und Nebel", CD, 2006, Slaughter Productions *"The Testamentary Corridor", CD, 2006, Silentes *"603...Annus Mundi", MP3, 2006, Sinewaves *"Men's True Hated", CD, 2006, Menstrualrecordings *"Carcimetrio", CD-R, 2006, Simple Logic *"Escape to Bela-Zoar", CD, 2006, L. White *"R. C. E.", CD-R, 2006, Simple Logic *"Genocidio 20", CD-R, 2006, w.m.o/r *"The Testamentary Corridor", CD, 2006, Silentes *"Konkrete Klaenge", MP3, 2006, Radical Matters *"Elisionem", CD, 2006, Klanggalerie *"Nevrobatterio", CD-R, 2006, Authorised Version *"Muitnelis", CD-R, 2007, Tibprod *"The Industrious Tubal-Cain", CD-R, 2007, Shasha *"Das Platinzeitalter", CD, 2007, Incunabulum *"Menstruum Regles", CD, 2007, Silentes *"Aybasi", compact cassette, 2007, Young Girls Records *"The Self-portrait of M. B.", CD, 2007, Silentes *"Avaddohn", CD-R, 2007, Transmit *"Zyklusters", CD-R, 2007, Lona Records *"Spiritualis", CD, 2007, Kubitsuri Tapes Int.l *"The Valley Of Deep Shadow", CD, 2008, Menstrualrecordings *"Atholgog", 3" CD-R, 2008, Stridulum Recordings *"Akoustikoriginem", CD-R, 2008, Lona Records *"Dekadenz", CD-R, 2009, Young Girls Records *"Loopspool", mp3 album, 2009, TIBProd. Italy *"Inexistence", CD, 2009, Cold Current *"Habitats", CD, 2009, Kubitsuri Tapes Int.l *"Ludium", CD, 2009, Silentes *"March-Ex", CD-R, 2009, Lona Records *"Persecutionem", LP, 2009,

Rotorelief Rotorelief is a French independent record label founded in 2005. The label seeks to release unexpected concepts albums, new releases and reissues often hard to classify in the psychedelic electronic music, industrial and experimental fields. ...

*"Maurizio Bianchi Remixed Vol.1", CD-R, 2009, TIBProd. *"Maurizio Bianchi Remixed Vol.2", CD-R, 2009, TIBProd. *"Violichte", Cassette, 2010, Robert & Leopold *"SFAG", Tape, 2010, Mirror Tapes (limited to 200 copies) *"Technology-X", Tape, 2011, Mirror Tapes (limited to 250 copies, 32 copies include a film negative strip of abstract photos taken by Maurizio Bianchi) *"Amentest", 7" Single, 2014,

*"Opfer Unter Uns", LP, 2015, Steinklang Industries *"Elegietroniche", CD, 2016, 4iB Records Collaborations *"Chaotische Fraktale", CD-R, 2003, CPS, with Frequency In Cycles Per Second *"Letzte Technologie", CD-R, 2004, CPS, with Frequency In Cycles Per Second *"Final Signal", CD, 2005, CPS, with Frequency In Cycles Per Second *"Zehn Tage/Touka", CD, 2004, Afe, with Telepherique *"Junkyo", CD, 2005, Noctovision, with Aube *"Mectpyo Saisei", CD, 2005, Para Disc, with Aube *"Psychoneurose", CD, 2005, Manifold, with Land Use *"Secluded Truths", CD, 2005, Silentes, with NIMH *"Together's Symphony", CD, 2005, Silentes, with NIMH *"Arkaeo Planum", CD, 2006, Small Voices, with TH26 *"The House Of Mourning", CD, 2006, Radiotarab/Coldcurrent, with Telepherique *"Endokraniosis", CD-R, 2006, Tibprod, with Siegmar Fricke *"Genologic Technocide", CD-R, 2006, Spatter/Pagan Moon, with MDT *"The Epidemic Symphony No. 9", CD, 2006, Octpia, with Nobu Kasahara and Hitoshi Kojo *"Stroma-Konkret", CD, 2006, Monochrome Vision, with Siegmar Fricke *"Environmental Meditations", CD, 2006, Topheth Prophet, with Maor Appelbaum *"Regolelettroniche", CD, 2007, Baskaru, with Emanuela de Angelis *"Micromal Sonorities", CD, 2007, Artecnico Inc., with Saverio Evangelista *"Psalmodiam", CD-R, 2007, Menstrualrecordings, with MDT *"Chaotische Fraktale/Letzte Technologie", 2CD, 2007, Silentes, with F.I.C.P.S. *"Electrostatic Deflection", CD, 2007, Silentes, with Maor Appelbaum *"Der Abgrund", CD, 2007, Silentes, with Frequency In Cycles Per Second *"Neural Frequencies", 3" CD, 2007, Steinklang Industries, with Land Use *"Erimos", CD, 2007, Digitalis Industries, with Hue and Fhievel *"Nefelodhis", CD, 2007, Musica di un Certo Livello/Cold Current, with Sparkle in Grey *"PU 94", CD-R, 2007, Simple Logic, with Craig Hilton *"Primordium", CD-R, 2007, The Eastern Front, with Siegmar Fricke *"TSE-K", LP, 2007, Small Voices, with Land Use *"Paradoxos", CD-R, 2008, Tibprod, with Cheapmachines *"M. Plus T.", CD, 2008, Silentes, with Atrax Morgue *"Alienation", CD, 2008, Finalmuzik, with Claudio Rocchetti *"Innervation", CD-R, 2008, Afe, with Maor Appelbaum *"Makrokosmikro", CD-R, 2009, Menstrualrecordings, with Siegmar Fricke *"Azazel", CD, 2009, Silentes, with Crìa Cuervos *"Mene Teqel Farsin", CD, 2009, Silentes, with Maor Appelbaum *"Kapnos", CD, 2009, Afe/Grey Sparkle/ctrl+alt+canc, by Meerkat (just liner notes by MB) *"Invocalizations",CD-R, 2009, Menstrualrecordings, with Patrizia Oliva *"As Strong As Death Is", Cassette, 2012, Robert & Leopold, with Ryan Martin *"Isometrie Sonore",Vinyl, 2013, ozky e-sound & Arte Nel Rumore & Dischi Gatto Alieno, with Xxena, Massimo Croce, D.B.P.I.T. *"Artemisio",TAPE, 2013, ozky e-sound & Arte Nel Rumore & Dischi Gatto Alieno, with Xxena, Massimo Croce, D.B.P.I.T. *"Amalgamelody (with

), CD, 2015, Old Europa Cafe

Books

* ''The Art of Duration and Resonance'', by Philippe Blache, 2010. Exhaustive essay about the genesis and development of Italian experimental electronic music that grew up in collaboration with MB

References

External links

biography at Menstrual RecordingsDiscography at Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bianchi, Maurizio Italian musicians Noise musicians Living people 1955 births Industrial musicians Power electronics musicians Cassette culture 1970s–1990s