• Artist: Killing Joke
• Title: Eighties
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Tower Records in DC.
• Keeper: Yes

This is the song folks, Killing Joke’s “Eighties” that Nirvana famously ripped off for their own hit “Come As You Are.” It’s pretty much note-for-note the same song, just a little slower and less intense when Nirvana does it. At this point Killing Joke was kinda weirding out, but this is one my favorite songs ever. There are also a couple remixes on this 12 inch single. They’re interesting enough, but I love the original just the way it is. Every time I hear it I want to start a band just so we can play a cover. Even the video is cool, in an eighties sort of way.

• Artist: Killing Joke
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 10 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: I really don’t know when or where, but it was a long time ago.
• Keeper: Yes

Yes, the name of this live Killing Joke EP is “HA”, in quotes. It’s in an oddball format, 10 inch vinyl. I have only a handful of 10 inch records, and I have no idea why they ever bothered making them this size. This was recorded at what sounds like a small to medium sized club, Larry’s Hideaway, Toronto. Somehow Killing Joke manage to produce their usual heavy and dense sound, even out of the studio, and I think the excellent drumming is a big part of that. Overall, it’s OK, but it is Killing Joke.

The six songs are:
“Pssyche” (not a typo!)
“Sun Goes Down”
“The Pandys Are Coming”
“Take Take Take”
“Unspeakable”
“Wardance”

Check out the official site for Killing Joke.

• Artist: Killing Joke
• Title: Killing Joke
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure when or where, just glad I have it.
• Keeper: Yes

I am ex-haus-ted. I stayed up way too late and then went to meet my friend Ollen Douglass for breakfast, at 8 AM! It’s a modern world; who gets up that early? On top of that today has been a packing frenzy, because tomorrow I’ll be useless. I’m getting surgery to remove a plate and eight screws from my clavicle. Fun!

This Killing Joke record is probably in my all-time top five. I can’t begin to describe how unique and just plain excting it is. They influenced way more bands than most people know. Metallica had the class to cover their song “The Wait” from this album. They have even been successfully plagerized. A lot has been written about how Nirvana stole the riff from a later Killing Joke song, “Eighties”, for their hit “Come As You Are.” Keyboards and heavy riffs together and it works beyond belief. Faith No More should’ve followed this example.

I highly recommend this article about Killing Joke at Wikipedia.