Killing Joke preview

Killing Joke
House Of Blues, Chicago
Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Consider yourselves lucky, Chicagoans. Not only is Killing Joke coming to town for one of only four United States dates, it’s bringing the original lineup.

Seminal U.K. band Killing Joke don’t come around much anymore, so just the fact they are is news enough. The fact frontman Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker are bringing along bassist Youth and drummer Paul Ferguson is huge. Ferguson hasn’t been part of the group in more than 20 years, and Youth hasn’t played live with the band since 1994. The bassist is supposedly a co-producer for Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy (he has also recorded The Verve, Crowded House, and Dido, among others), so his leisure time to tour with Killing Joke means either A. the album is done, or B. there is no album.

So why the special tour? How about a special album? Caroline Records will release The Peel Sessions ’79-’81 the very same day Killing Joke visits our city. The 17 tracks that comprise the record were recorded during a span of two years and five, live-in-studio sessions on John Peel and Richard Skinner’s programs. Many of them pre-date the actual album versions and are presented “un-dubbed,” which is scary considering how good they sound.

The band is only performing songs from the era represented on Peel Sessions during this tour, but, according to its official Web site, hope to have a new, original-lineup, record out in January.

Ascension Of The Watchers opens

— Trevor Fisher>/em>

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly