Killing Joke Bassist Dies

GENEVA, Switzerland (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Paul Raven, the bass player for post-punk group Killing Joke has died at the age of 46.

According to Billboard, Raven was in Geneva, Switzerland, where he had been recording when he passed away in his sleep on Saturday, Oct. 20.

Raven cut his teeth in the UK Punk scene of the late 1970s as part of several bands before joining Killing Joke in 1982, taking the place of the original bassist. He remained with the band for 6 years, until being fired in 1987, however the parting was not a permanent one and he rejoined the band in 1989 until the band folded in 1991.

Since then Raven has performed with numerous industrial-punk bands, including Prong, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Janes Addiction and others. In 2003, Raven was part of the re-formed Killing Joke.

"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: Paul Vincent Raven. Unimaginable sadness is felt by all." said Jaz Coleman, Killing Joke's frontman on a post on the band's website.

A preliminary statement released by 13th planet, the band's label indicated that the sudden death appeared to be due to a heart attack. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers