[kj] Geordie

[Harold Grey]

As an 18Y old growing up in NYC in 1981, I would often take up residence in the St Marks Sounds record store uncovering one brilliant sonic gem after another. One night I asked an employee what he was listening to currently. He said “Killing Joke—What’s This For…!” Without even hearing it, I bought the album for $5.99 and brought it home. It took me a few months before I “got it.” But once I did I couldn’t stop playing it. I then picked up the first album and the first Nervous System EP on Island Records. My little Brooklyn mind was blown. 

This was now my band and Geordie was the coolest unsung guitar hero. No solos just great rhythm playing. When Revelations came out, I couldn’t believe the sounds he coaxed out of his guitar—that amazing Gibson ES295. My first time seeing them was at the Pep Lounge in NYC in 1982, shortly after Raven joined. The Bush Tetras opened and I found him in the audience watching the opening band. I followed him downstairs and stopped him. We chatted for a few minutes, me a stupid fan boy going on about the Bush Tetras and asking about the dog barking before Exit on WTF. He noted that writing the second album was much harder as they had been playing the first album’s songs for a year plus. He was cool as fuck. 

I saw them many times over the years whenever they played in NYC. I saw them three times in the NYC area prior to releasing Extremities, when Taif and Martin Atkins were in the band. That was an awesome tour. Saw them play this tiny club in NJ, previewing all the songs on Extremities. Then I got to see them in Finsbury Park in London after Extremities was released. That album was monstrous! 

Geordie was a true original. He created his own unique sound and just didn’t give a shit. Big buzz…