Location: London, UK
Active: 1979 – 2023
Formed in Notting Hill London in 1979 by Jaz Coleman, Geordie Walker, Youth and Paul Ferguson, Killing Joke created an innovative approach to sound with electronics and rock born of the punk movement.
Their 1979 debut was the ‘Turn To Red’ EP that showcased a synth based approach with dub mixing, while their 1980 self titled album was sheer guitar power and aggression. This balance would be a definitive statement going forward, embracing all angles to deliver their message expressing individuality and resistance, often with cynicism and bleak humor.
By the mid-eighties they had adapted to a more new wave sound by romanticizing some of the same stylings without losing momentum. Likewise in the 90s they shifted yet again to a more industrial, metal sound. No matter which tempo and amount of distortion they employed, the message remained the same. In all of their eras, they left in their wake countless bands inspired by their sound and presence.
Original bassist Youth left in 1982 and started the band Brilliant, replaced by Paul Raven. Ferguson was in on it with Youth but left to join the rest of Killing Joke in Iceland on an apocalypse gambit, where they were working with Peyr. After Paul Raven’s tragic death in 1997, the original lineup resumed. Other musicians who have contributed were Martin Atkins of Public Image Limited and Ministry. Despite several lengthy hiatus and disputes amongst personnel, labels and geographic separations, Killing Joke continued to reactivate, until Geordie Walker passed away in 2023.
Official: https://www.killingjoke.co.uk
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/13408-Killing-Joke
BandCamp: https://killingjoke.bandcamp.com/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Joke
Related: Brilliant, Peyr, Public Image Limited and Ministry, Jaz Coleman, Geordie Walker, Youth, Paul Ferguson, Paul Raven, Martin Atkins, London, 1979
This profile is in development. Contributions?