[kj] happy christmas (sic)

[Alexander Smith]

Hmmm. Well, I guess. But to not take into account the work and 
involvement of Mike Coles and Malicious Damage in the history of the 
band is a herculean act of blind sightedness. At the very least, Mike 
could have been either brought on board or informed of a new, at least 
AMICABLE arrangement in a much less needlessly hostile manner, given 
not only his storied contributions the organization but his continued 
support and web presence when the band's own  "official web site" sucks 
from a grotesque teat of rancid, tepid bean paste (go ahead, tell me 
I'm wrong on that point...no really, step on up and defend it!)

To read Jaz frothing at the mouth about how Dave Grohl (who played on a 
whopping ONE album of the `Joke's) is "FUCKING FAMILY, MAN, HE'S 
FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY!" (see Kerrang article of April 2003), yet 
(apparently) coldly dismissing arguably the band's fifth member (so to 
speak) who was involved from the get-go strikes me as rather prime cut 
of.....hmmmm.....what's the word? Ah yes.....HYPOCRISY.

Let me just say this and attempt not to sound ridiculously histrionic: 
Killing Joke mean a very great deal to me (as I suspect they do to most 
if not all of you as well, hence your involvement here on the 
Gathering). They're *NOT* just another silly rock band whose music I 
happen to like to dance around air-guitaring to. I spend my days 
soaking non-believers in my vitriolic spittle when they dare speak ill 
of the Joke or opine without any semblance of credible knowledge about 
them. Say something bad about, say, the Buzzcocks and I'll just think 
you're an idiotic dick (and I'll invariably be right), but say 
something bad about Killing Joke, and pugilism becomes a viable 
outcome. I can and have defended them well beyond the pale of decent 
human conduct. It's not just time-filling pop music to me. I've found 
solace and strength in the music of Killing Joke when the rest of my 
life was in tumult. I've made friends and formed lasting relationships 
based on the unlikely foundation of Killing Joke (had my wife not owned 
the 7" of "Love Like Blood," who knows if I'd have called her for a 
second date?) For better or worse, Killing Joke have become a bigger 
part of my life than probably should be considered healthy.

So, to hear them pulling disingenuous, ill-considered stunts like these 
is something I find rather hugely depressing. Killing Joke owe me 
nothing. My fanaticism for their music is wholly my own doing and my 
own projection. But, at the very least, Killing Joke should live up to 
their own loftily-preached standards.

I've had four beers on an empty stomach. Does it show?

Ale xin NYC









On Sunday, December 26, 2004, at 11:02 PM, J E S T E R wrote:

> Alexander Smith wrote:
>
>>
>> Who is Matt Luxom? Is he the Karl Rove of the New Management?
>>
>> Depressing.
>>
>> Alex in NYC
>
> Matt is the fellow that has been a long time friend of Geordie and 
> Coleman. He is the one who does the official web site. He also stated 
> back in May that "all things Killing Joke would be handled by official 
> means", and by their "new and more powerful official web presence".
>
> Jester
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