Killing Joke
Encyclopedia
Killing Joke are an English post-punk
band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman
(vocals, keyboards) and Geordie Walker
(guitars) have been the only constant members.
A key influence on industrial rock
, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as "quasi-metal
... dancing to a tune of doom and gloom", which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music
, synth-pop, gothic rock
, and alternative rock
, though always emphasising Coleman's "savagely strident vocals."
Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana
, Ministry
, Amen
, Lamb of God
, Nine Inch Nails
, Porcupine Tree
, Napalm Death
, Behemoth
, Amebix
, Big Black
, Opeth
, Murderdolls
, Godflesh
, Hole
, Dead by April
, Tool
, Prong, Metallica
, Franz Ferdinand
, Primus
, Jane's Addiction
, Soundgarden
, Foo Fighters
, Faith No More
, Blacklist
, Shihad
, Pitchshifter
, Das Oath
, Rammstein
, and Korn
, all of whom have at some point cited some debt of gratitude to Killing Joke.Related news articles:Related news articles:
was drummer in the Matt Stagger Band when he met Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman
(from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) in Notting Hill, London. In October 1978 (or early 1979), after Coleman was briefly keyboard player in that band, he and Ferguson left to form Killing Joke. They placed an advertisement in the music press which attracted guitarist Kevin "Geordie" Walker
and bassist Martin "Youth" Glover
. According to Coleman, their manifesto
was to "define the exquisite beauty of the atomic age
in terms of style, sound and form".
By September 1979, shortly before the release of their debut EP, Turn to Red
, they began the Malicious Damage record label
with graphic artist Mike Coles as a way to press and sell their music; Island Records
distributed the records, until Malicious Damage switched to E.G. Records
(then aligned with Virgin Records) in 1980. The songs on Killing Joke's early singles were primitive punk rock sometimes mixed with electronic ("Nervous System" and "Turn to Red"). Turn to Red came to the attention of legendary DJ John Peel
, who was keen to champion the band's urgent new sound and gave them extensive airplay. They quickly progressed this sound into something denser, more aggressive, and more akin to heavy metal, as heard on their first two albums, Killing Joke
(1980) and the more abrasive What's THIS For...!
(1981). They toured extensively throughout the UK during this time, and both fans of post punk and heavy metal
took interest in Killing Joke through singles such as "Follow the Leaders" (1981).
Killing Joke became notorious largely due to the controversies that arose from their imagery. Typically the images that appeared on their records and on-stage while performing live were bizarre and potentially shocking and inflammatory. One promotion poster featured a photo of a priest walking among rows of soldiers offering Fascist salutes, which was later used for the cover of the band's compilation album, Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!
. Shortly afterwards, the band was banned from performing a concert in Glasgow, Scotland. At the same time, some journalists were suspicious about Killing Joke's image and wrote that "Killing Joke's music includes certain fascist tendencies...". Killing Joke had various 'run-ins' with a number of music journalists at the time.
Killing Joke's third album, Revelations
, produced by Conny Plank
, was released in 1982, and supported by a pair of performances on BBC Radio
's The John Peel Show and by the singles "Chop-Chop
", "Empire Song
", and an unofficial release of "We Have Joy
". The LP reached #12 in the UK Top albums.
By 1982, members of Killing Joke, especially Coleman, had become immersed in the occult
, particularly the works of occultist Aleister Crowley
. In February of that year, Coleman, with Geordie and Youth following shortly after, moved to Iceland
to survive the Apocalypse
, which Coleman predicted was coming soon. While in Iceland, Coleman and Geordie worked with musicians from the band Þeyr
in the project Niceland
. After a few months, Youth decided there was no indication of the Apocalypse, and decided to move back to England. Youth then began the band Brilliant
with Paul Ferguson, but the latter defected and travelled to Iceland to rejoin Killing Joke with new bassist Paul Raven (previously of Neon Hearts
and the rock / glam band Kitsch) in tow. After spending some time in Iceland, Killing Joke returned to England and began touring and recording again.
The new line-up soon produced, again with Conny Plank, the single "Birds of a Feather / Sun Goes Down / Flock the B-Side" and Ha!
, a six-track 10" EP
of a live performance recorded live at Larry's Hideaway in Toronto in August.
(1983), contained music that, like that heard on the "Birds of a Feather" single, was artier and relatively calmer than before, which began a new direction. This was continued with the non LP singles "Me or You" (1983, b/w "Wilful Days") and "A New Day" (1984, b/w a dance remix or dub mix of the same), the latter promoted with a music video
.
Mixing their sound with a slightly pop
style, and with Coleman singing and not growling, Killing Joke had developed a variation of new wave on their fifth album, Night Time
(1985). They achieved mainstream success with the single "Love Like Blood" which covered all ground from goth to dance : it peaked at #16 in the UK and #8 in the Netherlands. Night Time also included the singles "Eighties" (1984) and "Kings and Queens" (1985), which both reached the UK Top 75. The album itself reached #11 in the UK.
The music on Killing Joke's sixth album, Brighter than a Thousand Suns (1986), was mostly similar in sound and mood to "Love like Blood". While no less aggressive and heavy than their older work, Brighter Than a Thousand Suns diverged musically in ways that lead to controversy among listeners. In this case, disagreements between fans and critics alike included opinions on whether the band was conforming with pressures from EG Records to develop a more commercial sound, to whether the songs were relevant for those listeners more comfortable with their proto post-punk beginnings. Those who are strongly approving of the work consider it a milestone - and quite intense - progressive rock album, and their most consistent work to date. Two singles were released from the album - "Adorations" and "Sanity" - and the band continued touring successfully until the end of the year.
In 1987, Coleman began plans for a solo record of unusual music, and he made demos of his songs, on which he performed with Geordie
's assistance. The project ran way over budget and so, despite Coleman's objections, the record company decided that the music would be released under the name "Killing Joke" in order to best recoup the costs. Attempts were made to include Killing Joke rhythm section members Raven and Ferguson, but it didn't work out, and tensions ultimately led to both being dismissed from the band. Session player Jimmy Copley
was then brought in to provide the drumming on the songs, along with percussion player Jeff Scantlebury.
The resulting album, Outside the Gate
(1988), is Killing Joke's most controversial album, with opinion ranging from admiration to total disgust, owing to its synth-led sonics and disagreement over the quality of the material. It is not signature-sound Killing Joke, being built around Coleman's orchestral keyboards instead of Geordie's distinctive guitar riffs, which were all but drowned out in the final mix. Had the album been released as "Coleman/Walker" (as the cover graphic implies) it might have been better received. Released as "Killing Joke", it was panned by confused critics and fans alike. Two singles, "America" and "My Love of This Land", were released from the album but did little to improve its fortunes. The video for the former features Coleman and Geordie with drummer Jimmy Copley
and session bassist Jerome Rimson, who never actually recorded with the band. No live dates were played to support the album and the band spent much of 1988 in a legal battle as they tried to split from their management and record company, E.G.
This struggle resulted in Coleman suffering a nervous breakdown.
On 19 September 1987 Coleman had delivered a lecture at London's Courtauld Institute outlining the thinking behind the then-unreleased Outside the Gate
album, touching on numerology
and the occult. Geordie and percussionist Jeff Scantlebury provided a minimal musical backing at the event. A recording of the lecture was eventually released under the title The Courtauld Talks
on Martin Atkins' Invisible Records
in 1989.
, who had gained notability in Public Image Ltd.
and later Ministry
and Pigface
. A suitable bass player proved more difficult. Former Smiths
man Andy Rourke
was hired, then dismissed after only three days. Eventually the band settled on Welsh bass player Dave "Taif" Ball, and played their first gigs in almost two years in December 1988. These were seen as a return to form, and featured the best of their 1980 to 1985 work, alongside powerful new material which alluded to the band's earlier, harsher sound. Nothing from Brighter Than a Thousand Suns or Outside the Gate
was played (and indeed, never has been since). Touring continued across the UK, Europe and the US until August 1989, when the band took a break to record its new material in Germany, and to allow Jaz Coleman
time to record Songs from the Victorious City
with Anne Dudley
of Art of Noise, which was released the following year.
For reasons which remain unclear, the German Killing Joke sessions were shelved and bass player Taif left the band to be replaced by old hand Paul Raven. The revised line-up began recording again, this time in London, and the result was Killing Joke's eighth album, the ferocious Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions
, released on the German Noise International
label in 1990. It included some of the heaviest, noisiest and harshest music ever to appear on a Killing Joke record, although the progressive musical spirit of the previous two albums remained as well. The many highlights included "Solitude", "Slipstream", "Age of Greed" and the single "Money Is Not Our God". Once again, the band toured Europe and North America, but by the middle of 1991 this promising new line-up had imploded. Coleman emigrated to New Zealand to live on a remote Pacific island, and it looked as though Killing Joke was over for good.
Geordie Walker
, Martin Atkins
, Paul Ferguson
, Paul Raven and the band's live keyboard player John Bechdel
(Ministry
, Fear Factory
, Prong, Pigface
, Abstinence
, False Icons, Ascension of the Watchers
) added Scottish vocalist Chris Connelly (Finitribe
, Revolting Cocks
) and continued as the short-lived Murder, Inc.
, releasing a self-titled album in 1992.
A Killing Joke anthology, Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!
, was released in 1992, and during its production, Geordie was re-acquainted with Youth
, who suggested that they reform the band with himself back on bass. That same year, two singles (on cassette and CD) appeared featuring the early songs "Change" and "Wardance" in several new versions remixed by Youth, by then a very successful producer.
Coleman had produced the 1993 debut album Churn by the New Zealand Band Shihad
and Shihad drummer Tom Larkin
played drums on some of the songs on Pandemonium. Relations later soured between Coleman and Shihad due to a dispute over Coleman's production fee for Churn, and the fact that Shihad considered him a "megalomaniac". Shihad's second album, 1995's Killjoy, includes a song about Coleman and the dispute: 'Silvercup'. Coleman has also made a number of disparaging remarks about Shihad
in the media. Shihad singer and guitarist Jon Toogood
says his band have since put the dispute behind them.
Killing Joke also sued Nirvana
during this phase, alleging that the riff for the latter's song "Come as You Are" was copied from the riff for their song "Eighties
". The lawsuit was dropped after the sudden death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain
.
The reactivated Killing Joke released two strong and well-received albums on Youth's Butterfly Recordings
label, Pandemonium
and Democracy, which saw the band shift back to the simpler arrangements of their early albums whilst also (on 12 inch remixes) employ young talent, the likes of Waxworth Industries in order to provide an alternative inroad to the bands new and evolving sound. Pandemonium
(1994) wove a metallesque ritualistic sound with mosh beats and loops and provided Killing Joke with a memorable Top of the Pops
performance for the single 'Millennium', which was a UK Top 40 hit (the album itself made the Top 20). The title track was also released as a single and made the UK Top 30. Democracy (1996) successfully introduced acoustic guitar into the mix, as well as adopting more of a "live band" sound again. The title track was again released as a single and made the UK Top 40. Much of Pandemonium and all of Democracy featured session drummer Geoff Dugmore. He also played live with the band throughout this era. Nick Holywell-Walker
joined the band on keyboards and programming for 11 years from 1994–2005, notably on Democracy and XXV Gathering (live). Youth bowed out of live performance early in the Democracy tour and was replaced by Troy Gregory
, ex Prong.
After the Democracy tour, the band went on an extended hiatus. Jaz Coleman and Youth produced a string of well-received orchestral rock albums based on the music of legends such as Led Zeppelin
, Pink Floyd
and The Doors
. Coleman became Composer-in-Residence for New Zealand and Czech symphony orchestras.Related news articles: He seems to have become something of a celebrity in the Czech Republic and made his acting debut with the main role in the film Rok ďábla (Year of the Devil) by Czech filmmaker Petr Zelenka
(who later would direct the video for "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
").
. Produced by Andy Gill and released to much acclaim in 2003 on the Zuma/Sony label, it was heralded as a powerful addition to Extremities and other visceral 1990s albums, and considered one of their finest recordings. In 2003 the band played at the biggest open-air festival in Europe (400.000 - 500.000 rock fans every year) - Przystanek Woodstock
in Poland.The War on Terror
and the invasion of Iraq were cited as major factors in their reforming, and this is reflected in the lyrical content of much of the album, based on themes of war, government control and Armageddon
. The album, which almost reached the UK Top 40, was their heaviest to date and spawned two singles, "Loose Cannon" (a UK Top 25 hit) and "Seeing Red". The songs are all credited to Coleman/Walker/Glover
/Gill, although Raven's name is also on the list of musicians on the liner notes, marking his return to the band after more than a decade. It remains unclear who actually played bass on which tracks on the album, and in some interviews with Geordie, he hints that it may have been he who actually played bass on most of the songs, with occasional contributions from Youth. Raven played on the subsequent tour, with Youth appearing to have retired from the band by this point. Dave Grohl
(Nirvana
, Foo Fighters, Probot, Them Crooked Vultures
), a longtime fan of the band, occupied the drum stool for all tracks. The original plan had been to use many different drummers on the album, including Grohl, but he was so enthusiastic about the material that he persuaded the band to let him do the whole thing. The album was accompanied by a tour of the United States, Europe and Australia in 2003/2004, with ex-Prong drummer Ted Parsons
on board.
In February 2005, now with young Twin Zero and Sack Trick
drummer Ben Calvert, Killing Joke played two consecutive shows at London's Shepherds Bush Empire
to commemorate their 25th anniversary. DVD and CD recordings from these concerts were released in on Cooking Vinyl
in the fall of 2005 as XXV Gathering: The Band That Preys Together Stays Together.
In June 2005, remastered and expanded editions of their two 1990s Butterfly Recordings
albums, Pandemonium and Democracy, were released by Cooking Vinyl
. These were followed in July by their first four albums (Killing Joke to Ha!) on EMI
, who by then owned the E.G. Records
catalogue. (The second batch of EMI remasters would not appear until January 2008.)
In mid-2005, Frontman from Industrial band, INERTIA, Reza Udhin, joins the band on Keyboards and they supported the British leg of Mötley Crüe
's world tour and then began work on their next album in Prague
. It was at this time the contribution to the world of rock was recognised when they were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 Kerrang Awards.
Opting for simplicity and raw energy, the band recorded the new album in the basement rehearsal space of Faust Studios, going for live takes with the minimum of overdubs. The result was Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
, released in April 2006 on Cooking Vinyl, which made the UK Top 75.
Killing Joke began a European tour in support of the album in April 2006. Bass player Paul Raven abruptly departed after a few dates to tour with Ministry
and was temporarily replaced by Kneill Brown. The tour included an appearance headlining the MySpace
stage of the Download Festival on 10 June 2006, which received four K's from Kerrang!
magazine. Other highlights of the summer included a memorable set in Japan at the Fuji Rock festival where there were joined on stage by Orb
frontman Alex Paterson
(once a Killing Joke drum roadie) and headlining the Beautiful Days festival in the UK. The band's momentum suffered another blow, when health problems caused the autumn leg of the tour to be cancelled.
In October 2006, it was announced that Coleman had been chosen as Composer in Residence
for the European Union
. As Composer in Residence he will be commissioned to write music for special occasions.
Early in 2007, Killing Joke released three archival collections via Candlelight Records
. The first, Inside Extremities, is a double CD of material taken from the band's preparations for the Extremities album: rehearsals, rare mixes, a previously unheard track, "The Fanatic", and a full live show from the Extremities tour. This was followed by Bootleg Vinyl Archive Volumes 1 & 2, each of which is a 3 CD box set of live-in-concert bootleg recordings originally released on vinyl in the 1980s, plus the Astoria gig from the Pandemonium tour which was voted one of the greatest gigs of all time by Kerrang.
In October 2007, the classic 1990 album Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions, which had long been out of print, was reissued in remastered form on Candlelight Records
.
On 20 October, Paul Raven died of heart failure prior to a recording session in Geneva, Switzerland. In his honour, Coleman composed a lament for a 21st century Englishman (The Night Raven, the Tower and the Cenotaph).
On 28 January 2008 the albums Fire Dances, Night Time, Brighter than a Thousand Suns, and Outside the Gate were finally re-issued in remastered form with bonus tracks by EMI
. Each of these carries the message "Dedicated to our brother Paul Vincent Raven 1961–2007".
After the death of Paul Raven, the original line up of Jaz, Youth, Geordie and Paul Ferguson announced they were to reunite. Coleman told Terrorizer magazine that:
The original line-up of Killing Joke assembled in Granada, Spain, to prepare a world tour consisting of two nights in various capital cities of the world, playing a programme of four complete albums. The rehearsals will be immortalised on Duende - The Spanish Sessions, released in 2008 on Estworld Recordings. The first nights were dedicated to their first two albums, Killing Joke
and What's THIS For...!
, while the second night featured large parts of 'Pandemonium
' plus some early singles released on Island records. The world tour began on 11 September in Tokyo and concluded in Chicago on 14 October.
Killing Joke released an album of radio session recordings, "The Peel Sessions 1979-1981", on 8 September 2008. This is the second time all 17 tracks were released in their live session form. According to Discogs.com, the tracks on this disc were originally unofficially released as a CD-R
by Pontiac Records, entitled Unspeakable. Legal distribution outside of concerts did not apply, and only 1000 copies were sold in 1985 at Top of the Pops
, when Killing Joke performed Love Like Blood
.
The band continued its reformation by playing the All Tomorrow's Parties
festival in May 2009. They performed at the Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, UK on 2 August and headlined the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool. Killing Joke performed in The Big Top Tent at the 2009 Isle Of Wight Festival after being hand picked by Tim Burgess, frontman for The Charlatans.
In October–November, Killing Joke record their new CD with the original line-up. All members of Killing Joke have commented that this is the single most important work that Killing Joke have ever done. The new album was released on 27 September 2010 in the United Kingdom
and Japan
, and on 1 October in Europe
on Spinefarm Records
under the title Absolute Dissent
, marking the 30th Anniversary for Killing Joke. It was preceded by the In Excelsis EP
released on 23 June 2010, and followed by a tour in the UK, Europe and North America for promoting the album.
In November, the band was honoured with the trophy for Innovator at the Classic Rock
Roll of Honour 2010 marking their unique evolution of sound over the last 30 plus years which has incorporated electronic, synth and alternative rock and influenced a generation of rock acts including Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More and Tool. They were awarded the honour at the Roundhouse in London by long time fan of the band Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. On 26 November 2010 Killing Joke released a special edition Record Store Day Black Friday 2-CD set called, Absolute Dissent (Deluxe Edition) for independent record stores.
The bands new album was critically acclaimed all round and they embarked on a European and UK tour culminating in a performance at the Hammersmith Apollo London. This was followed by a performance at Londons Royal Festival Hall in the New Year which was recorded for an upcoming live album and a headlinde slot at the UK's largest urban festival the Camden Crawl. The band were also honoured at The Metal Hammer annual awards receiving The Album of the Year. Summer festivals followed including a memorable performance at Sonisphere Knebworth with the band retiring to Spain to record a new album for 2012.
, Peter Hook
, Chris Kimsey, Mike Coles, Dave Grohl
, Alex Patterson and Laurence Gardner
discussing Killing Joke, UFOs, mysticism, religion and the end of the world. Locations featured in the trailers include the Egyptian Pyramids
, the Nazca Lines
in Peru, Snæfellsjökull
glacier in Iceland, Iona
in Scotland, Glastonbury Tor
in England and numerous venues, bars, outdoor locations and rainforests in New Zealand, LA and England. The film is produced by New Zealand's ILC Productions, UK indie Coffee Films and Jaz Coleman, with filmmaker, photographer and lifelong Gatherer Shaun Pettigrew directing.
Kotiteollisuus is also on the Killing Joke Tribute-album, with their Finnish language cover of "Pandemonium".
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman
Jaz Coleman
Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
(vocals, keyboards) and Geordie Walker
Geordie Walker
Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
(guitars) have been the only constant members.
A key influence on industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as "quasi-metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
... dancing to a tune of doom and gloom", which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, synth-pop, gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, though always emphasising Coleman's "savagely strident vocals."
Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Ministry
Ministry (band)
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, Amen
Amen (band)
Amen is a hardcore punk-influenced band formed in 1994.The band has an almost constantly rotating lineup, with founder Casey Chaos remaining as the only constant member throughout...
, Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
, Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
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Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
, Napalm Death
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, Behemoth
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Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....
, Amebix
Amebix
Amebix are an English crust punk/heavy metal band. Formed as "The Band with No Name," Amebix's original run was from 1978 to 1987, during which time they released three EPs and two full-length LPs...
, Big Black
Big Black
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, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
, Murderdolls
Murderdolls
Murderdolls is an American horror punk supergroup, founded during 2002 in Hollywood, California. The band line-up consists of core members Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison. Former members include Ben Graves, Acey Slade, Eric Griffin & Tripp Eisen....
, Godflesh
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, Hole
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, Dead by April
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, Tool
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, Prong, Metallica
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, Primus
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Das Oath was a thrashcore band from New York, originating from The Netherlands. They formed in 1999. After two rehearsals the band recorded their 7" eight song debut in Rotterdam. It was not until a year later when Das Oath started to play shows. With only one 7" released the band hit the road and...
, Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
, and Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, all of whom have at some point cited some debt of gratitude to Killing Joke.Related news articles:Related news articles:
1978–1982
"Big" Paul FergusonPaul Ferguson
Paul Ferguson is a rock drummer, best known for his work in the post-punk/industrial group, Killing Joke, and cult English punk band, Pink Parts. Ferguson was a founder member of Killing Joke, and was their drummer from 1978 to 1987, and was known as 'Big Paul Ferguson' during this period...
was drummer in the Matt Stagger Band when he met Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman
Jaz Coleman
Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
(from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) in Notting Hill, London. In October 1978 (or early 1979), after Coleman was briefly keyboard player in that band, he and Ferguson left to form Killing Joke. They placed an advertisement in the music press which attracted guitarist Kevin "Geordie" Walker
Geordie Walker
Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
and bassist Martin "Youth" Glover
Martin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
. According to Coleman, their manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
was to "define the exquisite beauty of the atomic age
Atomic Age
The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, is a phrase typically used to delineate the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear bomb Trinity on July 16, 1945...
in terms of style, sound and form".
By September 1979, shortly before the release of their debut EP, Turn to Red
Turn to Red
Turn to Red, is the original version of Killing Joke's debut EP, released in October 1979. It lacked the track "Almost Red", which would appear a month later on the 12" release...
, they began the Malicious Damage record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
with graphic artist Mike Coles as a way to press and sell their music; Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
distributed the records, until Malicious Damage switched to E.G. Records
E.G. Records
E.G. Records was a UK-based artist management company and independent record label, mostly active during the 1970s and 1980s. The initials stand for its founders, David Enthoven and John Gaydon. The pair signed on as managers of King Crimson in early 1969, during the formative stage of the band and...
(then aligned with Virgin Records) in 1980. The songs on Killing Joke's early singles were primitive punk rock sometimes mixed with electronic ("Nervous System" and "Turn to Red"). Turn to Red came to the attention of legendary DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
, who was keen to champion the band's urgent new sound and gave them extensive airplay. They quickly progressed this sound into something denser, more aggressive, and more akin to heavy metal, as heard on their first two albums, Killing Joke
Killing Joke (album)
Killing Joke is the debut studio album of the London post-punk band Killing Joke. Released in August, 1980 worldwide under E'G Records, Killing Joke was self-produced and was considered an underground album. The album was recorded in early 1980, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP...
(1980) and the more abrasive What's THIS For...!
What's THIS For...!
What's THIS For...! is the second studio album by Killing Joke. It was released in June 1981 on EG Music. A remastered version with three bonus tracks was released in 2005.- Recording :...
(1981). They toured extensively throughout the UK during this time, and both fans of post punk and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
took interest in Killing Joke through singles such as "Follow the Leaders" (1981).
Killing Joke became notorious largely due to the controversies that arose from their imagery. Typically the images that appeared on their records and on-stage while performing live were bizarre and potentially shocking and inflammatory. One promotion poster featured a photo of a priest walking among rows of soldiers offering Fascist salutes, which was later used for the cover of the band's compilation album, Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!
Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!
Laugh? I Nearly Bought One! is a compilation album by Killing Joke, released in 1992. The album contains tracks from every album Killing Joke had released at that time, except Fire Dances and Outside The Gate. It also featured a previously unreleased mix of "Wintergardens" and several non-album...
. Shortly afterwards, the band was banned from performing a concert in Glasgow, Scotland. At the same time, some journalists were suspicious about Killing Joke's image and wrote that "Killing Joke's music includes certain fascist tendencies...". Killing Joke had various 'run-ins' with a number of music journalists at the time.
Killing Joke's third album, Revelations
Revelations (Killing Joke)
Revelations was the third album of the English post-punk group Killing Joke. "Empire Song" and "Chop-Chop" were released as singles. "Empire Song" was performed at Top of the Pops, but without singer Jaz Coleman, who had just departed for Iceland...
, produced by Conny Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
, was released in 1982, and supported by a pair of performances on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
's The John Peel Show and by the singles "Chop-Chop
Chop-Chop
"Chop-Chop" is Killing Joke's second single from their third studio album, Revelations. It released under E'G Records as a 7" single. The B-side, "Good Samaritan", was also off Revelations. This single, unlike "Empire Song", did not chart....
", "Empire Song
Empire Song
Empire Song is Killing Joke's first single off their third studio album, Revelations. It was released under E'G Records in March, 1982, and reached number forty-three in the UK Singles Chart that same month. Polydor also released Empire Song as a single in Ireland...
", and an unofficial release of "We Have Joy
We Have Joy
"We Have Joy" is an unofficial single by Killing Joke. It was released in October, 1982, at the Peel Sessions as a 7" single. "Chop-Chop", an official single, was the B-side....
". The LP reached #12 in the UK Top albums.
By 1982, members of Killing Joke, especially Coleman, had become immersed in the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, particularly the works of occultist Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
. In February of that year, Coleman, with Geordie and Youth following shortly after, moved to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
to survive the Apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
, which Coleman predicted was coming soon. While in Iceland, Coleman and Geordie worked with musicians from the band Þeyr
Þeyr
Þeyr was a renowned Icelandic New Wave band from the early 1980s. Shrouded under a veil of mystery, their three-year existence was characterized by a deep interest in ancient wisdom...
in the project Niceland
Niceland
Niceland, formerly Iceland, was a heavy metal Icelandic group established in 1983 by Jaz Coleman from Killing Joke and the Icelandic band Þeyr.-Origins:...
. After a few months, Youth decided there was no indication of the Apocalypse, and decided to move back to England. Youth then began the band Brilliant
Brilliant (band)
Brilliant were a British pop/rock group active in the 1980s. Although not commercially successful and mauled by the critics, they remain notable because of the personnel involved - Martin Glover aka Youth, formerly of Killing Joke and subsequently a top producer/remixer; Jimmy Cauty, later to find...
with Paul Ferguson, but the latter defected and travelled to Iceland to rejoin Killing Joke with new bassist Paul Raven (previously of Neon Hearts
Neon Hearts
Neon Hearts were a British punk rock band that originated in Wolverhampton, England.-Career:Neon Hearts were Wolverhampton's first punk band that had a short lived existence from 1977 to 1981 at the height of the punk movement....
and the rock / glam band Kitsch) in tow. After spending some time in Iceland, Killing Joke returned to England and began touring and recording again.
The new line-up soon produced, again with Conny Plank, the single "Birds of a Feather / Sun Goes Down / Flock the B-Side" and Ha!
Ha! (Killing Joke album)
"HA!" or "HA!" - Killing Joke Live is the first live recording of the post-punk band Killing Joke to be commercially distributed...
, a six-track 10" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
of a live performance recorded live at Larry's Hideaway in Toronto in August.
1983–1988
Killing Joke's fourth album, Fire DancesFire Dances
Fire Dances is the fourth studio album by English post-punk group Killing Joke and the first to feature new bass player Paul Raven. The album was remastered and reissued in 2008, with eight bonus tracks....
(1983), contained music that, like that heard on the "Birds of a Feather" single, was artier and relatively calmer than before, which began a new direction. This was continued with the non LP singles "Me or You" (1983, b/w "Wilful Days") and "A New Day" (1984, b/w a dance remix or dub mix of the same), the latter promoted with a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
.
Mixing their sound with a slightly pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
style, and with Coleman singing and not growling, Killing Joke had developed a variation of new wave on their fifth album, Night Time
Night Time
Night Time is the fifth studio album by Killing Joke, released in 1985. It was an international hit, featuring some of their best-known tracks like "Night Time", "Eighties", "Love Like Blood", and "Kings and Queens"....
(1985). They achieved mainstream success with the single "Love Like Blood" which covered all ground from goth to dance : it peaked at #16 in the UK and #8 in the Netherlands. Night Time also included the singles "Eighties" (1984) and "Kings and Queens" (1985), which both reached the UK Top 75. The album itself reached #11 in the UK.
The music on Killing Joke's sixth album, Brighter than a Thousand Suns (1986), was mostly similar in sound and mood to "Love like Blood". While no less aggressive and heavy than their older work, Brighter Than a Thousand Suns diverged musically in ways that lead to controversy among listeners. In this case, disagreements between fans and critics alike included opinions on whether the band was conforming with pressures from EG Records to develop a more commercial sound, to whether the songs were relevant for those listeners more comfortable with their proto post-punk beginnings. Those who are strongly approving of the work consider it a milestone - and quite intense - progressive rock album, and their most consistent work to date. Two singles were released from the album - "Adorations" and "Sanity" - and the band continued touring successfully until the end of the year.
In 1987, Coleman began plans for a solo record of unusual music, and he made demos of his songs, on which he performed with Geordie
Geordie Walker
Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
's assistance. The project ran way over budget and so, despite Coleman's objections, the record company decided that the music would be released under the name "Killing Joke" in order to best recoup the costs. Attempts were made to include Killing Joke rhythm section members Raven and Ferguson, but it didn't work out, and tensions ultimately led to both being dismissed from the band. Session player Jimmy Copley
Jimmy Copley
Jimmy Copley, sometimes credited as Jim Copley is an English rock drummer who has worked with Jeff Beck, Graham Parker, Paul Young, Roger Glover, Magnum, Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Go West, Killing Joke, Tears for Fears, Seal, Tony Iommi and Paul Rodgers.Born James Copley in...
was then brought in to provide the drumming on the songs, along with percussion player Jeff Scantlebury.
The resulting album, Outside the Gate
Outside the Gate
Outside the Gate is the seventh album by English post-punk group Killing Joke and is arguably the most controversial release among their fans....
(1988), is Killing Joke's most controversial album, with opinion ranging from admiration to total disgust, owing to its synth-led sonics and disagreement over the quality of the material. It is not signature-sound Killing Joke, being built around Coleman's orchestral keyboards instead of Geordie's distinctive guitar riffs, which were all but drowned out in the final mix. Had the album been released as "Coleman/Walker" (as the cover graphic implies) it might have been better received. Released as "Killing Joke", it was panned by confused critics and fans alike. Two singles, "America" and "My Love of This Land", were released from the album but did little to improve its fortunes. The video for the former features Coleman and Geordie with drummer Jimmy Copley
Jimmy Copley
Jimmy Copley, sometimes credited as Jim Copley is an English rock drummer who has worked with Jeff Beck, Graham Parker, Paul Young, Roger Glover, Magnum, Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Go West, Killing Joke, Tears for Fears, Seal, Tony Iommi and Paul Rodgers.Born James Copley in...
and session bassist Jerome Rimson, who never actually recorded with the band. No live dates were played to support the album and the band spent much of 1988 in a legal battle as they tried to split from their management and record company, E.G.
E.G. Records
E.G. Records was a UK-based artist management company and independent record label, mostly active during the 1970s and 1980s. The initials stand for its founders, David Enthoven and John Gaydon. The pair signed on as managers of King Crimson in early 1969, during the formative stage of the band and...
This struggle resulted in Coleman suffering a nervous breakdown.
On 19 September 1987 Coleman had delivered a lecture at London's Courtauld Institute outlining the thinking behind the then-unreleased Outside the Gate
Outside the Gate
Outside the Gate is the seventh album by English post-punk group Killing Joke and is arguably the most controversial release among their fans....
album, touching on numerology
Numerology
Numerology is any study of the purported mystical relationship between a count or measurement and life. It has many systems and traditions and beliefs...
and the occult. Geordie and percussionist Jeff Scantlebury provided a minimal musical backing at the event. A recording of the lecture was eventually released under the title The Courtauld Talks
The Courtauld Talks
The Courtauld Talks is the eighth album by English post-punk group Killing Joke. This album was different from the group's other releases since it is essentially a spoken word album...
on Martin Atkins' Invisible Records
Invisible Records
Invisible Records is a Chicago based record label founded by Martin Atkins to support and distribute the works of artists who preferred to work with a smaller, artist driven label.-Artist Roster:* Ashtrayhead* Attrition* Bagman* Bizarre Sex Trio...
in 1989.
1989–1991
Towards the end of 1988, Coleman and Geordie decided to get Killing Joke up and running again as a live band, and they began looking for full-time bass players and drummers. First on board was drummer Martin AtkinsMartin Atkins
Martin Clive Atkins is an English drummer and session musician, best known for his work in post-punk and industrial groups including Public Image Ltd., Ministry, Pigface, and Killing Joke...
, who had gained notability in Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
and later Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
and Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
. A suitable bass player proved more difficult. Former Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
man Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
was hired, then dismissed after only three days. Eventually the band settled on Welsh bass player Dave "Taif" Ball, and played their first gigs in almost two years in December 1988. These were seen as a return to form, and featured the best of their 1980 to 1985 work, alongside powerful new material which alluded to the band's earlier, harsher sound. Nothing from Brighter Than a Thousand Suns or Outside the Gate
Outside the Gate
Outside the Gate is the seventh album by English post-punk group Killing Joke and is arguably the most controversial release among their fans....
was played (and indeed, never has been since). Touring continued across the UK, Europe and the US until August 1989, when the band took a break to record its new material in Germany, and to allow Jaz Coleman
Jaz Coleman
Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
time to record Songs from the Victorious City
Songs From the Victorious City
Songs From The Victorious City is an album in the world music genre written by Anne Dudley and Jaz Coleman, recorded in Cairo and London. It takes its name from Cairo itself, in Arabic القاهرة , literally "The Triumphant" or "The Victorious".-Track listing:# The Awakening - # Endless Festival - #...
with Anne Dudley
Anne Dudley
Anne Dudley is an English composer and pop musician, and was the first BBC Concert Orchestra's Composer in Association in 2001. She has worked in both the classical and pop genres. She is perhaps best known, however, as one of the core members of the synthpop band Art of Noise and also as a film...
of Art of Noise, which was released the following year.
For reasons which remain unclear, the German Killing Joke sessions were shelved and bass player Taif left the band to be replaced by old hand Paul Raven. The revised line-up began recording again, this time in London, and the result was Killing Joke's eighth album, the ferocious Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions
Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions
Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions is the ninth album of English post-punk group Killing Joke. It was released on CD and double LP in November 1990. This album featured both Martin Atkins Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions is the ninth album of English post-punk group...
, released on the German Noise International
Noise Records (Germany)
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
label in 1990. It included some of the heaviest, noisiest and harshest music ever to appear on a Killing Joke record, although the progressive musical spirit of the previous two albums remained as well. The many highlights included "Solitude", "Slipstream", "Age of Greed" and the single "Money Is Not Our God". Once again, the band toured Europe and North America, but by the middle of 1991 this promising new line-up had imploded. Coleman emigrated to New Zealand to live on a remote Pacific island, and it looked as though Killing Joke was over for good.
Geordie Walker
Geordie Walker
Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
, Martin Atkins
Martin Atkins
Martin Clive Atkins is an English drummer and session musician, best known for his work in post-punk and industrial groups including Public Image Ltd., Ministry, Pigface, and Killing Joke...
, Paul Ferguson
Paul Ferguson
Paul Ferguson is a rock drummer, best known for his work in the post-punk/industrial group, Killing Joke, and cult English punk band, Pink Parts. Ferguson was a founder member of Killing Joke, and was their drummer from 1978 to 1987, and was known as 'Big Paul Ferguson' during this period...
, Paul Raven and the band's live keyboard player John Bechdel
John Bechdel
John Bechdel is a keyboardist, and has been a part of many bands over the years including Ministry, Fear Factory, Abstinence, Prong, Killing Joke, Murder, Inc. and Brian Brain to name a few...
(Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
, Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, Prong, Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
, Abstinence
Abstinence(band)
Abstinence is an experimental industrial music project founded in 1985 in Belmar, New Jersey, USA, now based in Brooklyn. Its sound ranges from bombastic to noise, ambient soundtrack to industrial music and uses video/audio dialog and sound samples....
, False Icons, Ascension of the Watchers
Ascension of the Watchers
Ascension of the Watchers is a band that was started by Burton C. Bell and John Bechdel . They wrote and recorded their first release, Iconoclast at Bechdel's home in rural Pennsylvania...
) added Scottish vocalist Chris Connelly (Finitribe
Finitribe
Finitribe was a dance music band from Edinburgh, Scotland. The group is sometimes also referred to as Fini Tribe. The name was taken from finny tribe, a term used by the Rosicrucians to describe the fishes....
, Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
) and continued as the short-lived Murder, Inc.
Murder, Inc. (band)
Murder, Inc. was a short-lived industrial metal supergroup formed in 1991, featuring members of Killing Joke and vocalist Chris Connelly. Murder, Inc. consisted of Connelly; Killing Joke members Geordie Walker, Paul Raven, and Martin Atkins; former Killing Joke drummer "Big Paul" Ferguson; and...
, releasing a self-titled album in 1992.
1992–1996
Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!
Laugh? I Nearly Bought One! is a compilation album by Killing Joke, released in 1992. The album contains tracks from every album Killing Joke had released at that time, except Fire Dances and Outside The Gate. It also featured a previously unreleased mix of "Wintergardens" and several non-album...
, was released in 1992, and during its production, Geordie was re-acquainted with Youth
Martin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
, who suggested that they reform the band with himself back on bass. That same year, two singles (on cassette and CD) appeared featuring the early songs "Change" and "Wardance" in several new versions remixed by Youth, by then a very successful producer.
Coleman had produced the 1993 debut album Churn by the New Zealand Band Shihad
Shihad
Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
and Shihad drummer Tom Larkin
Tom Larkin
Tom Larkin is a member of the New Zealand band Shihad. He plays the drums, sings background vocals and uses samplers...
played drums on some of the songs on Pandemonium. Relations later soured between Coleman and Shihad due to a dispute over Coleman's production fee for Churn, and the fact that Shihad considered him a "megalomaniac". Shihad's second album, 1995's Killjoy, includes a song about Coleman and the dispute: 'Silvercup'. Coleman has also made a number of disparaging remarks about Shihad
Shihad
Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
in the media. Shihad singer and guitarist Jon Toogood
Jon Toogood
Jonathan Charles Toogood is the frontman of the New Zealand rock band Shihad. He formed the band in 1988 with fellow Wellingtonian Tom Larkin...
says his band have since put the dispute behind them.
Killing Joke also sued Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
during this phase, alleging that the riff for the latter's song "Come as You Are" was copied from the riff for their song "Eighties
Eighties (song)
"Eighties" is Killing Joke's first single off their fifth studio album, Night Time. It was originally released in April, 1984 under E'G Records as a 12" and 7" single and was produced by Chris Kimsey. The 12" single A-side featured the track "Eighties " with "Eighties" and "Eighties " as B-sides...
". The lawsuit was dropped after the sudden death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
.
The reactivated Killing Joke released two strong and well-received albums on Youth's Butterfly Recordings
Butterfly Recordings
Butterfly Recordings is the name used by two record labels formed by the artist and electronic dance music producer Martin Glover .- 1990s:...
label, Pandemonium
Pandemonium (Killing Joke album)
Pandemonium is the tenth studio album by Killing Joke released in June, 1994, under the Zoo label.This album marked Killing Joke's return after a four year long hiatus, the longest the band has taken since it was initially founded...
and Democracy, which saw the band shift back to the simpler arrangements of their early albums whilst also (on 12 inch remixes) employ young talent, the likes of Waxworth Industries in order to provide an alternative inroad to the bands new and evolving sound. Pandemonium
Pandemonium (Killing Joke album)
Pandemonium is the tenth studio album by Killing Joke released in June, 1994, under the Zoo label.This album marked Killing Joke's return after a four year long hiatus, the longest the band has taken since it was initially founded...
(1994) wove a metallesque ritualistic sound with mosh beats and loops and provided Killing Joke with a memorable Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
performance for the single 'Millennium', which was a UK Top 40 hit (the album itself made the Top 20). The title track was also released as a single and made the UK Top 30. Democracy (1996) successfully introduced acoustic guitar into the mix, as well as adopting more of a "live band" sound again. The title track was again released as a single and made the UK Top 40. Much of Pandemonium and all of Democracy featured session drummer Geoff Dugmore. He also played live with the band throughout this era. Nick Holywell-Walker
Nick Holywell-Walker
Nick Holywell-Walker performed with London-founded band Killing Joke beginning in 1994, as keyboard player and programmer. He left in 2004 to concentrate on his own projects.A singer, songwriter, producer and composer, he resides in North London, UK....
joined the band on keyboards and programming for 11 years from 1994–2005, notably on Democracy and XXV Gathering (live). Youth bowed out of live performance early in the Democracy tour and was replaced by Troy Gregory
Troy Gregory
Troy Gregory is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, filmmaker and solo artist. He is best-known for his work with The Dirtbombs, Prong, and The Witches.-Chronology:...
, ex Prong.
After the Democracy tour, the band went on an extended hiatus. Jaz Coleman and Youth produced a string of well-received orchestral rock albums based on the music of legends such as Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
. Coleman became Composer-in-Residence for New Zealand and Czech symphony orchestras.Related news articles: He seems to have become something of a celebrity in the Czech Republic and made his acting debut with the main role in the film Rok ďábla (Year of the Devil) by Czech filmmaker Petr Zelenka
Petr Zelenka
Petr Zelenka is an award-winning Czech playwright and director of theatre and film. His films have been recognized at international festivals in Moscow and Rotterdam...
(who later would direct the video for "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
Hosannas from the Basements of Hell is the thirteenth studio album by Killing Joke released on April 3, 2006 under Cooking Vinyl Records. The track "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell" was released as a single, and made it to #72 in the UK. Tracks "Invocation" and "Implosion" were also released as...
").
2002–2007
Coleman, Geordie and Youth reformed Killing Joke in 2002, and recorded their second self-titled albumKilling Joke 2003 (album)
Killing Joke is the twelfth studio album by Killing Joke, released on July 28, 2003 by Zuma Recordings. Recording for the album in 2002 marked the end of a six year hiatus that began in 1996 and it was Killing Joke's first studio album in seven years. Produced by Andy Gill of Gang of Four, the...
. Produced by Andy Gill and released to much acclaim in 2003 on the Zuma/Sony label, it was heralded as a powerful addition to Extremities and other visceral 1990s albums, and considered one of their finest recordings. In 2003 the band played at the biggest open-air festival in Europe (400.000 - 500.000 rock fans every year) - Przystanek Woodstock
Przystanek Woodstock
Przystanek Woodstock is an annual free rock music festival in Poland, inspired by and named for the Woodstock Festival, that has taken place since 1995...
in Poland.The War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
and the invasion of Iraq were cited as major factors in their reforming, and this is reflected in the lyrical content of much of the album, based on themes of war, government control and Armageddon
Armageddon
Armageddon is, according to the Bible, the site of a battle during the end times, variously interpreted as either a literal or symbolic location...
. The album, which almost reached the UK Top 40, was their heaviest to date and spawned two singles, "Loose Cannon" (a UK Top 25 hit) and "Seeing Red". The songs are all credited to Coleman/Walker/Glover
Martin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
/Gill, although Raven's name is also on the list of musicians on the liner notes, marking his return to the band after more than a decade. It remains unclear who actually played bass on which tracks on the album, and in some interviews with Geordie, he hints that it may have been he who actually played bass on most of the songs, with occasional contributions from Youth. Raven played on the subsequent tour, with Youth appearing to have retired from the band by this point. Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
(Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Foo Fighters, Probot, Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
), a longtime fan of the band, occupied the drum stool for all tracks. The original plan had been to use many different drummers on the album, including Grohl, but he was so enthusiastic about the material that he persuaded the band to let him do the whole thing. The album was accompanied by a tour of the United States, Europe and Australia in 2003/2004, with ex-Prong drummer Ted Parsons
Ted Parsons
Ted Parsons is an American drummer most notable for his membership in bands such as Swans, Prong, Godflesh, Killing Joke and Jesu.-Biography:...
on board.
In February 2005, now with young Twin Zero and Sack Trick
Sack Trick
Sack Trick are an eccentric British music collective who have been compared to the humour of Monty Python and musical madness of Frank Zappa. The bassist Chris Paulo Dale is the center of the group, guiding the audience through a universe that is more rock circus than rock opera, with a partiality...
drummer Ben Calvert, Killing Joke played two consecutive shows at London's Shepherds Bush Empire
Shepherds Bush Empire
The O2 Shepherds Bush Empire is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, run by the Academy Music Group. It was built in 1903, as a music hall, and in 1953 became the BBC Television Theatre...
to commemorate their 25th anniversary. DVD and CD recordings from these concerts were released in on Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
in the fall of 2005 as XXV Gathering: The Band That Preys Together Stays Together.
In June 2005, remastered and expanded editions of their two 1990s Butterfly Recordings
Butterfly Recordings
Butterfly Recordings is the name used by two record labels formed by the artist and electronic dance music producer Martin Glover .- 1990s:...
albums, Pandemonium and Democracy, were released by Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
. These were followed in July by their first four albums (Killing Joke to Ha!) on EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, who by then owned the E.G. Records
E.G. Records
E.G. Records was a UK-based artist management company and independent record label, mostly active during the 1970s and 1980s. The initials stand for its founders, David Enthoven and John Gaydon. The pair signed on as managers of King Crimson in early 1969, during the formative stage of the band and...
catalogue. (The second batch of EMI remasters would not appear until January 2008.)
In mid-2005, Frontman from Industrial band, INERTIA, Reza Udhin, joins the band on Keyboards and they supported the British leg of Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
's world tour and then began work on their next album in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. It was at this time the contribution to the world of rock was recognised when they were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 Kerrang Awards.
Opting for simplicity and raw energy, the band recorded the new album in the basement rehearsal space of Faust Studios, going for live takes with the minimum of overdubs. The result was Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
Hosannas from the Basements of Hell is the thirteenth studio album by Killing Joke released on April 3, 2006 under Cooking Vinyl Records. The track "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell" was released as a single, and made it to #72 in the UK. Tracks "Invocation" and "Implosion" were also released as...
, released in April 2006 on Cooking Vinyl, which made the UK Top 75.
Killing Joke began a European tour in support of the album in April 2006. Bass player Paul Raven abruptly departed after a few dates to tour with Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
and was temporarily replaced by Kneill Brown. The tour included an appearance headlining the MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
stage of the Download Festival on 10 June 2006, which received four K's from Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine. Other highlights of the summer included a memorable set in Japan at the Fuji Rock festival where there were joined on stage by Orb
The Orb
Throughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1...
frontman Alex Paterson
Alex Paterson
Alex Paterson is an English musician and co-founder of the ambient group The Orb, in which he has worked since its inception....
(once a Killing Joke drum roadie) and headlining the Beautiful Days festival in the UK. The band's momentum suffered another blow, when health problems caused the autumn leg of the tour to be cancelled.
In October 2006, it was announced that Coleman had been chosen as Composer in Residence
Artist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
for the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. As Composer in Residence he will be commissioned to write music for special occasions.
Early in 2007, Killing Joke released three archival collections via Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,...
. The first, Inside Extremities, is a double CD of material taken from the band's preparations for the Extremities album: rehearsals, rare mixes, a previously unheard track, "The Fanatic", and a full live show from the Extremities tour. This was followed by Bootleg Vinyl Archive Volumes 1 & 2, each of which is a 3 CD box set of live-in-concert bootleg recordings originally released on vinyl in the 1980s, plus the Astoria gig from the Pandemonium tour which was voted one of the greatest gigs of all time by Kerrang.
In October 2007, the classic 1990 album Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions, which had long been out of print, was reissued in remastered form on Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,...
.
On 20 October, Paul Raven died of heart failure prior to a recording session in Geneva, Switzerland. In his honour, Coleman composed a lament for a 21st century Englishman (The Night Raven, the Tower and the Cenotaph).
On 28 January 2008 the albums Fire Dances, Night Time, Brighter than a Thousand Suns, and Outside the Gate were finally re-issued in remastered form with bonus tracks by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. Each of these carries the message "Dedicated to our brother Paul Vincent Raven 1961–2007".
2008–present
"Everything came together when we all met at...Raven's funeral. It was funny the unifying effect it had on all of us. It made us realise our mortality and how important Killing Joke is to all of us."
The original line-up of Killing Joke assembled in Granada, Spain, to prepare a world tour consisting of two nights in various capital cities of the world, playing a programme of four complete albums. The rehearsals will be immortalised on Duende - The Spanish Sessions, released in 2008 on Estworld Recordings. The first nights were dedicated to their first two albums, Killing Joke
Killing Joke (1980 album)
Killing Joke is the debut studio album of the London post-punk band Killing Joke. Released in August, 1980 worldwide under E'G Records, Killing Joke was self-produced and was considered an underground album. The album was recorded in early 1980, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP...
and What's THIS For...!
What's THIS For...!
What's THIS For...! is the second studio album by Killing Joke. It was released in June 1981 on EG Music. A remastered version with three bonus tracks was released in 2005.- Recording :...
, while the second night featured large parts of 'Pandemonium
Pandemonium (Killing Joke album)
Pandemonium is the tenth studio album by Killing Joke released in June, 1994, under the Zoo label.This album marked Killing Joke's return after a four year long hiatus, the longest the band has taken since it was initially founded...
' plus some early singles released on Island records. The world tour began on 11 September in Tokyo and concluded in Chicago on 14 October.
CD-R
A CD-R is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by Philips and Sony. CD-R is a Write Once Read Many optical medium, though the whole disk does not have to be entirely written in the same session....
by Pontiac Records, entitled Unspeakable. Legal distribution outside of concerts did not apply, and only 1000 copies were sold in 1985 at Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, when Killing Joke performed Love Like Blood
Love Like Blood (song)
"Love Like Blood" is Killing Joke's second single off their fifth studio album, Night Time. Produced by Chris Kimsey, it is perhaps the most recognized Killing Joke song to date.- Releases :...
.
The band continued its reformation by playing the All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
festival in May 2009. They performed at the Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, UK on 2 August and headlined the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool. Killing Joke performed in The Big Top Tent at the 2009 Isle Of Wight Festival after being hand picked by Tim Burgess, frontman for The Charlatans.
In October–November, Killing Joke record their new CD with the original line-up. All members of Killing Joke have commented that this is the single most important work that Killing Joke have ever done. The new album was released on 27 September 2010 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and on 1 October in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records
Spinefarm Records is a Finland-based record label focusing mainly on heavy metal artists. In 1999, a sub-label titled Spikefarm Records was started by Sami Tenetz from Thy Serpent...
under the title Absolute Dissent
Absolute Dissent
Absolute Dissent is the fourteenth studio album by Killing Joke. It represents the first studio album and the second recording —it was preceded by the In Excelsis EP on July 2010— in 28 years from the band's original line-up of Jaz Coleman , Kevin "Geordie" Walker , Martin "Youth" Glover , and...
, marking the 30th Anniversary for Killing Joke. It was preceded by the In Excelsis EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
released on 23 June 2010, and followed by a tour in the UK, Europe and North America for promoting the album.
In November, the band was honoured with the trophy for Innovator at the Classic Rock
Classic Rock (magazine)
Classic Rock is a British magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for its "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of...
Roll of Honour 2010 marking their unique evolution of sound over the last 30 plus years which has incorporated electronic, synth and alternative rock and influenced a generation of rock acts including Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More and Tool. They were awarded the honour at the Roundhouse in London by long time fan of the band Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. On 26 November 2010 Killing Joke released a special edition Record Store Day Black Friday 2-CD set called, Absolute Dissent (Deluxe Edition) for independent record stores.
The bands new album was critically acclaimed all round and they embarked on a European and UK tour culminating in a performance at the Hammersmith Apollo London. This was followed by a performance at Londons Royal Festival Hall in the New Year which was recorded for an upcoming live album and a headlinde slot at the UK's largest urban festival the Camden Crawl. The band were also honoured at The Metal Hammer annual awards receiving The Album of the Year. Summer festivals followed including a memorable performance at Sonisphere Knebworth with the band retiring to Spain to record a new album for 2012.
Discography
Studio albums- Killing JokeKilling Joke (1980 album)Killing Joke is the debut studio album of the London post-punk band Killing Joke. Released in August, 1980 worldwide under E'G Records, Killing Joke was self-produced and was considered an underground album. The album was recorded in early 1980, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP...
(1980) - What's THIS For...!What's THIS For...!What's THIS For...! is the second studio album by Killing Joke. It was released in June 1981 on EG Music. A remastered version with three bonus tracks was released in 2005.- Recording :...
(1981) - Revelations (1982)
- Fire DancesFire DancesFire Dances is the fourth studio album by English post-punk group Killing Joke and the first to feature new bass player Paul Raven. The album was remastered and reissued in 2008, with eight bonus tracks....
(1983) - Night TimeNight TimeNight Time is the fifth studio album by Killing Joke, released in 1985. It was an international hit, featuring some of their best-known tracks like "Night Time", "Eighties", "Love Like Blood", and "Kings and Queens"....
(1985) - Brighter than a Thousand Suns (1986)
- Outside the GateOutside the GateOutside the Gate is the seventh album by English post-punk group Killing Joke and is arguably the most controversial release among their fans....
(1988) - The Courtauld TalksThe Courtauld TalksThe Courtauld Talks is the eighth album by English post-punk group Killing Joke. This album was different from the group's other releases since it is essentially a spoken word album...
(1989) - Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed EmotionsExtremities, Dirt & Various Repressed EmotionsExtremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions is the ninth album of English post-punk group Killing Joke. It was released on CD and double LP in November 1990. This album featured both Martin Atkins Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions is the ninth album of English post-punk group...
(1990) - PandemoniumPandemonium (Killing Joke album)Pandemonium is the tenth studio album by Killing Joke released in June, 1994, under the Zoo label.This album marked Killing Joke's return after a four year long hiatus, the longest the band has taken since it was initially founded...
(1994) - Democracy (1996)
- Killing Joke (2003)
- Hosannas from the Basements of HellHosannas from the Basements of HellHosannas from the Basements of Hell is the thirteenth studio album by Killing Joke released on April 3, 2006 under Cooking Vinyl Records. The track "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell" was released as a single, and made it to #72 in the UK. Tracks "Invocation" and "Implosion" were also released as...
(2006) - Absolute DissentAbsolute DissentAbsolute Dissent is the fourteenth studio album by Killing Joke. It represents the first studio album and the second recording —it was preceded by the In Excelsis EP on July 2010— in 28 years from the band's original line-up of Jaz Coleman , Kevin "Geordie" Walker , Martin "Youth" Glover , and...
(2010)
Films
Killing Joke are the subject of a feature length documentary film The Death and Resurrection Show scheduled for release in 2012. Two preview trailers have been released combining archive footage of Killing Joke over the last 31 years with new and unseen footage of recent live tours, recording sessions including the Great Pyramid and interview subjects including Jaz Coleman, Geordie, Youth, Jimmy PageJimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
, Chris Kimsey, Mike Coles, Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, Alex Patterson and Laurence Gardner
Laurence Gardner
Laurence Gardner was a writer and lecturer in the "alternative history" genre of research.-Career:Laurence Gardner's first book Bloodline of the Holy Grail was published in 1996. The book was serialized in the Daily Mail and a best seller...
discussing Killing Joke, UFOs, mysticism, religion and the end of the world. Locations featured in the trailers include the Egyptian Pyramids
Egyptian pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid-shaped masonry structures located in Egypt.There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008. Most were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found...
, the Nazca Lines
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The high, arid plateau stretches more than between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the Pampas de Jumana about 400 km south of Lima...
in Peru, Snæfellsjökull
Snæfellsjökull
Snæfellsjökull is a 700,000 year old stratovolcano with a glacier covering its summit in western Iceland. The name of the mountain is actually Snæfell, but it is normally called "Snæfellsjökull" to distinguish it from two other mountains with this name...
glacier in Iceland, Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
in Scotland, Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument ....
in England and numerous venues, bars, outdoor locations and rainforests in New Zealand, LA and England. The film is produced by New Zealand's ILC Productions, UK indie Coffee Films and Jaz Coleman, with filmmaker, photographer and lifelong Gatherer Shaun Pettigrew directing.
Side projects
- NicelandNicelandNiceland, formerly Iceland, was a heavy metal Icelandic group established in 1983 by Jaz Coleman from Killing Joke and the Icelandic band Þeyr.-Origins:...
- BrilliantBrilliant (band)Brilliant were a British pop/rock group active in the 1980s. Although not commercially successful and mauled by the critics, they remain notable because of the personnel involved - Martin Glover aka Youth, formerly of Killing Joke and subsequently a top producer/remixer; Jimmy Cauty, later to find...
- PigfacePigfacePigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
- Murder, Inc.Murder, Inc. (band)Murder, Inc. was a short-lived industrial metal supergroup formed in 1991, featuring members of Killing Joke and vocalist Chris Connelly. Murder, Inc. consisted of Connelly; Killing Joke members Geordie Walker, Paul Raven, and Martin Atkins; former Killing Joke drummer "Big Paul" Ferguson; and...
- The Damage ManualThe Damage ManualThe Damage Manual is an industrial supergroup that originally formed in 2000. It featured Martin Atkins on drums and loops, Chris Connelly on vocals, Geordie Walker on guitar and Jah Wobble on bass.-History:...
- TransmissionTransmission (band)Transmission is an experimental/post-rock band based in the United Kingdom.The band includes former members of Killing Joke, Murder, Inc., The Verve, and Dreadzone.-Band members:*Tim Bran, Vocals/Keyboards*Paul Ferguson, Drums*Simon Tong, Guitars...
- The Fireman
- Inertia
Influence
- In 1982 the Canadian dark synthpopSynthpopSynthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band named themselves PsychePsyche (band)Psyche are a Canadian dark synthpop band, now based in Germany. They are centered on singer Darrin Huss, who has been the only constant member, with various line-ups including his brother Stephen Huss, later followed by David Kristian, Per-Anders Kurenbach, and Remi Szyszka, all recording albums...
after the B-Side of Killing Joke's "Wardance" single although the spelling on the single was Pssyche. - Also in 1982, GC Green & Paul Neville first came together as Fall of Because, named after the first track on What's THIS For...! and were later joined by Justin BroadrickJustin BroadrickJustin Karl Michael Broadrick is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the band Godflesh, one of the first bands to combine elements of extreme metal and industrial music.-Biography:Broadrick was born in the council estates of inner...
, setting the foundations of GodfleshGodfleshGodflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. Originally known as Fall of Because, they formed in 1988 by Justin K. Broadrick and G.C. Green and disbanded in 2002. Godflesh's innovative music is widely regarded as a foundational influence on industrial metal and post-metal...
, who covered "Requiem" live, with Raven on bass. - Justin K. Broadrick cited Killing joke as an important influence in his use of melodies in his music.
- In 1987, MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
covered Killing Joke's "The WaitThe Wait (song)"The Wait" is a song by Killing Joke. It first appeared on their eponymous 1980 debut album, Killing Joke. In 1987, Metallica covered "The Wait" on their EP, The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited, and re-issued it on their 1998 compilation album, Garage Inc. An excerpt of Metallica's version...
" for their E.P.Extended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Garage Days Re-Revisited. James HetfieldJames HetfieldJames Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
picked Jaz as one of his top 20 favourite singer for a poll in Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
. - In some early interviews, the members of SoundgardenSoundgardenSoundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
cited Killing Joke as one of the bands they listen to most. - In 1989, German gothic band Love Like Blood covered the name-giving track on the Love Like Blood EP and on the Snakekiller album.
- The main riff of Nirvana's song "Come as You Are" bears a striking resemblance to the riff of Killing Joke's single, "Eighties". The band did not file a copyright infringement lawsuit, which, according to Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, was "due to personal and financial reasons." - In 1993, HelmetHelmet (band)Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
covered Killing Joke's "Primitive" for the B-side to the single "Born Annoying". - In 1993, Econoline CrushEconoline CrushEconoline Crush is a band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada formed in 1992. Originally formed in Seattle, they eventually moved back to Vancouver...
covered Killing Joke's "Psyche" (a B-side from their "Wardance" single) for their Purge EP. - In 1994, Hoppy KamiyamaHoppy KamiyamaHoppy Kamiyama is a Japanese keyboardist and music producer who has worked with artists such as eX-Girl, Bradford Reed, Bill Laswell, Jan Linton, Marc Ribot, Hugh Hopper/Elton Dean and Damo Suzuki.- Biography :...
used a looped sample from "Exit" that was used in his God Mountain Orchestra project on the track "Lebanon", released on the Japanese compilation, "Neu Konservatiw". - In 1995, IcehouseIcehouse (band)Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
covered "Love like Blood" on their album The Berlin TapesThe Berlin Tapes (album)The Berlin Tapes is a covers / soundtrack album by Australian rock musician Iva Davies and his band Icehouse. The record was a collaboration between Davies and classical music composer Max Lambert to accompany the Sydney Dance Company's production of the ballet "Berlin", for which Icehouse...
. - In 1997, the Foo FightersFoo FightersFoo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
covered Killing Joke's "Requiem" for the B-side to the single "Everlong". Dave GrohlDave GrohlDavid Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, leader and guitarist of Foo Fighters, played drums for the recording sessions of Killing Joke's second self-titled album in 2003. - In 2001, AmenAmen (band)Amen is a hardcore punk-influenced band formed in 1994.The band has an almost constantly rotating lineup, with founder Casey Chaos remaining as the only constant member throughout...
covered Killing Joke's "Europe" during a session on BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio One in 2001. The recording of this song was later the B-side for their single "Too Hard to Be Free". - In 2001, The Mad Capsule Markets covered Killing Joke's "Wardance" on their album 010.
- In 2002, Blacklight (Oliver Heydt, Olaf Wollschäger) made a double 12" with their five remixed versions of "Love Like Blood".
- In 2002, Finnish band KotiteollisuusKotiteollisuusKotiteollisuus is a Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in 1991 in Lappeenranta. The band released its first demo tape in 1993 under the name "Hullu ukko ja Kotiteollisuus" . The shortened name and current line-up was established in 1997.Kotiteollisuus is said to combine "furious...
released an EP ±0 containing a "Tappava Pila remix" of their song "Valtakunta", meaning 'killing joke remix', as tribute to Killing Joke's "Millenium".
Kotiteollisuus is also on the Killing Joke Tribute-album, with their Finnish language cover of "Pandemonium".
- In 2002, LCD SoundsystemLCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
released "Losing My EdgeLosing My Edge"Losing My Edge" is the first single by LCD Soundsystem, released on July 8, 2002 and later featured on their eponymous debut.The song was listed at #13 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s...
" which is based around b-side "Change". - In 2003, German band blackmailBlackmail (band)Blackmail is a German indie rock band from Koblenz, Germany which was started briefly in 1993. Blackmail are singer Mathias Reetz, brothers Kurt Ebelhäuser and Carlos Ebelhäuser and drummer Mario Matthias...
covered "Love Like Blood". It was released as a download track on their homepage and as a bonus track on the Japan edition of their album Friend Or Foe?Friend or Foe?Friend or Foe? is an American game show based on knowledge and trust which aired on Game Show Network. Three teams of two strangers attempted to persuade their partner into sharing their accumulated winnings rather than stealing it for themselves....
as well. - In 2003, the German death metal band Disbelief covered "Democracy" on the album Spreading the Rage.
- In 2004, Nouvelle VagueNouvelle Vague (band)Nouvelle Vague is a French musical collective led by musicians Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux. Their name is a play on words, meaning "new wave" in French, and "bossa nova" in Portuguese...
covered "Psyche" on their self-titled debut albumNouvelle Vague (album)Nouvelle Vague is the 2004 self-titled debut album by Nouvelle Vague. The album consists entirely of easy listening and bossa nova versions of songs that were written and recorded during the post-punk/New Wave era...
. - In 2005, Swiss band MXD covered "Pandemonium" on their album Frustration Is Fuel.
- In 2005, Fear FactoryFear FactoryFear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
covered Killing Joke's "Millennium" on their album TransgressionTransgression (album)-Credits:*Burton C. Bell – vocals, engineer, assistant, supervisor*Christian Olde Wolbers – guitar, bass, arranger*Raymond Herrera – drums, arranger, engineer*Byron Stroud - bass*Reggie Boyd – assistant*Tom Jermann – visual design...
. - In 2009, Swiss cyber-metallers SybreedSybreedSybreed is an industrial metal/groove metal band from Geneva, Switzerland.- History :Sybreed was formed in 2003 by vocalist Benjamin and guitarist Drop, after they previously worked together in a band, called Rain. In 2004, Sybreed released their debut album Slave Design...
covered "Love Like Blood" on their album The Pulse of AwakeningThe Pulse of AwakeningThe Pulse of Awakening is the third studio album by Sybreed, released across Europe on 16 November 2009, through Listenable Records.-Track listing:# Nomenklatura - 4:44# A.E.O.N...
. - In 2009 Behemoth (band)Behemoth (band)Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....
covered Killing Joke's "Total Invasion" off of their 2003 self titled album Killing Joke. - Other professed fans of Killing Joke include MinistryMinistry (band)Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
, AmebixAmebixAmebix are an English crust punk/heavy metal band. Formed as "The Band with No Name," Amebix's original run was from 1978 to 1987, during which time they released three EPs and two full-length LPs...
, Front Line AssemblyFront Line AssemblyFront Line Assembly is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. Influenced by early Industrial acts such as Cabaret Voltaire, Portion Control, D.A.F., Test Dept, SPK, and Severed Heads, FLA has developed its own unique sound while combining...
, ToolTool (band)Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, Nine Inch NailsNine Inch NailsNine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
, Melvins, Faith No MoreFaith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, KMFDMKMFDMKMFDM is an industrial band led by German multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko, who founded the group in 1984 as a performance art project...
, The Complications, The FreezeThe FreezeThe Freeze are a hardcore punk rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Freeze formed in late 1978. At the time all members were in high school. The Freeze are generally considered to be a Boston hardcore band, but they never truly fit into the typical Boston mold. Like most hardcore groups, the...
, Born Dead IconsBorn Dead IconsBorn Dead Icons was a hardcore punk band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They played melodic, heavy and dark d-beat hardcore punk with various influences, mainly British bands Amebix, Discharge, Zounds, and Motörhead. They are notable for playing slower and singing more clearly than most bands in...
, GodfleshGodfleshGodflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. Originally known as Fall of Because, they formed in 1988 by Justin K. Broadrick and G.C. Green and disbanded in 2002. Godflesh's innovative music is widely regarded as a foundational influence on industrial metal and post-metal...
, Napalm DeathNapalm DeathNapalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
, JesuJesu (band)Jesu is a post-metal band formed in 2003 by Justin Broadrick following the breakup of Godflesh. Jesu was the name of the last song on the final Godflesh release, Hymns, and Broadrick decided to adopt it as the name of this project....
, Mr. BungleMr. BungleMr. Bungle was an experimental band from Northern California. The band was formed in 1985 while the members were still in high school and was named after a children's educational film. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to Warner Bros. Records and...
, VX, Red Lorry Yellow LorryRed Lorry Yellow LorryRed Lorry Yellow Lorry are a rock band that were formed in Leeds, England in early 1981.- History :The band was formed by guitarist/songwriter Chris Reed and vocalist Mark Sweeney, along with bassist Steve Smith and drummer Mick Brown...
, I Am Spoonbender, PrimusPrimus (band)Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
, Queen Adreena, Jello BiafraJello BiafraJello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
, Prong, The Red Star Ritual, Burning ImageBurning ImageBurning Image are an American deathrock band formed in Bakersfield, California in 1982. Burning Image first released a 7" single with the songs "The Final Conflict" and "Burning Image, Burning" in the summer of 1984...
, The Process Void, Big Black, Lycia, Shitakke Fiddlefaddle, Ikon, Whispers in the ShadowWhispers in the shadowWhispers in the Shadow is a Gothic Rock Band from Austria, formed in 1996. The bandname is inspired by the story The Whisperer in Darkness byH. P. Lovecraft...
, Morgoth, Project 86Project 86Project 86 is an American Christian rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1996. The line-up consists of bassist Steven Dail, vocalist and songwriter Andrew Schwab, and guitarist Randy Torres. The band has released seven studio albums, which have collectively sold over 500,000 units...
and SoulwaxSoulwaxSoulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, are an alternative rock/electronic band from Ghent, Belgium. Next to the Dewaele brothers, Soulwax consists of bassist Stefaan Van Leuven and drummer Steve Slingeneyer. They were first noticed after the release of their album Much Against Everyone's...
. - A Killing Joke tribute album by some of the most famous artists such as Foo FightersFoo FightersFoo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, and many others was released as the second CD of the Deluxe Edition of Absolute DissentAbsolute DissentAbsolute Dissent is the fourteenth studio album by Killing Joke. It represents the first studio album and the second recording —it was preceded by the In Excelsis EP on July 2010— in 28 years from the band's original line-up of Jaz Coleman , Kevin "Geordie" Walker , Martin "Youth" Glover , and...
.