Saxophonist Alex Buess and drummer Knut Remond originated 16-17's turbulent sound in the comparatively sedate surroundings of Basel, Switzerland, in 1983. Sharing fellow country-man H.R. Giger's fascination with suppressed horrors, their primal shock therapy raged against passivity. 16-17 were determined to locate a shared melting point for extremist rock, free music, and avant-garde electronic.