Geordie Walker, guitarist and founding member of KILLING JOKE has died. He was 64.
Walker died on the morning of November 26, and news of his passing was confirmed by his friend and former KILLING JOKE bandmate Martin Atkins, who also played alongside Walker in industrial-metal supergroups Murder Inc, and The Damage Manual.
Walker, whose unique guitar style has drawn praise from a host of fellow musicians from Jimmy Page and James Hetfield, to HELMET’s Page Hamilton and My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, co-founded KILLING JOKE with vocalist Jaz Coleman and drummer ‘Big’ Paul Ferguson in 1979, and, alongside Coleman, has been the only constant member of the band since its formation.
KILLING JOKE later issued their own statement confirming the news, saying “It is with extreme sadness we confirm that at 6:30am on 26th November 2023 in Prague, Killing Joke’s legendary guitarist Kevin ‘Geordie’ Walker passed away after suffering a stroke, he was surrounded by family. We are devastated. Rest In Peace brother.”