Blue Plate Special: Killing Joke
Formed in Cheltenham, England, in 1979 by Jaz Coleman, Paul Ferguson, Geordie Walker, and Youth, Killing Joke is a band that emerged from the post-punk scene with a darker, more intense sound that quickly set them apart. Their debut album, released in 1980, laid the groundwork for a career that would span decades, evolving through various musical styles while maintaining a core of heavy, aggressive sound mixed with Walker’s distinctive guitar and Coleman’s forceful vocals. Achieving mainstream success with the album Night Time in 1985, highlighted by the hit single “Love Like Blood,” Killing Joke’s influence extended across the musical spectrum, impacting bands and artists such as Metallica, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, and Soundgarden with their unique blend of gothic rock, synth-pop, and industrial elements.
I first came across Killing Joke through the soundtrack of Weird Science (1985), and quickly became a fan because of their very new wave-sounding album, Night Time, but it was their harder-edged albums Pandemonium and Democracy, with Coleman’s powerful-yet-coarse and throaty growl of a voice, that really brought me into the fold.
Despite lineup changes, including the replacement of Youth with Paul Raven in 1982 and the latter’s death in 2007, Killing Joke’s core members, Coleman and Walker, remained pivotal to the band’s sound and direction until Walker’s death in 2023. The band’s history is marked by their ability to adapt and evolve, from their early post-punk beginnings to incorporating elements of electronic music and becoming key figures in the industrial rock movement. Killing Joke’s legacy is not just in their recorded output but in their influence on a wide array of genres and artists, a testament to their pioneering spirit and the power of their music.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
Eighties – from the album Night Time (1986)
Wardance – from the album Killing Joke (1980)
Millenium – from the album Pandemonium (1994)
Dominator – from the compilation Wilful Days (1995)
Follow The Leaders – from the album What’s This For…! (1981)
Walking With Gods – from the album Invocation (2022)
Love Like Blood – from the album Night Time (1986)
Democracy – from the album Democracy (1996)
Change – from the album Killing Joke (1980)
