Killing Joke's founder members' attempt to summon new recruits in a black magic ritual may have appeared far-fetched. But the reality of their musical destiny was, in truth, not that different.
The invocation may not have worked, but the invitation - via the more traditional medium of a music press advert - actually conjured an otherworldly being possessed of a spirit and a sound that transcended the limitations of mere mortals.
Singer Jaz Coleman and drummer Big Paul Ferguson were soon face to face with a 20-year-old who had never played in a band before. Not that it mattered to Geordie Walker.
From the shuddering riffs of The Wait and Pssyche to the oscillating fury of Love Like Blood and Kings and Queens, the man with the golden guitar also had the golden touch.
Covered by Metallica, copied by Nirvana (Come As You Are = Eighties) and cherished by legions of devoted fans, Geordie's guitar sound transcended genre boundaries - beyond post-punk, beyond rock, beyond industrial. Beyond comparison.
And he knew a good thing when he saw it. Having found the magic formula for his bludgeoning guitar style in 1982, he never changed. Same 1952 gold Gibson ES-295 guitar, same heavy strings, same low tuning, same ADT effects pedals, same custom-made Burman amp. Same savage sonic sorcery.
As a (fairly average) guitarist myself, I spent many nights by stage right marvelling at the poise and the power of a motionless Geordie as he unleashed what Coleman once described as "fire from heaven". It really was something to behold and when he passed in late 2023, we lost a generational talent.
Anyone left in any doubt need only listen to the words of Jimmy Page ("really, really strong") or My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields ("monstrous"). Either that or just stick on Killing Joke's self-titled debut album. Even today, it's like listening to a volcano erupt.
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Fantastic, Steve. What a punch to find Geordie in my mind so early in the morning. That's a charge. Cheers!
What a band. What a story. What an immaculate guitarist with such nuanced physical touch and sense of groove/riff. Eloquently “Mean…” if you know what I mean!
Pure gratitude for this piece of Musical Chairs. Fantastic stuff.