Postpunk juggernaut Killing Joke — its original lineup back in place for the first time since 1982’s Revelations
The band’s original members — singer Jaz Coleman, guitarist Kevin “Geordie” Walker, bassist Martin “Youth” Glover and drummer Paul Ferguson — reconvened following the 2007 funeral of Paul Raven, who replaced Youth beginning with 1983’s Fire Dances.
The reunited lineup has toured together since 2008, but last fall began work on a new record (see video clip below), the band’s first since Coleman, Walker and Raven released Hosannas From the Basement of Hell
Over Christmas, Coleman and Youth played parts of the album for a writer from The Quietus and discussed Killing Joke’s reunion. Coleman said:
“All of us knew we were getting back together; we just didn’t know when. All of us knew from ’82 onwards but we did know it would happen and Paul’s passing brought us together faster. …In the end — and Geordie’s said this and so have I — with the original lineup there is a chemistry there. … And really, we’re so lucky that we’re all still living to be perfectly honest and to have an original lineup to do this now.”
Although Killing Joke hasn’t revealed when in April the record is due, the band has begun announcing dates for its 30th anniversary tour; an 11-date run through Europe begins April 15, followed by 13 shows in the U.S. and Canada in May and June.
See full Killing Joke tour dates after the jump…
Killing Joke tour dates:
April 15: Picture House, Edinburgh, UK
April 16: Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
April 19: Bataclan, Paris, France
April 20: AB Main Hall, Brussels, Belgium
April 21: Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands
April 23: Werkstatt, Cologne, Germany
April 24: Grunspan, Hamburg, Germany
April 26: Lucerna Music Bar, Prague, Czech Republic
April 27: Mega Club, Katowictz, Poland
April 28: Palladium, Warsaw, Poland
April 29: Nosturi, Helsinki, Finland
May 21: Black Cat/9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., USA
May 22: Irving Plaza, New York, NY, USA
May 23: Paradise, Boston, MA, USA
May 25: Cabaret, Montreal, PQ, Canada
May 26: Phoenix, Toronto, ONT, Canada
May 28: Cro Foot, Detroit, MI, USA
May 29: Empty Bottle, Chciago, IL, USA
May 30: Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL, USA
June 2: Venue, Vancuover, BC, Canada
June 3: Shoebox, Seattle, WA, USA
June 4: Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR, USA
June 5: Regency, San Francisco, CA, USA
June 6: Witern, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Video: Killing Joke in the studio, November 2009
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Video: Al Jourgensen sings ‘It’s Always Christmas Time’ for Paul Raven
- Al Jourgensen records Christmas song in memory of Killing Joke’s Paul Raven
- In stores this week: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Killing Joke box sets
- In stores Tuesday: Lloyd Cole box set, plus live Living Colour, Killing Joke
