Industrial music emerged in the mid 70’s, providing a vibrant, provocative and artistic soundtrack to the picket lines, economic decline and cultural oppression of the era. Whether factory workers, students or unemployed, industrial music pioneers were all educated, artistically minded and politically aware artists who started with little to no musical background and went on to change musical history.

Industrial musicians found inspiration in Krautrock bands Kraftwerk, Faust and Can, 20th century art movements Dada, Futurism and Surrealism and post-modern writers William Burroughs, Brion Gysin and J.G. Ballard. Combining the DIY attitude of punk with mail art and underground fanzines, these pioneers were also among the first bands to incorporate tape loops, homemade synthesisers, factory field recordings and cut-up techniques in their music.