[kj] Jaz as Suicide Bomber Part Deux.

[Alex Smith]

Unlike a few folks here, I don't like to knock the `Joke. I really don't. They're my favorite band for a reason. But I do believe in yelling "bullshit" when I hear it. The band has *never* been above a bit of ominous self-mythologizing and portentuous intonation for the sake of maintaining their arguably violent/scary mystique. Whether that's Geordie clapping and laughing as the planes hit the towers (unsusbstantiated, but tasteless if true) or Jaz talking about recording in "warzones" (Taiwan: not a warzone...."yet"), or the contsantly vague allusions to dabbling in the occult (possibly true) or Jaz supporting theories that he might well indeed be mad (on the DVD interview....a churlish defense mechanism that lets him off the hook for spouting some of the more crocked stuff..i.e. pleading insanity), it seems that the band's M.O. is to keep up a united front that welcomes death (Raven and Youth seem slightly less inclined to this end, admittedly). It just seems at this stage in their august career, they shouldn't still feel the need to court controversy this way. Like Jiri says, it undermines the credibility of the congent things they do have to say. It's frankly juvenile. Leave that crap to Slipknot et al.

In terms of witnessing terrorism from a safe distance, it's all well and good to clap and laugh because it supports your reputation as a doom-mongering soothsayer of the impending apocalypse, but I wager that had it happened on their doorstep or to their loved ones, there isn't a member of Killing Joke who'd have been laughing or cheerily touting "I told ya so!" when the bombs went off and the severed limbs went flying.

And for Jaz to spout crap about "death without fear" and whatnot one moment, then to applaud life so zestily the next ("Age of Greed," "Money is Not Our God," "Love Like Blood," and his contstant mantra-like repetition in interviews that "life is short"), just smacks a bit of hyporcisy.

Alex in NYC






-----Original Message-----
From: Jiri <unspeakable at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Nov 10, 2005 2:03 PM
To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" <gathering at misera.net>
Subject: Re: [kj] Jaz as Suicide Bomber Part Deux.

Thus spaketh Alex in NYC:
 >In the instance of the "Bloodsport" musings, this would be a fair 
postulation, but in an (arguably) candid >interview on the DVD? No.

 >Alex in NYC

Exactly. In a candid interview setting, now you're just getting 
ridiculous and sounding like an idiot. For such a smart (right?) man, he 
sure is an idiotic blowhard and an incompetent communicator. I can even 
potentially conceive, in ways similar to what iPat has said, what Jaz 
might even be after when he says $hit like this, but it's a big, big 
stretch. And for someone as worldly as him, he sure expresses himself 
poorly and lazily (also see the taxes etc. part in the Bruce interview). 
It's all fine and good to stir $hit every now and then--that's the rock 
n' roll way, ha ha--but again, he just does it so lazily and 
irresponsibly...it really waters down the occasions when he actually 
does have something interesting or well-thought-out to say.

Which reminds me of an area of disappointment for me on the last few 
albums: the lyrics. I actually share and/or enjoy quite a lot (though 
certainly not all) of the sentiment in the lyrics on both 2003 and 
Democracy, but he could've done a lot better in terms of articulately 
expressing them. Whereas on BTATS (whether you like it or not), he had 
some pure poetry; and on ExtremitiesDVRE, he had some well-expressed 
rage, and on the first 4 or 5 albums, some great minimalist expression. 
I know he's always talked out of his arse in interviews and such, but on 
the last few albums this sort of laziness has infiltrated his lyrics, I 
think, regressing to the sort of Jaz-by-numbers routine. F*ing babbling 
old man. Damn I like the music though.

Alexander Smith wrote:

>
>
> In the instance of the "Bloodsport" musings, this would be a fair 
> postulation, but in an (arguably) candid interview on the DVD? No.
>
> Alex in NYC
>
>
> On Thursday, November 10, 2005, at 11:43 AM, Papa Lazarou wrote:
>
>     Maybe Jaz was just assuming a character role, in light of current
>     events, where suicide bombers appear to be coming out of the
>     woodwork everywhere....thanks George.
>      
>     Tackhead sang about being Airborne Rangers, I doubt they meant it....
>
>     */nicholas fitzpatrick <gasw30 at hotmail.com>/* wrote:
>
>     How about if we write an open letter to Jaz from the Gathering,
>     expressing
>     our disappointment at his recent comments. Perhaps we could all
>     sign it and
>     send it to the website or the record company.
>     This is a proposed draft:
>
>     Dear Jaz
>
>     We think you are a twat.
>
>     Sincerely
>     The Gathering.
>
>
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