Ron Athey's earliest work dates back to collaborations with Rozz Williams during the early 1980s. Athey and Williams performed as "Premature Ejaculation," staging actions in clubs and galleries and producing experimental recordings and performances for camera. Their work together was photographed by Karen Filter and published in the punk magazine "No Mag" in 1982. The practice for which he is most known grows from performances developed for club contexts in Los Angeles, such as Club Fuck! and Sin-a-matic. In 1992, he staged his first major ensemble performance, "Martyrs & Saints". This is the first of what the artist calls his "Torture Trilogy". It was followed by "4 Scenes in a Harsh Life" (1993-1996) and "Deliverance" (1995). These works were performed in the U.S., Mexico and in Europe. In 1998, he appeared in "Sex/Life in L.A." Jochen Hick's adult documentary about the sex lives of the guys who make L.A. adult movies.