(From Whiskey Soda, German music magazine, 21 October 2007)

Bassist Paul Raven (Killing Joke, Ministry) gestorben!

Bassist Paul Raven ist gestern an den Folgen eines Herzinfarkts gestorben. Er war 46 Jahre alt.

Bekannt geworden ist Paul Raven als Bassist bei Killing Joke, wo er 1982 einstieg. Er ist auf den Alben "Fire Dances", "Night Time", "Brighter Than A Thousand Suns", "Killing Joke" und "Hosannas From The Basements Of Hell" zu hören. Raven spielte zeitweise auch in weiteren Bands und Projekten wie z.B. bei Prong oder Godflesh.

Seit 2005 arbeitete er eng mit Ministry-Mastermind Al Jourgensen zusammen und ist auf den beiden letzten Studioalben der Band, "Rio Grande Blood" und "The Last Sucker", zu hören.

Zum Zeitpunkt seines Todes arbeitete er in Genf an einem neuen Album von Treponem Pal.

Ted Parsons (Prong, Godflesh, Jesu), der den leblosen Paul Raven als ersten fand, hat dieses Statement veröffentlicht:

"It deeply saddens me to tell you that legendary bass player and friend Paul Raven died yesterday morning of a heart failure in Geneva, Switzerland at around 6:00 a.m.

Paul and myself were invited to play on the new TREPONEM PAL album in Geneva for a week. After a long day of recording, the band went out for drinks to celebrate Paul's arrival and reminisce. We then went back to the house we were staying and I went to bed the other guys stayed up.

I found Raven asleep in a chair the next morning in the living room. I thought nothing of it as Raven would sleep like this on the tour bus in the front lounge all the time. Then I looked closer at him and he looked very gray. I checked his pulse and there was none. I yelled for the other guys in the band. We immediately did some CPR and called for an ambulance. Medics arrived quickly but after an hour of trying to get his heart beat back they could not save him. They said he died in his sleep probably around 6 a.m. It was then 9:30 a.m.

Marco and myself have been contacting his family all day yesterday. I'm assuming a funeral service will be held in Wolverhampton, UK where his family live and his birthplace.

We made a lot of great music together.
Words can't describe how I feel right now. I'm devastated.
He will be missed by many.
He was the king of the one-liners.
Please send Raven and his family love and light."

Reza Udhin von Killing Joke kommentierte Pauls Tod wie folgt:

"Paul was a very amazing man who I loved and trusted very much. He always had great ideas, ventures and always looked out for me as if I were a little brother to him.

I was very fortunate to be in contact with him several times in his last week and I had great conversations with him, we laughed and joked, which was an integral part of his personality.

We had so much more to do, especially with his own personal project Mob Research, which I know he was extremely excited about.

I don't know what more to say, as this is such an unexpected happening for me, as we were only talking a short time ago. I can't believe he is gone.

Paul will be greatly missed by music fans, friends and mostly his family; his bands will miss him terribly. He was a great man and a unique bass player who has died at such a tragically early age.

Love to you, brother. I miss you."

Auch Al Jourgensen (Ministry) hat sich bereits zu Wort gemeldet:

"I am in total shock. The world of music is a sadder, emptier place. Not only was Raven an extraordinary talent, but one of my closest dearest friends. Our condolences and prayers go to his immediate family. He will be truly missed by artists, musicians and his fans the world over.

The one consolation is knowing Raven's already hooked up with the right people and started a new project in the After Life.

God's speed, Raven. Rest in peace, you fucking pirate."

Eine Tribut-Website für Paul Raven findet Ihr hier.