Whitehouse (band)

Whitehouse was a British noise music band, formed in 1980 by William Bennett and Peter Mackay. Often considered pioneers of the power electronics subgenre, their music is characterized by harsh, abrasive sounds, extreme frequencies, and often disturbing and provocative lyrical themes.

The band's name was taken from Mary Whitehouse, a British media activist known for her campaigns against perceived immorality and obscenity in the media. This was intended as a deliberate act of provocation, reflecting the band's confrontational and transgressive artistic approach.

Early Whitehouse recordings often featured synthesizers, tape loops, and found sounds, creating a dense and overwhelming sonic assault. Lyrical content frequently explored themes of violence, sexuality, mental illness, and social control, presented in a graphic and often deliberately offensive manner.

While the band's work was controversial and often met with negative reactions, they have been credited with influencing a wide range of artists in the noise, industrial, and experimental music scenes. Whitehouse disbanded in 2001 but reformed in 2007, continuing to perform and release new material until their final dissolution in 2010. William Bennett has continued to produce music under the name Cut Hands.