Just learned that Kevin "Geordie" Walker, the guitarist for Killing Joke, passed away on Sunday (11.26.2023). He was 64.
This one hits hard. KJ is one of my favorite bands of all time and Geordie's guitar playing was ground-breaking, either verging on noise and abrasiveness or massive shards of beauty and light and was a huge influence on my own guitar playing and songwriting.
I'll be playing KJ all day.
From the Guardian obit:
"The band wrote in a statement on Sunday: 'It is with extreme sadness we confirm that at 6.30am on 26th November 2023 in Prague, Killing Joke’s legendary guitarist Kevin ‘Geordie’ Walker passed away after suffering a stroke, he was surrounded by family. We are devastated. Rest In Peace brother.'"
Killing Joke - Love Like Blood (Official Video)
"Another Killing Joke re-formation came in 2003, with a self-titled album featuring longtime fan Dave Grohl on drums; similarities have long been noted between the riffs on Killing Joke’s Eighties and Nirvana’s Come As You Are."
Killing Joke - Eighties
(2007 Digital Remaster)
From Guardian obit:
"Other admirers included Metallica, who covered The Wait; Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, who called Walker’s guitar sound “really, really strong … really intense”; and Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine, who cited Walker as a key influence in a 2013 Guardian interview, heralding “this effortless playing producing a monstrous sound”.
Killing Joke - Change
(2005 Digital Remaster)
Killing Joke - Follow The Leaders
(No lockstep conformity in this video escapes, not only dictatorial militarism, but punk rock and everything in between .)
https://youtu.be/u7Q80Jsko6E
Killing Joke - Kings And Queens (2007 Digital Remaster)
“We are devastated by the news of our brother’s sudden passing,” said Paul Ferguson. “Our collective look forwards have come to naught and the maestro strummed his last glorious chords. I was honoured to play in the band with him, a rare talent and wit who suffered no fools. Rest In Peace Geords.”
Killing Joke - Adorations
Geordie on the left (stage right) playing the gold Gibson ES-295 (1952) that was a part of him and he played on everything.
#RipGeordieWalker
#CoSoMusic
https://youtu.be/qV-cYH8udSk