Wait by Killing Joke
December 11, 2004 | 
12 Comments
The Artist: Killing Joke
The Song: Wait
The Album: Killing Joke
Released 1980
Recommended if you like: The Cure, The Sex Pistols, Gang of Four, The Mission, Siouxsie and The Banshees, Danse Society, KMFDM
I realize I’m a day late with the SOW. You gotta love waking up this morning to three semi-heated e-mails asking me where the hell it was and why I’d gone and left people hanging for a whole day like that.
It’s the holidays people, I’ve got a new job—I’m a bit busy! ;)
But enough of that, back to the good stuff. There are going to be all sorts of folks out there who are going to be a bit hacked off that I’m sharing this week’s artists with the general public. Killing Joke are probably one of the 80’s best kept secrets. It’s ironic because their most well known song (you’ve probably heard it) is actually called “Eighties.”
It’s likely you’ve heard that track, and while it’s a good song, it doesn’t really give an accurate picture of what Killing Joke is all about. Then again, that’s no easy task. They were around for quite awhile and their sound changes quite a bit from album to album.
I’ve heard them described as New Wave, Punk, Metal, Goth, Progressive Rock, Industrial and more. They are, and have been, all these things and more. If you give a listen to Night Time, the album on which you’ll find “Eighties”, you may get the impression of a goth rock/ dance band like The Mission. But if you go back to their debut, the album from which this week’s song comes, you’ll get a feel more like early Cure.
My suggestion, if you like this week’s song, and are interested, is to pick up For Beginners, a recently released collection that spans their whole run and offers a great mix of their songs covering all their styles and sounds. It’s a great album and a perfect introduction, heh, “for beginners”, to Killing Joke.
Filed under: Song of The Week
Comments
1. Adrian said:
Great choice! Back then when The Cure, Banshees etc, were getting more ‘arty’, along came Killing Joke with their pounding anthems. This first album, to me at least, was always their best. Requiem and Wardance are my faves from this LP.
Keith, I would include The Sisters of Mercy in your list of similars and possibly The Birthday Party as well. Thanks for your recent trips down memory lane, my recently cleaned vinyl appreciates it too!
Posted on December 11, 2004 02:13 PM | #
2. Keith said:
Adrian – I almost did Sisters of Mercy this week.
Yeah, I’d put them in the RIYL group for Killing Joke, but I’m not sure I’d call them similar.
Glad you’re enjoying my picks!
Posted on December 11, 2004 06:39 PM | #
3. Tom said:
You know, a few years back I had this habit of buying every copy of their first album that I found on vinyl to give as gifts to friends who I thought needed to hear the Killing Joke sound. I think I still have an extra copy or two lying around somewhere.
Posted on December 13, 2004 06:57 AM | #
4. Joe said:
Yea, I liked their 1st album the most as well.
Posted on December 15, 2004 09:16 AM | #
5. mark said:
Yea, their first album was kick butt!
Posted on December 16, 2004 01:21 PM | #
6. Chris Hester said:
My brother had a 7-inch single by them called Blood. It was something really very powerful - amazing!
They reformed recently for a while didn’t they?
Hey, any chance of some Monsoon next? I bought their first 3 12-inches. Great mix of Indian and English pop.
Posted on December 16, 2004 01:44 PM | #
7. Dino Baskovic said:
I dunno…I like Metallica version better :)
Posted on December 16, 2004 05:35 PM | #
8. beth said:
I think I used to listen to them, did they do “Pandemonium”? I think that was Killing Joke. heh. Ps - I’ve added a link to your site, hope that is alright. :)
Posted on December 20, 2004 03:51 PM | #
9. Darrin said:
Killing Joke goodness, thanks for sparking my memory. How could I have forgot them? I’m old, no other explanation :)
Posted on December 20, 2004 10:48 PM | #
10. Christian said:
Here in Peru (South America), we love Killing Joke! Amazing band!
Posted on December 21, 2004 09:09 AM | #
11. Jennifer said:
Just got the album yesterday … so far me likes!
Posted on January 9, 2005 08:31 PM | #
12. Sarah said:
Killing Joke’s Pandemonium in Dub is the most difficult Album I have ever tried to get hold of. Can’t find it anywhere in England.#
Posted on February 2, 2005 01:56 AM | #
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