Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson, the founding member of iconic UK outfits Throbbing Gristle and Coil, passed away this morning. He was 55 years old. The cause of Christopherson’s death is not yet known, but according to his Throbbing Gristle bandmates Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti, he passed away in his sleep at his home in Bankok (via The Daily Swarm).

With Christopherson, Throbbing Gristle released four studio albums and became one of the more influential figures in the industrial music genre. The band would disband in 1981, with Christopherson going on to work in a number of different outfits, including Psychic TV and his own solo-project Coil. In 2004, Throbbing Gristle reunited for a string of concerts and new music, but again disbanded after vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Genesis P-Orridge unexpectedly departed amidst an ongoing tour in October 2010. Carter, Fanni Tutti, and Christopherson continued on under the moniker X-TG.