Paul Raven
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The body of Paul Raven — who played bass for seminal post-punk/ industrial outfit Killing Joke before later working with Ministry, Prong and Godflesh — was discovered Saturday in a home in Geneva, Switzerland, according to Ministry's publicist. Early indications are that Raven, 46, died of a heart attack.

Raven was in Geneva working with French industrial band Treponem Pal, who are reuniting for a new album with singer Marco Neves, Prong/Jesu drummer Ted Parsons and members of the Young Gods.

Raven's body was apparently discovered by Parsons, according to a post on the drummer's MySpace page. He said he went out drinking with Raven and the rest of the collaborators the night before Raven's body was found.

"I found Raven asleep in a chair the next morning in [a] living room," he explained. "I thought nothing of it, as Raven would sleep like this on the tour bus in the front lounge all the time. Then I looked closer at him, and he looked very gray. I checked his pulse and there was none. I yelled for the other guys in the band. We immediately did some CPR and called for an ambulance. Medics arrived quickly, but after an hour of trying to get his heartbeat back, they could not save him. They said he died in his sleep, probably around 6 a.m. It was then 9:30 a.m. Words can't describe how I feel right now. I'm devastated. He will be missed by many."

Parsons added the news of Raven's death "deeply saddens" him and that they were to be in Geneva for a week working on the Treponem Pal record.

Ministry's Al Jourgensen expressed shock at Raven's passing. "The world of music is a sadder, emptier place," he wrote in a statement. "Not only was Raven an extraordinary talent, but one of my closest, dearest friends. Our condolences and prayers go to his immediate family. He will be truly missed by artists, musicians and his fans the world over."

Raven made a name for himself with his work with Killing Joke, which he joined in 1982, replacing original bassist Youth. He recorded and toured with the band as it achieved some commercial success, lending his talents to 1983's Fire Dances, 1985's Night Time and 1986's Brighter Than a Thousand Suns. He left the band during the recording of 1988's Outside the Gate but later rejoined the fold for 1990's Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions.

When Killing Joke called it quits in 1991, Raven and his bandmates — save frontman Jaz Coleman — went on to form Murder, Inc., adding singer Chris Connelly to the mix. Raven also participated in Pigface, a project conceived by Murder Inc./ Killing Joke/ Public Image Ltd. drummer Martin Atkins, and later joined Prong for 1994's Cleansing and 1996's Rude Awakening.

He then rejoined Killing Joke for the band's 2003 eponymous effort and its 2006 follow-up, Hosannas From the Basements of Hell. Raven began working with Jourgensen and Ministry in 2005, eventually appearing on 2006's Rio Grande Blood and this year's The Last Sucker. Raven's most recent work was with Mob Research, a band featuring members of Warrior Soul and the Mission UK. Its debut LP is expected to hit stores next year.

• Ministry
• Killing Joke

Killing Joke
Photo: Cooking Vinyl

Their music has amassed disciples ranging from Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden to the LCD Soundsystem. Their songs have been covered by everyone from Metallica to Sarah McLachlan — and there was even a mash-up combining one of their singles with Christina Aguilera's "Make Over" making the rounds not too long ago.

Despite this, Killing Joke, one of the more notorious bands to arise from the pyre of late-'70s British punk, is hardly a household name here in the States. Lead singer Jaz Coleman, laughing down the phone from Cologne, Germany, where the band is touring to promote its latest album, Hosannas From the Basement of Hell, doesn't care. "I get a f---ing CD every week with a Killing Joke cover song — and they all go in the bin [garbage].

"We don't have anything to do with fashion!" he bellowed. "We're a sound and a lifestyle. Hahahahaha!" Coleman, a self-described "black jester," has a disconcerting tendency to punctuate his declarations with a robust laugh that suggests a tenuous grasp on sanity. For nearly three decades, he, along with guitarist Geordie Walker, has fused the stealth of punk to the wallop of heavy metal and a relentless tribal beat, resulting in a sound that has managed to elude classification over 12 studio albums. Their quest, in the words of original drummer "Big Paul" Ferguson, is to emulate "the sound of the earth vomiting."

Hosannas, recorded in the Czech capital of Prague, "for me, is really special," Coleman explained. "We all went collectively to Prague and hammered out loads of demons and had a great time with the beautiful excesses that a beautiful city like Prague provides. We recorded in an inferior studio with a wine cellar below it — where we actually put the drums down. I think it was probably one of the most honest Killing Joke albums, if you're looking at the band's collected input. Everyone hammered out their demons. It was a huge pressure on everyone. Hahahahaha!"

The result finds the band in feral form, anchored by Walker's signature guitar maelstrom. "Killing Joke's never been better," Coleman enthused. "Working with Geordie Walker — he's a magic player. It's my deepest pleasure to have spent more years with him and more time with him than my own blood [-related] brother."

Indeed, while Walker has been Coleman's foil through nearly all of the band's colorful career, the rhythm section has had a near-Spinal Tap-level rate of attrition. Since original drummer Ferguson left the band in 1987, the band has played host to Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd., Ministry, Pigface), Ted Parsons (Swans, Prong) and even a guest stint from Dave Grohl. Grohl loaned his talents to the band's eponymous 2003 album, putting to rest the hostility between Killing Joke and Nirvana following a lawsuit over the similarity between Nirvana's "Come As You Are" and Joke's "Eighties" (the suit was dropped after Kurt Cobain's death).

Boasting a history fraught with bouts of madness, infighting, flirtation with the occult, several informal breakups and flights to the far corners of the earth (Coleman briefly abandoned the band in the early '80s, retreating to Iceland when he became convinced that the world was about to end), Killing Joke may not have achieved global dominance — but they have left a lasting legacy. Last year, they won popular British heavy metal magazine Kerrang's Lifetime Achievement award. "I was only 45 when I got it," Coleman laughed. "That's probably the youngest lifetime-achievement award you're going to get! [But] everyone knows who we are, from Jimmy Page right on through. You don't have to shout out about it."

When not onstage with the band (where he's usually dressed in war paint), Coleman is an accomplished composer who has written operas and worked with some of the world's greatest symphony orchestras, is an expert in Maori music (the indigenous people of New Zealand) and contributed to the score of Disney's "Mulan" film, among others. But it's his work with the Joke — he's currently planning a summer North American tour as well as another LP — that gives him balance.

"For me, Killing Joke will always be how I deal with my anger," he said, "how I deal with waking up to this world where we're basically destroying everything. It's how I deal with my sleep deprivation — because I can't ever seem to sleep without sedatives. It's my exorcism, it's my catharsis and it is a tradition, and not just for me — there's actually quite a lot of people out there who love the ceremony of it also."

• Killing Joke
• Metallica
• Dave Grohl

That Smash Mouth, always sweet-talkin' the ladies. "You are My Number One" is the first single from Get the Picture? and acts as the band's requisite summer single. Also on the album are the succinctly summarized tunes "Hot" and "Fun."

Killing Joke's latest self-titled album features drumming by Dave Grohl. Meanwhile, the Libertines release the EP I Get Along alongside '60s guitar god Jeff Beck's Jeff and Junior Senior's Euro-pop album D-D-Don't Stop the Beat.

Blues Traveler get honest on Truth Be Told, on which the jam band makes an effort to keep its songs from wandering. On the other hand, drummer Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, the Vandals) drops a solo album under the name Stripsearch and tries his hand at some improvisational sounds. The self-titled album features his brother and music mate Jason Freese on the saxophone, plus bass player Mike Elizondo (Eminem) and guitarist Michael Ward (Wallflowers).

Finally, with the exception of a song extolling the virtues of Zoloft and some routine wordplay, wacky Ween tone down their act a bit and get more serious on Quebec. Ooh la la.

Out Tuesday, August 5:

• Paolo Angeli - Bucato (ReR/Cuneiform)
• Arraya - Arraya (Volcom)
• Jeff Beck - Jeff (Sony)
• Terence Blanchard - Bounce (Blue Note)
• Blast - Alta Strata (ReR/Cuneiform)
• Blue October - History for Sale (Universal)
• Blues Traveler - Truth Be Told (Sanctuary)
  Buy Now: Truth Be Told (Sanctuary)
  
• BT - Emotional Technology (Nettwerk)
  Read:"BT Secretive About 'NSYNC Payback On Upcoming Album"
  
• Canterbury Music Festival - Rain & Shine (Rev-Ola)
• Nikki Cleary - Nikki Cleary (Jive)
• Cruxshadows - Frozen Embers (Dancing Ferret)
• Division of Laura Lee - Trapped In (Burning Heart)
• Enchant - Tug of War (Inside Out)
• Found Cats - Full Gospel Rockabilly (Golly Gee)
• Funker Vogt - Revivor (Metropolis)
• Jeff Golub - Soul Sessions (GRP)
• Shaun Groves - Twilight (Rocketown)
• Hocico - Disidencia Inquebrantable (EP, Metropolis)
• Hyperions - Under My Sombrero (Surprise Truck)
• Javier - Javier (Capitol/Priority)
• Wynonna Judd - What the World Needs Now Is Love (Curb)
• The Juliana Theory - Live 10.13.2001 (Tooth & Nail)
• Junior Senior - D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat (Atlantic)
  Read: "Junior Senior: Anarchistic Odd Couple Wants To 'Move Your Feet'"
  Buy Now: D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat (Atlantic)
  
• Killing Joke - Killing Joke (Red Ink)
• Lake Trout - Another One Lost (RX/Palm Pictures)
• Ben Lee - Hey You. Yes You. (F2 Music)
• Jeffrey Lewis - It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through (Sanctuary/Rough Trade)
• Libertines - I Get Along (EP, Sanctuary/Rough Trade)
• Charlotte Martin - In Parentheses (EP, RCA)
• Mr. Criminal - Criminal Mentality (Thump)
• New Amsterdams - Worse for the Wear (Vagrant)
• Pinebender - The High Price of Living Too Long With a Single Dream (Lovitt)
• The Poor - Poor (Rev-Ola)
• Robert Randolph & the Family Band - Unclassified (Dare/Reprise)
• Don Ross - Robot Monster (Narada)
• Rachael Sage - Public Record (Mpress)
• Smash Mouth - Get the Picture? (Interscope)
  Buy Now: Get the Picture? (Interscope)
  
• Steadman - Revive (Elektra)
• Stripsearch - Stripsearch (Magna Carta)
• Tampa Tony - Y-Not (Empire Musicwerks BMG)
• The Derek Trucks Band - Soul Serenade (Sony)
• Turbulence - The Truth (Sanctuary/Ras)
• Velvet Acid Christ - Hex Angel: Utopia-Dystopia (Metropolis)
• Ween - Quebec (Sanctuary)
• Luther Wright and the Wrongs - Guitar Pickin' Martyrs (Back Porch)
• Various artists - Supertones Surf (Golly Gee)
• Various artists - "Uptown Girls" soundtrack (Nettwerk)

August 12:

• Pat Benatar - Go (Bel Chiasso)
• Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar (Vagrant)
  Read: "Dashboard Confessional Singer Heals Scars, Stops Singing The Blues On New LP"
  Buy Now: A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar (Vagrant)
  

August 19:

• Kraftwerk - Tour de France Soundtracks (Astralwerks)
• Neil Young - Greendale (Warner Bros.)
• Various artists - Neptunes Presents: Clones (Arista)
  Read: "Summer Music Preview: Neptunes' Star Trak Presents ... Clones"
  Buy Now: Neptunes Presents: Clones (Arista)
  
• Bow Wow - Unleashed (Columbia)
  Buy Now: Unleashed (Columbia)
  

August 26:

• Hilary Duff - Metamorphosis (Disney)
  Read: "Hilary Duff: Not Just For Kids"
  Buy Now: Metamorphosis (Disney)
  
• Peter Frampton - Now (33rd St.)
• Anthony Hamilton - Coming From Where I'm From (Arista) Read: "Eve, D'Angelo Can Testify: Anthony Hamilton Is 'Hellified Powerful' "
  Buy Now: Coming From Where I'm From (Arista)
  
• Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (La Face)
  Buy Now: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (La Face)
  
• Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - Songs in the Key of Poop (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Eminem Enemy Triumph Previews LP; Beefs With Bow Wow, Benji"

September 2:

• Mariah Carey - Remixes (Sony)

September 9:

• John Mayer - Heavier Things (Sony)
  Read: "John Mayer Tries Hip-Hop With Help From Roots' ?uestlove"
• Seal - Seal (Warner Bros.)

September 16:

• Elvis Costello - North (Universal)
• Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance (Interscope)
  Read: "Bubba Sparxxx Softens Bumpkin Image, Teams Up With Justin For A 'Hootnanny' "
  
• Carnie Wilson - For the First Time (KMA)

October 7:

• Jin - Almost Famous (Virgin)
  Read: "Ruff Ryders' New Dog: Jin"

• Smash Mouth
• Killing Joke
• Junior Senior
• The Libertines
• Blues Traveler

What up, fellow metalists, how's it been going? Things are good here, lots of cool stuff to report here on "Metal File" this week. There's been so much going on that it's hard to figure out what to talk about first. I guess the biggest thing for me right now is that I'm going to listen to the new Metallica record, which by all reports is quite good — back to the old Metallica we all know and love. I'll fill you guys in on my feelings on it next week. As far as this week goes, I'm stoked on the new Cattle Decapitation album, that should be really good. I mean, with a title like "Humanure," how can you go wrong? The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival just added Superjoint Ritual and Meshuggah, kicking the festival up another notch. The whole thing will go down May 16-17, and it's gonna be huge. Definitely jump on over to www.metalandhardcorefestival.com and find out more about it. Another big tour to think about spending your hard-earned cash on is the North American Contamination Tour 2003, which kicks off May 2 in Memphis, Tennessee. This is the tour with Mastodon, Cephalic Carnage, Dysrhythmia and Uphill Battle — doubtful you'll find a more extreme tour happening this summer. Well, dig into the metal file and hopefully it'll turn you on to something cool. Remember, if metal for you is Linkin Park or Finch, this might be too extreme for you.

Napalm Death are putting together a two-CD set for release this summer on Earache. Noise for Music's Sake will feature one CD of tracks from the band's 10-album career with Earache and a second CD of rare recordings, including previously unreleased material from Napalm's early days. ... Swedish death/thrash metal outfit In Flames have finalized the track listing for their EP, Trigger, due June 17 on Nuclear Blast: "Trigger" (single edition), the new "Watch Them Feed," a cover of Genesis' "Land of Confusion," "Cloud Connected" (Club Connected Remix) and "Moonshield" (C64 Karaoke Version). In Flames are also gearing up to head out on a massive U.S. tour with Soilwork. ...

Killing Joke will now title their new album The Death and Resurrection Show. It's to be released on their own Malicious Damage label in June. As reported, Dave Grohl will guest on drums. ... Long-running Christian metal band Living Sacrifice have named Cory Putman as replacement for guitarist, vocalist and founding member Bruce Fitzhugh, who will exit amicably following a few more appearances. For touring commitments next month, the Blamed guitarist Bryan Grey will fill in for Rocky Gray, who is currently drumming for Evanescence. ...

Amorphis' long-awaited 10th anniversary CD, Chapters, will be issued by Relapse in deluxe packaging on June 3. In addition to the highlights of Amorphis' career, Chapters also contains some special surprises, extensive liner notes and a DVD-ROM. ... God Forbid have issued a statement saying that rumors about Byron Davis no longer singing for the band are false. God Forbid are currently writing new material for their next album. ... The two-day New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will be preserved for posterity on DVD and released later this year. Taking place May 16 and 17 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the fifth annual metal extravaganza features Superjoint Ritual, Meshuggah, the Haunted, Shadows Fall and Opeth. ...

Carnal Forge will release their new album, The More You Suffer, on April 22. ... In the wake of the successful inaugural Relapse Records Contamination Festival, the label has announced the North American Contamination Tour 2003, featuring Mastodon, Cephalic Carnage, Dillinger Escape Plan, Dysrhythmia and more. The 22-city tour kicks off May 2 in Memphis, Tennessee, and runs through May 23 in Lansing, Michigan. ... Following several dates with The Haunted and an appearance at the Syracuse, New York, Hellfest, Bleeding Through will enter the studio to begin recording the follow-up to last year's Portrait of the Goddess. The Orange County, California, metal band, which features former Eighteen Visions guitarist Brandon Schieppati on vocals, is eyeing an October release for the album, their first for the Trustkill label. ...

Almost a year after they were served with a cease and desist order from another band who shared the name, hardcore luminaries American Nightmare have changed their name to Give up the Ghost. Their 2001 album, Background Music, will be re-released this summer under the new moniker. ... Also on the name change front, Louisville, Kentucky's Black Widows — who count members of Endpoint, By the Grace of God and The National Acrobat among their ranks — have changed their name to Black Cross following a similar dispute with another band. The group recently completed its debut album with über-producer and former Jawbox frontman J. Robbins. ...

With their members now close to fully recovered from an early 2002 van accident, New Orleans metal merchants Soilent Green are kicking back into gear with newly added bassist Scott Crochet and second guitarist Tony White and hope to enter the studio by the end of the year to record a follow-up to 2001's A Deleted Symphony for the Beaten Down. ... In spite of last year's "farewell tour" in support of their Parade of Chaos album, the most recent lineup of the band Zao is discussing the possibility of recording at least one more album, as well as plans to appear at this summer's Cornerstone Festival. ... Veteran Seattle band Nevermore plan to mix Enemies of Reality,, the follow-up to 2000's critically well-received Dead Heart in a Dead World, next month for a late July release. The group enlisted Queensÿrche/ Dokken producer Kelly Gray for its latest effort. ...

—Compiled by Iann Robinson, Ryan Downey and Joe D'Angelo

• Metallica
• Napalm Death
• In Flames
• Killing Joke
• Living Sacrifice

If all goes according to the current plan -- which is not a sure bet in the world of Guns n' Roses -- Axl Rose will be going into the studio with Killing Joke bassist Youth, the co-producer of The Verve's "Urban Hymns."

A spokesperson for Geffen would neither confirm nor deny the story, but insiders say that Youth is the flavor of the month and is expected to record the band this summer. Previous negotiations have taken place with Moby and Mike Clink.

Guns n' Roses these days (probably) are Axl Rose, lead guitarist Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails), Axl buddy guitarist Paul Huge, off-and-on former Gn'R keyboardist Dizzy Reed, and most likely drummer Josh Freese. There may even be a chance that Tommy Stinson will lay down some bass tracks. Stinson, formerly of the Replacements, has adamantly denied to press sources his ongoing involvement in the project but insiders confirm he's been hanging out in the studio.

Youth and the band are still months away from recording, however. Rose and cohorts are reportedly still in writing mode with no completed songs at this time.

Killing Joke reformed as a trio in 1994 after a long hiatus and have released new two records, "Pandemonium" and "Democracy." But while the band is primarily known as an industrial, goth-oriented quasi-metal band, Youth (born Martin Glover Youth) has a more diverse background. He's worked on projects with Fine Young Cannibals, James, Bananarama, Crowded House, The Orb, Polly Jean Harvey, Nick Cave and U2.

The Geffen spokesperson says while it's possible a new Guns n' Roses album will be released this year, it's highly unlikely.

• Guns N' Roses
• Killing Joke