Okay, Metallica covered them. Nirvana blatantly ripped them off (whatever became of that, btw?), You can’t think of influences on Soundgarden, Ministry, NIN, etc without thinking of them. You can’t listen to those bands or Alice In Chains, without hearing the Killing Joke.
I’m going through a big Killing Joke kick right now - anything from Night Time to their latest. I rarely see them mentioned - anyone else dig them? These guys are awesome…
Got ‘Butcher’ on my current playlist. [:)]
I own Fire Dances and I like most of the tracks, although it gets a bit repetitive at times and the music isn’t quite as ambitious or complex as what i usually seek out.
I agree that the post-punk sound/asthetic had a lot of influence on modern alternative rock, but the root of that sound can be heard in Bowie, Talking Heads, Joy Division etc. I think these artists may have had a more direct influence on some of the bands you mentioned than Killing Joke did.
I also like Killing Joke’s ‘Money’ single that was featured on this awesome goth/industrial vid compilation that also includes Foetus, Clock DVA, Pigface, Frontline Assembly, Alien Sex Fiend, Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, Einsturzende Nuebauten, Razed in Black, Spahn Ranch, Test Dept. and the Freemasons of Enochian Magick (sp?) among others.
killing joke fuckin rocks.
i thought they put out a new album about a year ago and went on tour?
and for some reason i thought dave groel (sp?) played drums on one of the tracks or maybe it was someone from queens of the stone age. something like that.
I think Grohl was on the whole “For Beginners” album.
One of the greatest bands ever in my view.
I remember Tommy Victor saying during Prong’s whole Cleansing era that it was tought to approach “industrial metal” without sounding like Ministry. With this in mind, I’d say that KJ were one of those few bands that were able to do it while keeping a decent air of originality about their sound.
Not to many bands out there that i think have remained as consistent as these guys for as long as they have.
Killing Joke is awesome. I was just listening to the 2003 LP this morning on the way in to work. “Blood On Your Hands” is the best song they’ve done in a while.
The best news is that they have a new album coming out at the end of summer. I believe the title is going to be The Gems of Power. Their website has been completely overhauled:
I read a recent interview on their message board. Here’s one of the questions:
What’s your favourite release?
Jaz: “Revelations, Night Time, Extremities, Pandemonium and What’s THIS For…! are the most memorable.”
Geordie: “All of them apart from Fire Dances.”
Raven: “Extremities and the new one[not 2003]. I think the new record is the first time we’ve had a complete Killing Joke album.”
The rest of the interview is here:
http://killing-joke.com/new_message/index.php?act=ST&f=1&t=437&s=668067294b3a88cc1b03263e8f5a6bfe
Interesting that Geordie doesn’t like Fire Dances. Apparently he wasn’t too happy with the production on that one. Too bad they weren’t asked about “Outside The Gate”! Ok, “Outside” has one good song on it (My Love Of This Land, which has that Brighter sound)
My personal favorites are Night Time, Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, and Fire Dances. I saw them live in '94 on the Pandemonium tour, and it kicked freaking ass. They didn’t come to AZ for the last tour. 
Shame about the last album, I think it could’ve garnered a lot more attention and had better sales. I don’t know how Zuma is/was with promotion, but “Seeing Red” could’ve easily been all over hard rock/alternative radio in '03, esp. with the fact that Dave Grohl was drumming. Too bad. Ah well, I’m just glad to see that they’re back so soon.
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Killing Joke is great.
My faves are “Pandemonium” and “Killing Joke”. Grohl plays the drums like he’s using 2x4s!
A Ministry cover of “Democracy” would be pretty sweet
Nirvana blatantly ripped them off (whatever became of that, btw?)
I’m going through a big Killing Joke kick right now - anything from Night Time to their latest. I rarely see them mentioned - anyone else dig them? These guys are awesome…
Me to, lately Ive been binging on the Joke, and cant wait for the new album comin’ in Aug? Sept?
The Nirvana thing was settled out of court, but Dave considered his drumming on the last CD as a kind of atonement. Jaz only wanted him for the monster drum sound he’s known for, so it was nice of Dave to consider it a payback. I dunno man, I love Dave Grohl.
Im gonna go work on my ‘Adorations’ cover…God I love that fucking song. You know all their backcatalogue is being re-released right Afra? I think Pandemonium & Democracy are out again right now on Cooking Vinyl (although the promised bonus tracks were bogus…already released). Their s/t debut though has 5 bonus tracks on it and looks like a real good deal. I hope ‘Night Time’ has some good stuff too.
The Ha! Live EP will be re-issued, too. The bonus goodies will be nice, but I’d pretty much have to buy everything again. Goodbye E’G imports!
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My fav KJ album is ‘Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions’ followed closely by the S/T (81), ‘What’s THIS For…!’ and the other S/T (03)… But I like almost everything wath they did.
Prong and Godflesh were influenced by them (during their last tour they covered ‘Requiem’)… among others…
Yesterday evening a friend of mine told me they come to my town in September and that was the best news of the day so far, since the last time I saw them live (Pandemonium tour) they were fucking great…
Nirvana blatantly ripped them off (whatever became of that, btw?),…
what is the story on this? what song of nirvana’s and what killing joke song. i have never heard anything about this.
If I remember correctly, the Intro of Nirvana’s “Come as you are” was allegedly lifted from KJ’s song “Eighties”. There was a lawsuit in the works, but when Kurt Cobain died the charges were dropped. If you ask me i’d say KJ were on pretty weak legal ground. It’s similar, but not EXACTLY the same.
Dave Grohl playing drums on the last KJ album, I guess it’s all forgotten/forgiven…
BTW… In case anyone hear wants to throw up, Fear Factory is releasing their new album “Transgression” soon and it will supposedly have a cover of Killing Joke’s “Millenium” on it.
Yay for mediocrity. =)
BTW… In case anyone hear wants to throw up, Fear Factory is releasing their new album “Transgression” soon and it will supposedly have a cover of Killing Joke’s “Millenium” on it.
At least KJ will be exposed to a new audience…
Killing Joke just keep getting better with age. Loved the last album–can’t wait for the new one! I hope they tour again, because they are fantastic live.
Killing Joke seemed to lose their footing in the 90’s but their newer shit is nothing short of amazing! I’m so glad they recovered and are back on top of their game.
It never ceases to amaze me how “old farts” like Al, Motorhead and K.J. put these kids half their age to shame!
Killing Joke seemed to lose their footing in the 90’s but their newer shit is nothing short of amazing! I’m so glad they recovered and are back on top of their game.
It never ceases to amaze me how “old farts” like Al, Motorhead and K.J. put these kids half their age to shame!
I thought they lost their footing with Outside The Gate in '88, and got it back in '89 with Extremeties…. For me, the two '90’s LPs were great, even though their style was very different from what they’d done in the past.
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