Photo by Lorne Thomson / Redferns via Getty Images
Killing Joke's Kevin "Geordie" Walker has died. He was 64.
According to a statement posted to the post-punk band's official Instagram, the pioneering guitarist passed away on Sunday morning (November 26) after suffering a stroke. The post went on to say that say that Walker passed away in Prague surrounded by family before expressing his bandmates' "devastation" at the news.
Hailing from northeast England, Walker joined Killing Joke alongside bassist Martin "Youth" Glover in 1979 after responding to an ad in Melody Maker by vocalist Jaz Coleman and drummer Paul Ferguson. Apart from Coleman, Walker was the only consistent member of the band until his death. He was also a founding member of Murder, Inc. and The Damage Manual.
Citing Lee "Scratch" Perry and Public Image Ltd. as inspirations in his early work, Walker's dense, multilayered sound had an immeasurable impact on the shoegaze, goth, and industrial rock scenes, with his style acting as inspiration for artists like Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields, and Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor citing him as an influence. Known for using controversial imagery and unconventional live performances, Killing Joke first obtained mainstream success with 1985's Night Time with songs "Love Like Blood" and "Eighties."
