(From Chemical Toilet, UK music paper, 23 October 2007)

Killing Joke Bassist, Paul Raven, Dies

Killing Joke's bassist, Paul Raven, died in Geneva on Saturday. Raven, born in '61, had been recording with the band Treponem Pal in the Swiss city when he passed away unexpectedly after going to bed.

Speaking after learning of Raven's death, Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman paid tribute to his bandmate saying: "We are all deeply stricken with grief at the unannounced departure of possibly the funniest man on planet Earth and a brother to us all." Raven's brother Dan added: "We are in deep shock and we miss him a great deal. We love him."

Killing Joke are one of the most influential English punk bands and formed in 1979. The band strongly influenced bands such as Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Big Black, Metallica, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Faith No More and Korn, all of whom have at some point cited a substantial debt of gratitude to 'The Joke'. A funeral will be held for Raven in the next couple of weeks. For more information go to Killingjoke.com.