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.

Recording

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.

Content

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.