[kj] KJ = Anti-Gay Rock Band? This is a new wrinkle...

Rheinhold Squeegee kjlist at live.com
Wed Feb 8 09:53:27 EST 2012



Jaz said a lot of stupid things in the 80's but I'm not sure it is accurate that "unapologetic homophobia has been a driving force in their musical career."

Interesting. I have to wonder if this is some kind of PR subterfuge in search of publicity for the shows and album. Everything quoted is from 25 or more years ago.

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/anti-gay-rock-band-perform-london
Anti-gay rock band to perform in London


Homophobic post-punk rock band Killing Joke returns to the London concert scene
08 February 2012 | By Matthias Pauwels




Killing Joke, the English band which once said it wants to ‘gas’ gays, is to perform around the UK and is allowing children to attend the concert.
Veteran human rights activist Peter Tatchell, who has spearheaded the campaign against anti-gay ‘murder’ music, has called for the gig at The Roundhouse in Camden, north London on 8 March to be cancelled.
The group, infamous for its anti-gay slurs and anti-zionist remarks, described openly gay UK pop star Boy George in 1984 as ‘fag music’, with front-man Jaz Coleman adding ‘I’d have them all rounded up and shoved in a gas chamber.’
Spanning four decades of punk rock with a star-studded following including Morrissey and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Killing Joke is no stranger to controversy. The band’s unapologetic homophobia has been a constant driving force in their musical career.
In a 1985 interview with Melody Maker magazine, the group reiterated its belief that ‘there are still members of this species who should be wiped out.’
The rebellious rockers, aware of their own controversial image, have claimed to feed off the criticism they receive. However, Killing Joke’s founding front-man Jaz Coleman has always condemned the ‘image of thuggery and aggression perpetuated by certain sections of the media which tends to overshadow the band’s music.’
In 1980 the group made headlines when a promotional poster for their debut album featured a priest walking among rows of soldiers offering Fascist salutes.
Tatchell told Gay Star News: ‘The Roundhouse is acting in defiance of its own equality policies by hosting Killing Joke. The band has crossed the line with its extreme prejudice. Unless they apologize, The Roundhouse should cancel their booking.’
GSN repeatedly contacted The Roundhouse to ask for their views but they are yet to comment.
Killing Joke’s London concert is part of the band’s UK tour which will take in Exeter, Bristol, Norwich, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Portsmouth and Oxford. They will release their new studio album MMXII, on 2 April.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://four.pairlist.net/pipermail/gathering/attachments/20120208/186af495/attachment.htm>


More information about the Gathering mailing list