Geordie Walker, Guitarist of Killing Joke, Dead at 64

Killing Joke guitarist Kevin “Geordie” Walker has died at the age of 64.

Martin Adkins, Walker’s former Killing Joke bandmate, confirmed his passing on social media. He reportedly died after suffering a stroke.

Walker was a founding member of the UK post-punk/industrial band Killing Joke, alongside frontman Jaz Coleman, bassist/keyboardist Martin “Youth” Glover, and drummer Paul Ferguson.

With his guitar playing, Walker emphasized rhythm with a focus on the instrument’s lower notes. His playing was lauded by other legendary guitarists including Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, who marveled at Walker’s “effortless” abilities and “monstrous sound.”

Walker first linked up with Coleman after answering an advertisement placed by the singer. He and Coleman were Killing Joke’s only constant members and played on every one of the group’s releases, including their landmark 1980 self-titled debut (which Consequence recently named as one of the top industrial albums in history).

In addition to Killing Joke, Walker was a member of the industrial music supergroups Murder, Inc. and The Damage Manual.