Better known as a long time fanatical follower of both Killing Joke (the highly influencial &
legendary post-punk experimental rock band) and Chelsea Football Club (thanks Fuzz), I have now
become somewhat infamous for being a victim of rough justice. Thankfully, with this bitter
experience behind me, now I can just get on with my life and enjoy spending time with my friends
and family. 
"THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR, EVERYBODY CAN FEEL IT"
"HOLY BOOKS AND HISTORY TEXTS FORGET BECAUSE WE KNOW"
"SOULS ARE RECYCLED IN THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION SHOW"
Updated : 15th November 2008
Last night's 6 Music rock show with Jaz Coleman is currently up on the BBC website.
Updated : 21st October 2008
Killing Joke's tour ended a week ago and further Youth blogs are now posted
for New York and
Chicago. Looking forward to
seeing the Joke back on the road to support the new album in early 2009.
Updated : 20th October 2008
A new Youth interview can be found in the rock zine Bubblegum Slut. Issue 32 out now features the New York Dolls, Sebastian Bach, Lydia Lunch,
Nashville Pussy, Killing Joke's Youth, Ratt, The Levellers, Wildhearts and more. Also, special offer on subscriptions until the end of October 2008.
For details see blogs at www.myspace.com/bubblegumslutzine.
Updated : 10th October 2008
An LA log from Youth is now up on MySpace.
Updated : 8th October 2008
A new Youth blog (Thankyou Scotland !!! Thankyou London !) for the UK gigs can be
found here.
Updated : 4th October 2008
My head is a bit sore ... absolutely rammed it was downstairs ... a great performance of course (but no new ones on Friday) ... superb
visuals from Colesy ... a great really gathering at the Junction Tavern & I'm looking forward to a further session today ... meanwhile
some background to comments made last night ... a new Pearl Harbour ?
An old story, and a 5 year old internet article but Complications was introduced by Jaz with reference to the special guest attending last
night's London gig, the Right Honourable Michael Meacher MP (who was a Labour government minister between 1997 and 2003). Jaz thanked MM for
being the only (high profile) person with any balls to speak the truth about 9/11 - I guess the article the URL below details the evidence for this
theory ...
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2003/sep/06/september11.iraq *
Updated : 3rd October 2008
Killing Joke were listed in last night's London Lite freebie newspaper - click here for a scan JPG.
Updated : 1st October 2008
Wow, the excitement levels are really building now. Youth has posted a further blog on MySpace
from Brussels and
PHD inform that Concert Live are producing 1500 limited CD 3 disc sets from each of the Killing Joke nights at the Forum
in Kentish Town for £20.
Get your orders in now, before the CD's sell out, just like the gigs themselves.
Updated : 27th September 2008
Two further Killing Joke blogs have been posted on MySpace by Youth as the tour reaches Berlin and
then Paris.
Updated : 24th September 2008
Youth has posted a new blog for the Zurich gig
up on his MySpace page. Things have really gone into overdrive now - whilst still salivating over the long overdue official release for the John Peel sessions - now not only is The Unperverted Pantomime getting a CD re-release by Eastworld on 20th October 2008 with the original tracklisting
along with a DVD containing live rare US footage from 1981 under catalogue reference EWT0036CD, now it
appears that a further CD follows 2 weeks later - Duendes - The Spanish Sessions !!!
FANTASTIC LIVE SESSION RECORDED WITH THE ORIGINAL KILLING JOKE LINE UP BACK TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1982 !!!!
About the release Jaz Coleman said "Can you imagine it, the original line up hasn't been in the same room
since 24th February 1982 and I am waiting for Paul to arrive here at Youths studio in Granada, Spain at any moment. Like
most preconceptions the reality is always different.The door opens and there he is, we embrace, still the same athletic
build, the same impeccable manners, the same fire in his eyes. Inwardly I am delighted for I feel we have truly transcended
any petty differences of the past. As most people are aware there have been many incarnations of Killing Joke over the
years, however the original line up bears no comparison to later line ups, neither socially or musically. For example there
are always two people moving in opposite directions. In the present tense this manifests as Youth insisting that we write
some new songs for the tour whereas my concern is learning five hours of music (ie two sets) always the revolutionary and
the reactionary, simultaneously. Our conversations and debates follow a similar pattern. As for the sound it is far from
polished to put it mildly but when it locks in it is both emotional and devastating. For me, my life seems strangely
complete with these characters (who, when all is said and done, are family) We started as teenagers together. Killing Joke
was our further education and now we are all approaching fifty!". Here then is the raw beautifully imperfect soundtrack to
so many peoples lives least of all our own. New album in January if we are still alive. All our love and best wishes to the Gathering.
Updated : 22nd September 2008
I got back yesterday from Milan (via Stamford Bridge for the Chelsea v Man United game). The first night set at the Rolling Stone featured
some 21 songs - it included every song on the first 2 albums (with The Wait much later) and Eighties between Primitive and The
Fall Of Because. Other songs aired were Change, Are You Receiving ?, Pssyche and Asteroid. Both "Who Told You How ?" and
"This Is Madness" worked brilliantly live, more especially the latter ... I really can't wait for the audience/band
interaction at a packed Forum in London ... I suspect you folks who make it to Berlin, Paris, Brussels and Glasgow are in for a real treat ... the Saturday
night set was shorter (with some songs dropped) but featured We Have Joy, The Pandys Are Coming & Empire Song from Revelations ...
I was intrigued to hear BPF playing stuff from the Pandemonium album & his playing style added so much to the likes of Communion ...
Click on the above image for a larger picture of the "big book" after it's outing in Milan ... it was a bloody good trip indeed ...
managed to fit in a spot of tourism myself on Saturday afternoon (Duomo, a
walk around the historic centre and
the San Siro) whilst spending the rest of the time outside Bar 2, across
the road from the Rolling Stone ... at €4 for a large bottle of Heineken, it was the cheapest beer in town !
Further tour blogs from Youth have been posted on his
Myspace page from Barcelona & two
from Milan (1,
2).
Updated : 17th September 2008
Further blogs have now been posted
by Youth : 13th as KJ leave
Tokyo then 17th after the
single night in Madrid where it appears
that a new song Timewave was given an airing. Tomorrow night is Barcelona then it is 2 nights
at the Rolling Stone in Milan. Can't wait.
Updated : 12th September 2008
So, the world is still here (or is it ?) and Killing Joke's
2008 "WORLD TOUR" with the original line-up is under way. Youth has posted blogs on MySpace for
the 9th,
10th and
11th as the Joke
leave their Spanish hideaway and storm Tokyo for 2 nights.
Updated : 8th September 2008
"The Peel Sessions 1979-1981" delivered !!! Oh yes, oh yes, it's finally arrived ... just in time for the end of the
world (ie. the LHC @ CERN gets switched on in 2 days) ... or not :o)
Artwork by Colesy ... liner notes by Alex Paterson ... these wonderful BBC radio sessions finally released in an official
capacity via KJRE9.
Many of the old guard will have these on fading old C90's or maybe (taped off the radio) MP3's such as Nuclear Boy and
Malicious Boogie which were put on the "Unspeakable" bootleg compilation but I'd recommend these alternative versions to
more recent converts, as many of the tracks sound very different to those found on the original studio albums. My personal
favourite has always been Butcher, which has a melodic feel far removed from the mechanical WTF version. Also of note is
Empire Song with a funky and less metallic feel and a superb pounding drums (as per live) replacing the standard fade out
ending. Great to see that the Richard Skinner session from 1981 was also included, especially as Tension was again very
different to the earlier Peel version (both different to the WTF version).
Slight cock up with the sleeve as the recorded and first transmission dates they have for sessions #3 and #4 are the same.
Doh. For information, the first transmission dates are correct (#3 27/04/1981 and #4 16/12/1981 - an early Xmas present or
what !!!) but the recorded dates were 14/04/1981 (#3) and 11/12/1981 (#4). I didn't have this noted down anywhere, rather
had the benefit of being bought Ken Garner's "The Peel Sessions" book on my birthday !
Anyway, for the miserly sum of 8.99 GBP, it is now in my posession and I'm a very happy boy.
Do yerself a big favour a buy one here.
Updated : 1st September 2008
It has been reported that there are "No plans for a warm-up gig in Prague but Jaz hinted at one in a cave in Alicante/Valencia..!"
Interesting. Of course there's a remote possibility that the world may end on the eve of the world tour, or not. The date
for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (Geneva) being switched on - 10th
September 2008 - the Killing Joke tour starts on the 11th. The big collision stuff is due to start on 21st October 2008 -
ironically and spookily one calendar year after our Paul Raven tragically left this mortal coil, and a mere stone's throw from
Geneva - a little bit weird - so we are maybe okay for the tour, if not the Christmas shopping !!!
Updated : 24th August 2008
Maggie Thatcher is demented ... OFFICIAL ... Since 2000 ?
I would argue that she was pretty demented back in the early 80's !
Let's take delight, it's been a long wait for this moment ...slightly ironic lyrics from Empire Song ... considering how
long it has taken the John Peel sessions to see the light of day ... anyway, particularly pleased that they've included the
Richard Skinner session too and, as 1983 session was added to the Fire Dances remaster, it makes this CD a concise "original line up"
release. Due for release on the eve of the tour (8th Sept 2008) ...
HMV are selling it for 8.99 GBP ...
Another irony is that the (rightly) vilified Terra Firma have actually done all us lot a favour. These private equity ghouls appear to
have tapped into the KJ back catalogue and provided us some rare recordings we thought we be left gathering dust in
the EMI/Virgin/EG vaults for an eternity.
Updated : 9th August 2008
I have just got back from a week on holiday with the family in Pagham (that's somewhere between Bognor Regis & Selsey) ... so,
hot on the foot of my Jupiter ramblings ... click here
for the first picture from NASA of water on Mars -- absolutely outstanding ! :O)
Updated : 25th July 2008
Just in case anyone (especially up here in the northern hemisphere) has noticed a very bright object appear in the south
east night sky, in the hours after sunset, over the past few evenings I'm glad to announce it's the return of the planet
Jupiter ... as the following URL suggests, with a small pair of binoculars (ie. 7 x 50) you can see it as a white disc
(as opposed to a twinkling star) ... click @
www.skyandtelescope.com. The last time I seriously bothered to observe Jupiter was about 12 summers ago ... and the 4
largest of it's (20?) moons were visible through my 20-60 x 50 telescope and they seemed to change positions almost every
night, as the image in the URL suggests ... of course it's not everyone's cup of tea but for sure beats watching Big Brother !
Updated : 3rd July 2008
www.ianlowery.com
I've just found this website dedicated to the late Ian Lowery of The Wall, Ski Patrol, The Folk Devils and King Blank fame.
Updated : 13th June 2008
It has been reported through the wires that the Killing Joke "Peel Sessions" are finally on the way, complete with PROPER
artwork. No date yet, but the Richard Skinner session will be included. A massive hurrah.
Updated : 11th June 2008
The worst kept secret of the summer has finally been officially announced ... current Portugal manager Luis Felipe Scolari
is the new Chelsea FC manager from 1st July 2008 ... the Brazilian born LFS took matters into his own hands at the end of a Euro 2008 qualifier, just
after recent Chelsea signing Branislav Ivanovic netted a late controversial offside equalizer for Serbia against Portugal ...
click here to see the YouTube clip ... Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, come on down !!!
Meanwhile, a KJ "documentary" video trailer w/ Jaz giving a sermon can be seen
here.
It's entertaining alright ! Better than the TV. There's also Nightmare and Machine Gun - blimey, we'll all be under
surveillance for watching that (in the UK at least) !
Updated : 27th May 2008
From the KJ myspace : EULOGY - A Memorial concert for PAUL VINCENT RAVEN ... Eulogy is a special concert taking place in London on Wednesday 28th May 2008 at
The Underworld, Camden. Eulogy is a dedication to the legendary Bass Player PAUL RAVEN from KILLING JOKE, MINISTRY and
PRONG who passed away at the end of last year. Concerts will be performed by bands who were close to RAVEN:- TREPONEM PAL
(France) New Album featuring the last performances of Paul Raven. INERTIA Featuring KILLING JOKE keyboard player, REZA UDHIN.
GUNDOGS Featuring Paul's brother, DAN RAVEN on Bass + DJ Ashika. Come and join us in a celebration of a truly unique and great friend.
Doors are at 7pm. Tickets £8 on the door.
Updated : 24th May 2008
It's not Avram Grant anymore !!!
Even though AG's achievements this season easily surpassed my own expectations, I will not be marching down to Stamford
Bridge to hold a "Avram Grant must stay" banner... ironically losing the UCL final has made it a damn sight easier for the
club's hierarchy to sort of put right a terrible wrong ... Frank Rijkaard maybe ?
Updated : 23rd May 2008
I've just got back from Russia ... LHR -> Berlin Tegel -> Moscow Domodedovo -> Vienna -> LHR. Flights £482, hotel 2 nights
- £35 in Moscow & £70 in Vienna, match ticket £117, one kick away from glory ... loads of beers and loads of planes ... gutted though.
Updated : 13th April 2008
Please don't call me grand-dad ... but you wouldn't be wrong !
Updated : 6th April 2008
Killing Joke on MOTD2 ... the other week it was Invocation ... this time a few riffs of PSSYCHE ... no kidding ...
last week's snippet was no accident then ... a big KJ fan working on the Match Of The Day production team then !!!
Updated : 3rd March 2008
The KJ 2008 tour features as an NME news item !!! All I can say is
... shock, horror, have they had a change of editors ? It all bodes well for this years planned activities ... to be fair
it appears they did report Raven's death in October but otherwise they have barely bothered to report any Killing Joke news
for many years ... probably not since Extremities and in any detail since the Iceland escapade.
Updated : 1st March 2008
Funny that yesterday's official announcement of the Killing Joke plans for touring in 2008 was preceeded by the biggest UK
earthquake for 20 or 30 years ... seems quite appropriate really. Great to see so many of The Gathering at Headcount's gig last
night at Bull & Gate in Kentish Town ... here's a few snaps to view : here,
here and here.
Updated : 28th February 2008
Amazing news today ... Killing Joke, the original line-up, to play a series of dates in late 2008 celebrating the first
album, What's THIS For ...! plus Pandemonium and other singles ... Jaz, Geordie, Youth and Big Paul Ferguson ... play
together for the first time in over 20 years ...
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=47477713&blogID=362220898 ... honour the fire ...
Updated : 24th February 2008
I made another trip to Wembley Stadium earlier today ... a thoroughly depressing occasion :O(
Updated : 12th February 2008
Saw 2 great passes of the International Space Station (with Shuttle Atlantis attached) this evening ... firstly an almost
overhead 3 minute pass at 70 degrees across from W to E from 17:42 hrs ... then one to the south (max 22 degrees above
horizon) for about a minute at 19:17 ... with this pass, the ISS appeared so so bright at first as the 250 long solar
panels reflected huge amounts of sunlight then ever so rapidly it dimmed immensely and disappeared from view almost due
south ... the earlier pass was fantastic with the ISS in view for ages, even as it dropped towards the eastern horizon, it
was still so very bright ... click here to
work out any future sightings of the ISS in UK.
Updated : 23rd January 2008
Two nights to go until The Ruts 30th anniversary celebration evening (and playback of Foxy's benefit gig DVD) at the
Shepherds Bush Empire. Very much looking foward to this and the Henry Rollins Spoken Word show at Hammersmith Apollo the
following evening.
Updated : 18th January 2008
Headcount played at the legendary Hope And Anchor in Islington, London
this evening promoting new album To The Point on Malicious Damage Records (MD626CD). Hope to see folks at the Bull And
Gate in Kentish Town on 29th February 2008.
Updated : 5th January 2008
Quite a momentous day. The long awaited statistical
publication "100 Years Of The Blues" is finally
available. Though the legendary Chelsea fan (and author) Ron Hockings tragically passed away before it could be realised,
his family completed and produced this mega tome as a lasting legacy to his memory which will be cherished by those like
myself who can bury themselves in football facts and figures. Meanwhile it was FA Cup 3rd Round day and Chelsea edged out
Queens Park Rangers 1-0 in a relatively low-key affair that failed to live up to the hype, despite the 41,289 crowd which
again included Henry Roman who found the second half tough going !
ARCHIVED NEWS :
2007 :
2006 :
2005 :
2004 :
2003 :
2002
"IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE GAME, THEN YOU'RE STILL PART OF IT"
"I WONDER WHO CHOSE THE COLOUR SCHEME, IT'S VERY NICE"
*** Honour The Fire ***
"LOOK AT THE FACES, IT'S DARK OUTSIDE"
"YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, STAY INDIFFERENT"
*** Please feel free to contact me via e-mail ***
"WHOSE TRUTH IS YOUR TRUTH ?"
