Killing Joke 25th Anniversary 5 CD set

I'm really out of it right now!

-- Aja (AsiaKitty200...), April 9th, 2005 9:43 PM.
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No, YOU shut up.

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), April 9th, 2005 9:50 PM.

I'm listening to the Joke now. I will crank it up even more to make up for my loss, if I may.

Do you have it?

i wonder if alex has it?!?

Everytime I'm about to buy Killing Joke that is not an album but something rare or "special" I always ask the same question: "Does Alex have this?"

I also saw Killing Joke for Beginers. I doubt he has that. Although, I think he should get it for his daugter because I'm sure he'll want her to get into them, but not want to part with his collection. The only problem with that thing is it stops at Brighter Than A Thousand Suns.

If you mean Chaos for Breakfast, yeah IT'S FUCKING GREAT, but until you've uncontaminated your disc collection by ridding it of all the Nirvana discs, you don't deserve to own this.

In all truth, it's mostly demos and alternate renditions of tracks from the first two albums and early singles. As far as I'm concerned, it's absolutely essential, but you may not feel the same way about.

Of course I have this. Are you high? Unreleased Chris Kimsey mixes? Single version of "Harlequin"? Beefier redition of "Rubicon"? It was an absolute must. I'm not sure I agree with the premise of the disc ("for beginners"), as there's lots of stuff missing from it that'd I'd consider better suited for introductory purposes, but y'know, whatever. And it's got a lovely Mike Coles sleeve.

No it doesn't. Sheesh! "My Love of this Land" and "Obsession" are both from Outside the Gate, which came out after Brighter Than....

Hahahaha - look at "Big" Paul's big hair in that picture 'though hahahaha!

Hahahaha - I used to have mine just like that too.... Ouch!

In the works, supposedly.

I believe this is why you turn up your volume control.

hmmm...new album??? is andy gill producing it? also,any idea who would be drumming?ted parsons?

They're producing it themselves (no Youth this time, though, I don't think). Ted Parsons is no longer in the fold, as he fell out with the band after missing an Australian date on their 2003 tour. He's got his own project at the moment called NIC (Necessary Intergalactic Cooperation) who play a sort've organic-Kraftwerk style, if that makes any sense. You can hear them on the new Malicious Damage sampler, The Clock Machine Turns You On (along with many other great bands), available via www.maliciousdamage.co.uk ). Worth seeking out, I promise you.

Don't worry. I probably won't be able to fit all five cds in my cd case that I take practicly everywhere with me unless I take out my Nirvana cds. Killing Joke, Foo Fighters and The Furs are my three primary bands now. The rest is Gang of Four, Bowie and Queen.

As far as I'm concerned, it's absolutely essential, but you may not feel the same way about.

Of course I do! Are you high? Well, you're at least drunk because I buy just about everything I can by a band I love, or I get it from my parents or a friend. I've got lots of Killing Joke bootlegs my mom's friend gave me. He also gave me some of the Foo's. I don't listen to my Nirvana ones anymore. They're absolute crap. I've got at least two versions of all the Foo Fighter singles I have because they make two versions of their singles in the first place and for some of them I have the UK and Japanese versions too.

I mean for Christ's sake!! I've got Brighter Than a Thousand Suns and Outside the Gates and I've listened to both and I still have not returned them, and I don't plan on it.

The only problem with that thing is it stops at Brighter Than A Thousand Suns.

No it doesn't. Sheesh! "My Love of this Land" and "Obsession" are both from Outside the Gate, which came out after Brighter Than....

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), April 10th, 2005 4:56 PM.

OMG!! I'm so fucking sorry!!! I forgot it had "Obsession" on it. I only looked at it for a minute and a half because my mom wanted to talk me out of buying "Chaos for Breakfast". I didn't take the damn thing home and look at the track list on the back while I wrote this thread.

But anyway.

I'll try to talk my mom into taking me back to Tower to pick it up today.

Alex: At Least, Drunk

A slogan for a new era.

-- Curtis Stephens (sevenxvii...), May 10th, 2003 1:43 PM.

From the days when I was new to this site.

This was a response to my, I'll call it imfamous post, I am a children. I am 12.

A slogan for a new era.

And more often than not: accurate.

Anyway, why is "Killer dub (aka bread & jam)" like 19 minutes long??? And for some reason I got two of the liner notes or whatever the hell it's called. It's the thing inside the box with the track listing and essay by Neil Perry.

Because they were all high.

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-02-27%2016.27.26%20-0800/Image-AB96D881891611D9.jpg

No, they're my fellow Gatherers....Graham, Jel and Antoni, if you must know. This pic is from the pre-gig drink-up back in Feb from the 25th Anniversary Shows.

So, Should I fly to London in late February to attend the Killing Joke Anniversary Shows at the Shepherds Bush Empire....?

Ha ha - you get stickers with it? That's rather quaint.

(Note: only done with band stickers. Other stickers I'll stick on my hand and then the floor for all I care!)

Killing Joke's CHAOS FOR BREAKFAST

(btw, what is Victory from. The sleeve says Brighter Than a Thousand Suns, but it's not on there.)

What do you mean by "those kind of songs"?

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), June 7th, 2005 8:20 AM. (vassifer)

You know, eighties sounding, mainly synth driven songs. (Well, maybe that song isn't so synth driven, but...) You know, very polished and produced. You know, the stuff that was recorded about the time of Brighter....

Are you sure about that Alex? "Goodbye To The Village" is definitely on my (vinyl) copy of Brighter Than A Thousand Sons.

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), June 7th, 2005 8:30 AM. (Stewart Osborne)

Damn!! I've got practically nothing on my copy on vinyl.

I've got:

Adorations
Sanity
Chessboards
Twilight of the Mortal
Love of the Masses
Southern Sky
Wintergardens
Rubicon

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), June 7th, 2005. (later)

I'll bet'cha it ain't!

Totally different.

*reads further upthread*

Wait a minute! "Victory"???!?!?! I think I completely missed that one! What fucking single was that a b-side for? I never had Brighter on CD. I have it on cassette and vinyl, that's it. And I had the Adorations & Sanity 12"es, but I know it wasn't on those. Was it?? Fuck. Yes it was. I see here in my book it was the Sanity 12". Don't remember anything about the damn song though. Must track it down again.

Because if he is, then there is no guitar, and also, there seems to be some other bass track on that song. It's kind of confusing.

Whatever. I like it.

No.

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), June 10th, 2005 9:29 PM. (vassifer)

Well, I guess it's more of a tecnique.

Is the version on BTATS different that KFB?? Well, it is, but is it just the length, or something more??

Hey Alex, do you not post on the KJ message board??

It's a different mix.

Hey Alex, do you not post on the KJ message board??

`Cos it's a headache. I get everything I need from the Gathering.

I do.

http://www.wintergardens.plus.com/images/sanitycanbg.gif

http://www.wintergardens.plus.com/images/sanity12sm.jpg

No great shakes...

Any info on the new KJ album?

I was at the KJ party yesterday.

In fact it was not really the party, but rather a rehearsal for some 20-30 people who were there. KJ played a set that they will play at gigs with Motley Crue.

It was excellent. Even the sound was relatively good. I dont remember the set exactly, but it included songs they usually play at gigs in recent years - I remember Sun Goes Down, Psyche, Wait, Change, Darkness Before Dawn, Asteroid, White Out - above that they played Are You Receiving.

Afterwards people went upstairs for a short time. No wild party. Some people chatted with members of the band. The guys seemed to be a bit tired. It seems that they are working really hard on a new album, also it was said that they plan to re-record all KJ albums. DVD is not out because they are not satisfied with it as yet.

Cause I have no camera nor video-camera I was not able to make any picture or so,but one girl that took the pics promised me to send them to me by e-mail. I will put them up on the czech KJ fans website if I receive them.

I was told by Paul and drummer Ben that I can basically come to the studio whenever I want to (they seem to spend whole days in the studio). So hopefully I will make it one day and will find out more information for all of you.

Well, I went and interviewed the Joke today. Most of the answers are jsut summed up in a sentence and I've quoted as accurately as possible. Here's how it went:

Will there ever be a comprehensive rarities release?

Jaz: "I don't like going backwards in time but I can't see why not if the quality of the recording is good."

Will you play in Finland soon?

Jaz: "We've been wanting to go back to Finland for a while. We got in a bit of trouble last time though [laughs]. There's plans for 4 warm-up shows in the summer.

Will there be a compilation DVD of videos and TV appearances?

Jaz: "No, the closest you'll get is the Killing Joke movie coming out next year, that has lots of footage. The best bits. We're trying to get ahold of CND (I think) footage of us playing a gig in [London park, can't remember which] that started a riot."

Any info on the Cheltenham benefit gig?

Jaz: "There's no gigs in Cheltenham because it's full of stuffy old bastards, that's why all the kids go around and smash things. But there will be a benefit gig sometime. Also, during the recording of the album, we've taken the wrapping of all the cigars we've smoked and covered a guitar in them. We're going to sign it and auction it off once the album's out."

Who played on Our Last Goodbye?

Geordie: "We recorded this in about two hours in LA for the WM3 benefit album."
Jaz: "Yeah, some guys on death row."
Me: "They're being accused of satanism."
Jaz: "That's a bit ahrd since satan doesn't exist![laughs] We recorded this with me, Raven, Geordie and the drummer from Nine Inch Nails."

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."

Is there a difference between the Jaz who writes classical and the Jaz who's in Killing Joke?

Jaz: "Yes, very different indeed. We're the same person but the approach is totally different. With the orchestra it's very intellectual, your mind's at work continually, keeping track of tempos etc but with Killing Joke I forget everything, I'm in a state of trance. Plus, with the orchestra you only see my arse[laughs]."

Where has the new album been recorded and how has this affected the music?

Jaz: "We're recording it in our basement in Prague, it's got an amazing sounds, especially for the drums. They're very humble surroundings, there's no huge studio costs, it's all our own stuff. We have plans to record in places that are exploding all over the world. Ethiopia, pre-invasion Taiwan, the Israeli-Lebanese border, on the Lebanese side - two miles from a Hezbollah training camp. As for the album itself, it's 'up' yet explosive at the same time. It's the first Killing Joke album you can play in the morning. This time we're not telling people about how fucked the world is, they know that already, this time it's about what we can do about it. It's celebratory - every day is a blessing - we're in a better frame of mind than last time and we have total artistic control - we're not going to be doing anything that they [record execs] want us to."
Me [to Raven later on]: It's being released it September, accorsing to Cooking Vinyl.
Raven: "Really? That's good![laughs]"

[To Geordie]How does the writing process work? Do you come to the studio with your music or do play along with the rest of the band?

Geordie: Well, I don't turn up empty-handed. I'll come in with some stuff I've recorded with a drum machine, as will Jaz. I'll play along to some of Raven's stuff that he does with a drum machine too."
Jaz: "Geordie's a big part of the production process -"
Geordie: "Unless Youth comes along and fuccks it up[laughs]."
Jaz: "He prepares the sound too - he was the one that discovered the great drum sound in the basement. He notices these things all the time. I didn't beleive him at first but he showed me and I thought "Fucking hell..." "

Will there be any more Democracy-esque acoustic work?
Geordie: "When I get some free guitars![laughs]"
Any info on the Killing Joke book?
Jaz: "We'll begin writing once the recording and touring's finished, possibly around new year. I've been preparing for 25 years, I've kept a diary since Killing Joke formed."
[To Raven] When you joined in 1983, what did you contribute, in comparison to Youth?
Raven: "I always thought Youth was a bit of a hippy. When I joined, I brought a bit more energy to the band, more of a 'punk' feel. Youth always had aspirations to be a producer, I was more concerned with actually playing."
Would you like to express yourselves in any other art forms?

Jaz: "I already do - I was in the Czech film Year of the Devil which received some awards. I was offered the role of Don Logan in 'Sexy Beast' [Ben Kingsley eventually got it]. I didn't have to go fot an audition they asked when the saw who I was and my personality. I'm alos co-directing the film version of Laurence Gardner's Bloodline of the Holy Grail. What I'd really like to do is get the band and my mates and just travel up through Africa, throguh the Sahara, in Bedouin tents. Just stop off at places and party, y'know?"

Early on, you said that Killing Joke represented an expression of frustration and despair. Recently you said that it is the laughter that dispels all fear. How did this evolution come about?

Jaz: "I came to a point in my life when I thought about what I could do about the bad things that happen - laughing is one of the best things because when you laugh you fear nothing."

What's the true story about the whole Iceland affair?

Jaz: "Well, firstly, I wasn't escaping the end of the world. I was tired of the whole stereotypical rock 'n' roll lifestyle and me and Geordie wanted to study something different. I was interested in Icelandic pre-history and mysticism. They're all Nazis over there. They were all waiting for Hitler to come over but that never happened. They have an agreement with the US governemt that no black servicemen will serve on the US air base there."

What do you think happens when you die? Do you believe in the concept of karma?

Jaz: "I definitely believe in reincarnation, I have Hindu blood in me so there's an inclination towards that philosophy. As for karma, if you're bad you'll come back as someone in Killing Joke[laughs]!"

Is there any hidden meanings in the symbols on the Pandemonium cover?

Jaz: "Yes, of course. It's sacred geometry and architecture. Killing Joke have been intricately linked with Templar symbolism since the early days."

Would it be safe to assume that the politics of George Bush were the main influence on the intensity of the new album?

Jaz: "I believed that a lawless period was coming - and it has. I believed that an empire would slowly begin to take over the rest of the world and you can see this happening. There's no longer democracy in this country, it's basically a dictatorship, people are being forced into wars they wanted no part in. The sad thing is that there's no credible opposition in this country."

Will there be any more side projects in the near future, like Damage Manual?

Jaz: "Well, Jah and Geordie have left the Damage Manual but they're good friends and Jah's an excellent player. I can see them doing some projects in the future."

Do you think that your 'outside interests' dilute the music of Killing Joke?

Jaz: "I think that my classical career has removed some musical yearnings from Killing Joke."

What's the story behind the Astoria DVD?

Jaz: "It'll never see the light of day as we're disputing with our then-managers who own the copyright and we don't want them making money from us."

Where do you plan on going during the 'Warzones' tour?

Jaz: "We'll definitely be going to Taiwan, Ethiopia, Cambodia - we'll have a jam and possibly record inside a pyramid of human skulls - Lebanon and Bolivia."
Me: "What about Somalia?"
Jaz: "There's many place on earth that I want to visit and Mogadishu is certainly not one of them![laughs]"
Any last messages for the fans?
Jaz: "There will be a ceremony to thank all those who have been dedicated to Killing Joke over the years and have helped us selflessly. We're looking at three locations in the UK where it will be held. Decorations will be made for those to be thanked in silver, bronze and gold."

Everyone really started to like her for doing this interview, but right now she and I are fighting about "The Wait". Apperantly, she doesn't like it and it's one of my favorite tracks. Oh, well. Great interview anyway. (Lucky bastard!)

What's this about them re-recording all their albums, though? Surely that can't be for real? I thought that was pretty funny when I read it. I mean, not that they couldn't do it but it's kindof like someone on the west coast saying "oh yeah, by the way I think I'm going to walk to New York tomorrow..."

-- The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (bimble87...), June 19th, 2005 8:35 PM

Well, I think they are reffering to the remastered albums.

AH HAH! I KNEW IT! "Victory" was NOT I repeat NOT included on the damn Sanity 12". My memory is confirmed! No longer shall I rack my brains wondering if I was losing my mind because all that time I thought the only b-side on that was "Goodbye To The Village". I AM VINDICATED! And I HAVE NEVER IN MY WHOLE LIFE HEARD THIS SONG "VICTORY" UNTIL NOW. And I gotta say, the "unreleased" version from the Beginners thing is pretty damn cool. It's almost like they got Bernard Edwards from Chic in on bass! I so dig it. Much better than "Exile" as far as I'm concerned. An unheard song from that era! I feel quite lucky right now.

-- The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (bimble87...), June 19th, 2005 2:24 AM

So you're digging it too? I really like that song. Still can't believe the bass though.

No, they're not. They're actually thinking of re-recording their entire back catalog.....which strikes even I as completely bizarre.

Actually, someone on the KJ message board came up with that title. I just thought it was funny. I mean, what band releases more than on S/T album?? They couldn't be more creative?

Peter Gabriel to thread.

p.s. it was a good album with a prince type song and preacher man .

Being that Youth has produced everyone from Kate Bush through Crowded House and Paul McCartney and the Verve, I'd hardly suggest that his career is dead. Do your homework.