Killing Joke

When I interviewed Jaz Coleman three years ago he terrified me out of my wits — and I don't scare easily. He took my CD player to bits "looking for drugs" and laughed like his head was splitting apart and a demon was trying to climb out of his mouth. This manic energy is still intact despite the fact security have just tried to tell him off backstage for smoking weed. The audacity! People stand opened mouthed: ". . . B-b-but, they're brilliant . . ." Indeed.

Never one of the 'sanctioned' post-punk bands, KJ nevertheless combined wiry angularity and a healthy respect for disco, electro, dub and funk before succumbing to the temptations of the orthodox gothic and then becoming reborn as industrial. First two album highlights plus 'Change', 'Pssyche' and 'Turn To Red'. Laugh? I nearly bought a T-shirt.

JD