[kj] Re Future of Killing Joke

[gingoblin at proton.me]

On 30/11/2023 10:06, Neil Perry wrote:

> The last time I saw them was with you Dave in Glasgow, whenever that was, 2018 or something? Gutted now more than ever that
> lack of funds conspired to keep me away from recent gigs, particularly the Albert Hall. But I have so many insane/joyful memories of
> KJ shows that I can just turn on the show reel in my head - the Camden Barfly gig still makes me shake my head in amazement, and that was
> close to 20 years ago. I still remember the hairs on the back of my neck prickling at the Lyceum in 1980 and 81, Hammersmith Palais in 82, Forum in 94... etc etc,
> you all know how it goes!

It was indeed- Nov 2018- longer ago than I thought- where the hell is time going?!

I'd forgotten how great that Barfly gig was too- probably the smallest place I saw them, and full-on intensity!

Other stand-outs for me over the years were, of course, the first time- Edinburgh 1985 (I was too young to get into previous gigs- in fact, was still too young at this one, but the venue didn't care thankfully), Edinburgh 91- when with the barrage of new songs early in the set it was quite fucking clear Killing Joke were BACK, Camden 2003- when the opening of Requiem reminded me how much I love and had missed this band, the afore-mentioned Barfly... plus all the gigs with the original line-up, doing new material that I enjoyed as much as anything they'd done- a fairly uncommon occurrence with bands!

Ah well, must cling to gratitude at having seen them so many times rather than sadness at it never happening again...

> PS Aside from the circumstances, makes me happy to be chatting on the old-school email list again

I agree! Much prefer this to unsocial media! No memes or goddamn gifs too!!!

Dave in Edinburgh

> On Wed, 29 Nov 2023 at 15:28, gingoblin--- via Gathering <gathering at misera.net> wrote:
>
>> Well put Alex.
>> As much as I hate to say it, Killing Joke have to be over. I've seen my other favourite bands (The Damned and Hawkwind) change key members and do some fantastic stuff, but Killing Joke without Geordie is just impossible to me.
>> It's fucking grim thinking I will never witness the power of Killing Joke live again, but am grateful I did have all those opportunities over the years, right up to the Albert Hall in March.
>>
>> Dave in Edinburgh
>>
>> Sent from Proton Mail mobile
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> On 29 Nov 2023, 13:57, Alex Smith < vassifer at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>> There are bands that can solider forward ... I am reminded of AC/DC, who drafted Brian Johnson to assume the microphone not long after Bon Scott passed. More recently, I remember -- when Brian Johnson had to bow out to protect his hearing, for a while -- they drafted Axl Rose to take his place. It seemed heartless and mercenary, at the time, but AC/DC had tour dates to fulfill, and they weren't going to let their audience down.
>>>
>>> Killing Joke, meanwhile, is.... was (I hate typing that) a very different beast, indeed. Yes, members have come, gone, returned and left again, but it's always been a band about a very specific chemistry (beyond the fact, of course, that Geordie was in every iteration along the way). I remember assuming the end when Big Paul left, but what an inspired replacement Martin Atkins was. Ted Parsons was also a great fit (although I believe there was a bit of fallout over a missed flight). Young Ben Calvert was a nice, energetic addition for a while, but never really seemed like a proper member of the band. I saw bassist Taif play with them in 1989, and he didn't seem like quite the right guy for the job (and let's not even discuss the late Andy Rourke). RAVEN was assuredly not the same type of player as Youth, but HOLY SHIT was he ever a good fit, adding a new degree of menace and whallop to the proceedings. I remember being incredulous and devastated upon learning of his death, as well.
>>>
>>> But while Jaz, Big Paul and Youth are all consummately Killing Joke to the very bone, without Geordie, it can never be the same. I mean, I can't really imagine Killing Joke without Jaz, for example, but the thing that really DEFINES Killing Joke -- the essence that sets them well apart from all others -- in the singularly UNIQUE sound of Geordie's guitar. Full stop. That's it. Without Geordie -- despite the best of intentions -- it can never be Killing Joke.
>>>
>>> I also have a hard time wrapping my head around the notion of them pulling a Beatles-y "Free as a Bird" stunt, trying to build songs around remaining Geordie riffs. It strikes me that Geordie was a very driving component of the musical directions they made, and without his input and weigh-in, it wouldn't *really* be the same.
>>>
>>> This all said, I fully expect Jaz, Youth and Big Paul to stay active. I can see them working together, but I don't see them calling it Killing Joke.
>>>
>>> ..but, y'know, I've been wrong before.
>>>
>>> It sounds somewhat ridiculous to suggest this, but I've truly be crestfallen all week. I mean, I was 17 years old when I first heard Killing Joke, and as I'm sure it was with many of you, that first taste of their music INSTANTLY made them my favorite band, and I mean that very literally. Like, not just my favorite punk band, or my favorite band of the moment or whatever -- my first hearing of "Eighties" in my friend Spike's Dad's living room in the Spring of 1984, INSTANTLY marked me as a Killing Joke acolyte for life. I literally ran out the door and across the street to a tiny shop on Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village called Subterranean Records and bought the 12" on the spot, and then feverishly combed NYC's then-thriving network of indie record shops, snapping up every bit of their music that I could put my hand to. I have loads of "favorite" bands --- bands I'm slavishly devoted to, but none of them --- N O N E. OF THEM -- ever came close to Killing Joke. Their music speaks to me like no other's, and I have been as slavishly sworn to them for 39 years. It sounds presumptuous to say, but they have become part of my very identity. So, to lose such an integral component of that life-affirming element that has enriched my 56 years like nothing else is a genuine, palpable pain. I cannot say that I truly knew Geordie (I met him -- and interviewed him, disastrously -- a few times), but I never got to know him as I got to know Big Paul and Raven (I've similarly met Jaz several times, but I doubt he has the foggiest clue who I am). Youth I've spoken with a few times and he is an incredibly nice, welcoming gent. But the sound, vision, mythos, lore, essence and force that is Killing Joke has informed, enlivened and empowered me for literally every day since that Spring day in 1984. To think that that's all over is almost too much for me to take.
>>>
>>> Sorry, soppy rant over.
>>>
>>> -Alex in NYC
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!) <gathering at misera.net>
>>> Sent: Nov 29, 2023 1:30 AM
>>> To: A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!) <gathering at misera.net>
>>> Cc: adrianwason <adrianwason at btinternet.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [kj] Re Future of Killing Joke
>>>
>>> 100% agreement Mike...
>>>
>>> Maybe re-work some of his demos into KJ tracks... I was suprised they did Big Buzz as there are some totally outstanding tracks there...
>>>
>>> Every band is different but Rush stopped after Neil Peart died...
>>>
>>>> ------ Original Message ------ From: "Mike Logvinoff" <mlogvinoff77 at live.ca> To: "gathering at misera.net" <gathering at misera.net> Sent: Wednesday, 29 Nov, 2023 At 04:10 Subject: [kj] Re Future of Killing Joke
>>>> Without Geordie there is no Killing Joke.
>>>>
>>>> It has always at least been Jaz & Geordie.
>>>>
>>>> Best that can be hoped for in the future would be unreleased material from the band and re-issued material.
>>>>
>>>> Such a loss.
>>>>
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