United/Zyklon B Zombie Explained

United
Cover:ThrobbingGristleUnitedCoverSideA.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Throbbing Gristle
A-Side:United
B-Side:Zyklon B Zombie
Released:May 1978
Recorded:1977
Genre:
Label:Industrial
Producer:Throbbing Gristle
United
Title2:Zyklon B Zombie
Next Title:We Hate You (Little Girls)/Five Knuckle Shuffle
Next Year:1979

"United/Zyklon B Zombie" is the debut single by industrial band Throbbing Gristle. It was released in 7" vinyl format in May 1978, through the band's own Industrial Records.

Background

The single's A-side, "United", was called "one of the first electropop singles" by Jon Savage,[3] while the B-side, "Zyklon B Zombie", has been seen as a parody of punk rock music.[4] "United" featured a minimal drum loop and synthesizer pattern with uncharacteristically positive lyrics, while "Zyklon B Zombie" featured little more than growling, distorted vocals and bass guitar with a frenetic guitar solo. Both tracks were later released in the CD version of The Second Annual Report.

Release

The original pressing by Industrial Records had its own unique label and logo. After approximately 20,000 sales, re-pressing was taken over by Rough Trade and the single was re-cut with different messages ('Salon Kitty' on side B and '437 666 OTO' 'RE-CUT 4 Nov 79' and '20,000 DOWN' on side A). Cosey Fanni Tutti's guitar on "Zyklon B Zombie" was much louder on this repress than the original version.

A third pressing was in white vinyl (1,000 copies) and clear vinyl (1,000 copies) and features around two minutes of rain and train sounds at the end of side two.

"United" appeared on Throbbing Gristle's second studio album , sped up to a duration of only 0:16.

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Book: Punk Diary: 1970-1979 . Vintage . Gimarc, George . 1994 . 124 . 009952211X.
  2. Web site: 20 Best: Post-punk 7"'s ever made . . 31 October 2010 . 7 May 2014 . Ingram. Matt.
  3. Book: Savage, Jon . Jon Savage . 1991 . England's Dreaming . Faber & Faber . 0571261191.
  4. Book: Reynolds, Simon . 2005 . . Faber & Faber . 0571215696.
  5. Book: Lazell, Barry . Indie Hits 1980-1989 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608045508/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/t.htm . dead . 8 June 2011 . Cherry Red Books . 1997 . 5 September 2014.