Killing Joke is an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England. The original line-up included Jeremy Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), "Big" Paul Ferguson (drums), Kevin "Geordie" Walker (guitars) and Martin "Youth" Glover (bass).
Their first album Killing Joke was released in 1980. After the release of Revelations in 1982, bassist Youth was replaced by Paul Raven. The band achieved mainstream success in 1985 with both the album Night Time and the single "Love Like Blood".
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, synthpop and gothic rock, though always emphasising Coleman's "savagely strident vocals". Killing Joke have influenced many later bands and artists, such as Metallica, Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden. Coleman and Geordie have been the only constant members of the band.
Killing Joke (album) may refer to:
Killing Joke is the debut studio album by English rock band Killing Joke. It was released in August 1980 by record label E.G. The album has been called "an underground classic" for fans of "heavy music", and has influenced artists ranging from Nirvana to Marilyn Manson.
Killing Joke was recorded in early 1980 at Marquee Studios in London, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP. The album was self-produced by the band.
The lyrics of the album were written by frontman and vocalist Jaz Coleman, and expressed his opinions on issues such as politics, death, hypocrisy, human nature, pollution and exile.
The artwork was based on a photograph by Don McCullin of young rioters trying to escape from clouds of CS gas released by the British Army in Derry, Northern Ireland, on 8 July 1971 during the Troubles. The original picture was taken a few months before the day now known as Bloody Sunday that took place in the same town in early 1972.
I here
I hear the calling
Carry across the landscape
I hear it echo from every city to every village upon the earth
From every rooftop to every mountain
Calling the faithful to find themselves
A fire burning like precious water, the fire that drives me on and on
Through hell I shall reach heaven
I shall not resist the changes before me
View the madness with perspective
(the clock is ticking but time means nothing)
So I ascend to the blinding light
Then plummet to the thickest darkness
(and I always tell myself how splendid is the adventure!)
I can no longer see good or evil
But worship polarity
So do not trust the beggars that expose their poverty of spirit
Bleating I will follow
I heed
I heed the calling
Follow yourselves as leaders
Arise, arise, stand upright and take pride in who and what you are
Great changes are coming and you will be asked to identify yourself
So run like a lion with inexhaustible strength from world to world
Let your work shine unto the ends of time yeah unto the ends of time.