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Superstar magician Penn Jillette has a wild secret rock ‘n’ roll past that no-one ever talks about, and the “bloody scars” to prove it
A feature on rock website Louder revisits a little-known chapter in the life of magician and entertainer Penn Jillette, best known as one half of the Las Vegas illusionist duo Penn & Teller. The piece focuses on his connection to industrial metal supergroup Pigface, revealing that beneath his polished stage persona lies a genuine link to the rock 'n' roll underground, complete with the kind of scars and stories rarely associated with a Vegas headline act.
The article centres on Pigface, an ever-changing collective founded by former Public Image Ltd./Killing Joke drummer Martin Atkins and ex-R.E.M./King Crimson drummer Bill Rieflin, whose collaborators have included Trent Reznor, Flea, Black Francis and members of Tool, Ministry and Swans. Jillette appeared on the band's 2003 album "Easy Listening… For Difficult Fuckheads", lending his voice to its expletive-heavy closing track, "The Horse You Rode In On" — an unexpected credit that underlines his deeper, largely undocumented ties to the rock scene.
In short
- Penn Jillette has a hidden rock 'n' roll history rarely discussed publicly.
- He guested on industrial band Pigface's 2003 album.
- The track featured explicit lyrics far from his Vegas magician image.
Explained simply
Penn Jillette is an American magician, comedian and writer, best known as the outspoken half of the stage duo Penn & Teller. Alongside his work in Las Vegas, he has had connections to musicians and performers outside the world of magic.
Pigface is an industrial music collective founded by drummers Martin Atkins and Bill Rieflin. Rather than keeping a fixed line-up, it has brought together artists from bands including Ministry, Tool and Swans, making its albums a meeting point for musicians from different parts of alternative rock.
Jillette contributed vocals to a track on Pigface’s 2003 album, “Easy Listening… For Difficult Fuckheads”. The connection matters because it shows how musicians and performers can cross paths beyond their best-known roles, linking a familiar stage entertainer with the less visible industrial music scene.