British graphic artist, musician, and video director Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson died in his sleep on Wednesday at the age of 55. As a member of Throbbing Gristle, Christopherson can be credited with being one of the creators of industrial music. Following its dissolution, he went on to be a founding member of Psychic TV, along with John Balance, with whom he partnered musically (and in life) to form the band Coil. You can hear his influence today, rippling through ambient electronica, moody horror atmospherics, hip hop, the second “death disco” wave of industrial, and—sadly—its bastard offspring, nu metal.
He was also credited as the art director of the first three Peter Gabriel album covers as a member of the British design firm Hipgnosis. What's more, he directed videos for Rage Against The Machine, Ministry, Sepultura, and Hanson. Hanson?! Wait…double-checking…yeah. Hanson.