(From No. 1 , UK music magazine, 14 April 1984.)

Joker In The Pack

A Killing Joke is a situation or an event that is funny- yet shouldn't be. A terrorist blowing himself up is a literal killing joke.

Jaz of the group Killing Joke, who have the 'Eighties' single out looks at the killing jokes in his own life.

Interview by Paul Bursche

1. REBELLIOUS YOUTH

I was born in Cheltenham. I was a choirboy for years and years in the cathedral choir. Then I was a member of the National Youth Orchestra; I played violin very well.

I was totally straight up to the age of 14, and a very talented musician. Then I discovered rhythm and deviated sharply.

2. POLITICAL AMBITIONS

I'm a punk who ridicules the government, but I don't believe in democracy.

I think the only way forward for man is synchronicity with nature and there's no other way. That's why I won't go into politics.

People think I'm street cred and all that, but my life style is completely opposed to all of that. I have a very nice house in Portobello Road, Notting Hill, with a nice balcony and big marble rooms. I also have a place in Geneva where my Swiss girlfriend lives.

I spend a great deal of time travelling and living beyond my means. I've a passion for flying all different airlines. I also enjoy ski-ing with half a bottle of whisky inside me.

I always attract very very possessive women but at the moment I've got five girlfriends in London alone - and they all know each other. There's a joke in the band that one day I'm going to be stabbed to death by one of them.

5. CARE FOR THE FUTURE  

My greatest aspiration is musically portray the way I world going for the next thousand years, in social structure and politics and all sorts of things.

But all I want to do is settle down in a hot land with lots of beautiful women. HA HA.