Killing Joke

Emerging from London in 1978, Killing Joke began as a dark, quasi-metal band with a doomy, post-punk edge before evolving into a more artsy, danceable sound that blurred genres. Founders Jaz Coleman and Paul Ferguson recruited bassist Youth and guitarist Geordie, completing a lineup that would become influential across post-punk, industrial, and alternative rock.

Their debut EP, “Almost Red,” financed with money borrowed from Coleman’s girlfriend, caught the attention of BBC DJ John Peel, who hosted one of his most popular sessions with them. Signing with Island Records by 1979, the band launched their own imprint, Malicious Damage, allowing full creative control.

Killing Joke’s early albums were intense and chaotic, but by “Fire Dances” (1983), they had embraced a calmer, more straightforward sound. Between breakups, lineup changes, and Coleman’s brief Icelandic exile to study the occult, the band maintained a reputation for unpredictability and uncompromising intensity.

Decades on, Killing Joke remain active, continuing to release new music and influence generations of post-punk, industrial, and metal artists alike—a testament to their dark, visionary legacy.