Borbetomagus is an American free jazz and noise rock band that formed in 1979. The ensemble was founded by the saxophonists Jim Sauter and Don Dietrich and the electric guitarist Donald Miller and is famous for its aggressive improvised sound and for the “bells together” performance technique. They achieved professional recognition in the early 1980s and have been widely influential on the Japanese noise music scene. Their discography includes the eponymous debut studio recording Borbetomagus (1980), followed by Work on What Has Been Spoiled (1981) and Barbed Wire Maggots (1983). The ensemble has collaborated with musicians including Tristan Honsinger, Peter Kowald, and Thurston Moore. Their recordings also include the studio recordings Industrial Strength (1983) and Songs Our Mother Taught Us (1995), as well as the live recording Snuff Jazz (1990). In 2007, their recording Live in Allentown (1986) was re-released on CD.
