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There are numerous bizarre tales surrounding Jaz Coleman. One involves his disappearance and subsequent nomadic lifestyle in Western Sahara. He also asserts to have witnessed a sighting of a UFO, which included seven orange orbs, one with the image of a stick figure, in the heart of London. On another occasion, he was incensed by a negative review from Melody Maker and retaliated by dumping decomposing liver and maggots on the reception desk at the magazine’s headquarters. However, during a video call from Argentina, he appears to be contemplative and passionate.
The 64-year-old woman, hidden behind tinted sunglasses in the brightness of South America, expresses her profound shock. She reflects on the tremendously challenging period that has affected everyone in Killing Joke. She is referring to the passing of Geordie, whose real name was Kevin Walker. The immensely influential guitarist and fellow founder of the band passed away at the age of 64 in Prague, following a stroke.
In his recent interview, Coleman, the lead singer of the band, praised Walker’s guitar-playing skills on a semi-acoustic Gibson ES-295, previously owned by Elvis Presley’s guitarist, Scotty Moore. Walker tuned the instrument down a tone, added heavier strings, and utilized a delay effect, which resulted in a beautiful intensity that Coleman once likened to “fire in heaven.” Thanks to Walker’s mesmerizing guitar skills, the band’s post-punk-industrial-dance fusion achieved success, with multiple albums reaching the UK Top 20 and a popular single, Love Like Blood, released in 1985. Their diverse admirers include a younger generation in the industrial scene, as well as well-known musicians such as Metallica and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Coleman also added that Walker, who recently passed away, was a beloved and highly respected figure in the music industry.
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However, he discloses that there had been growing worries about Walker’s well-being. “A doctor who was treating him about a year ago told me, ‘When it happens, it will happen very quickly. So I advise you to prepare yourself.’ I didn’t take it seriously at the time, as I believed Geordie was invincible.”
Coleman is set to begin a tour featuring spoken word and Q&A sessions this month, although his plans may now be overshadowed by the passing of a fellow band member. However, there is one inquiry he is not prepared to address just yet. He is urging individuals not to inquire about the future of Killing Joke, as he is still grieving.
Walker had been Coleman’s “constant companion, at every single gig and recording” since 1978. Coleman and drummer Big Paul Ferguson had initially tried to complete the lineup by summoning bandmates in a black magic ritual, but the flat they held it in subsequently burned down. So they recruited Walker and bassist Martin Glover (AKA Youth, later a prolific record producer) by the more conventional means of an advert in weekly music paper Melody Maker. “Geordie rang up and said ‘I’ve never been in a band before,’” says Coleman, allowing himself a tiny smile. “‘I’ve only ever played in my mum’s bedroom, but I’m the best guitarist ever.’”
The singer and synth player from Cheltenham, who had a classical music background and was of Anglo-Asian descent, and the guitarist from County Durham, who was a devoted fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees, did not often see eye to eye on music. However, they both had a love for books and connected over discussions on politics, philosophy, and spirituality. According to Coleman, he had been interested in the occult from a young age, while Geordie was well-versed in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism. They found common ground in their fascination with these topics.
Walker joined Coleman on a highly acclaimed journey. In 1982, Coleman appeared in Iceland and informed the media that he was escaping the end of the world. However, he has since given different reasons for his trip, ranging from researching ley lines to establishing a marijuana business. “There’s some truth to each of them,” he smiles, “but I went to Iceland to uncover a missing piece of myself.”
Reworded: During a performance in Reading, it is said that they all shared an unusual experience where it felt as though they were playing within a magnetic field, causing everything to slow down. Intrigued by this phenomenon, they traveled to Iceland to conduct experiments in the powerful energy centers of volcanoes. The lead singer recalls many strange occurrences, including a person being struck by lightning twice and surviving, and a possible instance of levitation.
Somehow, Coleman managed to find the part that was missing from his life in Iceland. He then made the decision to pursue a side career as a composer. According to him, he now sells more classical albums than those of his band, Killing Joke. As the years went by, Coleman and Walker spent less time together socially, especially after Coleman stopped drinking.
According to him, the relationship within Killing Joke can be compared to a problematic family dynamic. Despite our love for one another, we have bouts of hostility. I have had three intense altercations with Geordie. On the last occasion, we inflicted enough harm on each other to require stitches. Afterward, while he was making tea, he questioned if our heavy drinking was a contributing factor.
Just after, in January 2006, Coleman promised to quit. He claims, “My system has a perfect track record of success.” The promise entails that if you break the vow, you face death.
Coleman is in possession of the tequila bottle that Walker used up during his last performance with Killing Joke, which took place at the Royal Albert Hall in May. The bottle is now filled with flowers. According to Coleman, Walker had a habit of drinking two bottles a day and would start two hours before a show. Whenever he left to use the restroom, Coleman would replace half of the alcohol with water. This routine had been going on for two decades. Coleman expresses a sense of sadness and frustration towards alcohol, as he believes it ultimately led to the premature death of his friend.
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Following Walker’s passing, Coleman was forced to leave Prague, where they had both been residing. He also owns a farm in New Zealand and has been tempted by the “creativity and chaos” found in Argentina. However, he is troubled by the fact that nearly 60% of the population in Argentina lives in poverty. He also believes that the UK is heading down a similar path, placing the blame on “a string of previous governments, culminating in the current prime minister, whose extreme wealth in comparison to the struggles that many people face is truly obscene.” He also points out that in the US, 80% of citizens are only two paycheques away from being homeless.
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Coleman’s signature theme of warning about potential worldwide calamities has persisted since his first tracks like Turn to Red in 1979 and the iconic Wardance from 1980. However, his outlook on the future has only become more bleak. He strongly believes that the economy is on the cusp of a collapse that will surpass any previous occurrences, leading to famine, conflict, and a stark divide between the upper class and an increasingly marginalized lower class. Another topic that holds his interest is the rising tensions between nations. After residing near the border of Ukraine and collaborating with ensembles in Russia, Coleman could sense an impending war.
People in Russia have frequently approached me to discuss their sense of being surrounded, he explains. The lack of strategic communication and increasing tensions were also factors in my decision to leave Europe. Like others, there are times when I cannot stomach the constant barrage of negative news. Our priorities seem skewed, with more attention given to weapons of mass destruction than to our own healthcare systems. The Doomsday Clock is ticking closer to midnight, but it seems as though many people are apathetic to the gravity of the situation.
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The speaker is concerned that a nuclear conflict could occur unintentionally due to the reliance on AI in defense systems. They believe that misinterpretations between AI could lead to disastrous outcomes. Other musicians have also expressed concerns about AI, and the speaker warns that it could lead to transhumanism, where some individuals will have greatly enhanced intelligence and access to life extension technology while others will not. This could result in a visible division between two types of humans in the future. The speaker acknowledges that their beliefs may sound like science fiction, but they note that their previous songs have made accurate predictions, such as the release of a song predicting the Falklands war shortly before it occurred. They see their music as a warning for humanity.
Rewritten:
The band’s 2022 EP, Lord of Chaos, features Walker’s final contributions before his passing. These recordings were made after a challenging two years, which included Coleman’s near-death experience in Mexico due to a diabetic coma in 2021. Life in Killing Joke is always eventful, but Coleman recalls their last conversation where Walker expressed his desire to not continue with the original lineup. Despite Coleman’s attempts to persuade him otherwise, Walker passed away.
Walker was the second member of the band Killing Joke to pass away before their expected time. In 2007, Paul Raven, who had taken over for Youth for a period of time before all four original members reunited in 2008, died at the age of 46. “But I have faith in the idea of reincarnation and the enduring presence of our ancestors,” explains Coleman. “I believe that Raven and Geordie are still together. There are moments when I can sense their presence, so their desires for the future of the band will be taken into consideration.”
Source: theguardian.com
