Coil were an English experimental music group, founded in 1982 by John Balance in London. Initially envisioned as a solo project by lead singer and songwriter Balance (born Geoffrey Burton) while he was in the band Psychic TV, Coil evolved into a full-time project with the addition of keyboardist Peter Christopherson--former member of seminal industrial band Throbbing Gristle who became Balance's creative and personal partner. Throughout the group's existence, Balance and Christopherson have been the only constant members; others members and contributors include, among others, Stephen Thrower, Danny Hyde, Drew McDowall, William Breeze, Thighpaulsandra (Tim Lewis), and Ossian Brown (Simon Norris). After the release of their debut extended play, titled How to Destroy Angels, Coil joined Some Bizzare Records, through which they released two full-length albums, Scatology (1984) and Horse Rotorvator (1986).
1984-1986: How to Destroy Angels and Some Bizzare years
The band's official recording debut, an extended play titled How to Destroy Angels, was released on the Good Friday (20 April) of 1984 by a Belgian-based label L.A.Y.L.A.H. Antirecords. Recorded on 19 February 1984 at Britannia Row Studios, the album was dedicated to Mars as the god of spring and war, using predominantely iron and steel instruments.  Following the release of How to Destroy Angels, Coil signed to Some Bizzare Records. Their first full-length studio album, Scatology, was recorded in 1984 with prominent appearance of JG Thirlwell and Stephen Thrower, and was finished and released in early 1985 with a 1984 copyright date. The album was largely based on the sound of industrial music as well as the Post-punk movement. While songs such as "Restless Day", "Panic" and "Tainted Love" are representative of a mainstream style, other tracks preview what would become Coil's unique electronic style. The single Panic/Tainted Love became the first AIDS benefit music release, as the profits from sales of the single were donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust. The "Tainted Love" music video, directed by Christopherson, is in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, U.S.  Horse Rotorvator followed in 1986 as the next full-length release. Although songs such as "The Anal Staircase" and "Circles of Mania" sound like evolved versions of Scatology material, the album is characterized by slower tempos, and represented a new direction for the group. The album has a darker theme than previous releases, according to Balance:  Horse Rotorvator was this vision I'd had of this mechanical/flesh thing that ploughed up the earth and I really did have a vision of it--a real horrible, burning, dripping, jaw-like vision in the night ... The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse killed their horses and use their jawbones to make this huge earth-moving machine."  The artwork features a photograph of the location of a notorious IRA bombing, in which a bomb was detonated on a military orchestra pavilion. Horse Rotorvator was in part influenced by the AIDS related deaths of some of their friends. Furthermore, the song "Ostia (The Death of Pasolini)", is about the mysterious death of Pier Paolo Pasolini, as well as what Balance described as "the number one suicide spot in the world", the white cliffs of Dover.

Q: what is how to destroy angels?
A: The band's official recording debut, an extended play titled How to Destroy Angels, was released on the Good Friday (

Q: did it do well?
A: Following the release of How to Destroy Angels, Coil signed to Some Bizzare Records.

Q: did they produce any albums with them?
A: Their first full-length studio album, Scatology, was recorded in 1984 with prominent appearance of JG Thirlwell and Stephen Thrower,

Q: did that album do well?
A: unknown

Q: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
A: Horse Rotorvator followed in 1986 as the next full-length release.

Q: did any albums win any awards?
A: unknown
did they tour?
described as "the number one suicide spot in the world", the white cliffs of Dover.
described as "the number one suicide spot in the world", the white cliffs of Dover.