Belgium outfit Black Tish, one of the first industrial bands, recently released their double A-sided single, Industrial Tribute, covering two classic industrial tracks: “What a Day” by Throbbing Gristle and “Zerstörte Zelle” by Einstürzende Neubauten.
Indeed, The Big Takeover’s Cody Conard, writing about the band’s album Throbbing Flip Out, referred to Black Tish as “a crucial missing link in the genre’s evolution.”
Black Tish says, “Having been called the ‘missing link between the pure experimental nature of bands like Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten and the (comparatively) more radio accessible Ministry or Nine Inch Nails.’ it seems particularly appropriate to release those two covers. We actually were already doing them before the quote came out.”
Described as industrial in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, Black Tish has an interesting origin story and timeline to where they are now. Known in their native Belgium for their cutting-edge sound and outrageous shows, they also wrote a massive discography which was never released. Difficulties with recording and production meant that the songs were shelved when frontman Bob Coecke decided to pursue his other passion, quantum physics and consciousness.
Moving to Oxford to work in the University of Oxford’s Quantum Computing Department in 1998, Coecke is currently more celebrated as a scientist than for Black Tish.
Presently, he is Chief Scientist of the biggest quantum computing company in the world, Quantinuum, and is considered a leading expert not only in quantum computing and technology, but the neuroscience of quantum AI.
Tattoo.com caught up with Black Tish’s Bob Coecke to throw a bunch of random questions at him. His answers are most intriguing.
Top 3 songs of all time?
“I Wanna Be Your Dog” – The Stooges.
“Cowboy Bob” – Butthole Surfers.
“Burning Inside” – Ministry.
What are three words that describe you?
Industrial. Infernal. Guitars.
Favorite movie?
‘Once Upon a Time In The West.’
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment?
Being an early industrial band without knowing it.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
We eat neither.
Gibson guitars or Fender guitars?
Gibson, but just got a Fender too.
What’s the most random fact you know?
I am the 1st (official) Bob in Belgium.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Lego designer.
Favorite drink and food?
Mouse aux chocolate & Duvel.
What’s something you know isn’t real but wish existed?
Dodos (they may actually come back soon).
What is something that no one else seems to care very much about but makes you crawl the walls?
Some random piece of metal in my right pocket.
Must-have on your rider?
Paperclip.
What is one thing you’re good at that people don’t expect?
Cutting someone’s hair.
If you could have dinner with any musician (dead or alive), who would it be?
Lydia Lunch (actually had that already more that 30y ago).
What smell transports you to another time and place?
Belgian fries.
What’s your favorite article of clothing that you own?
An earring I haven’t take off for 40 years
What’s something you’re proud you’ve never done?
Tattoos.
BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, other?
Has been Apple all the way.