As an alumnus of post-punk innovators
Killing Joke, bassist
Paul Raven has become a popular figure in the worlds of metal and industrial. Born on January 16, 1961, his big break came in 1983, when he replaced the absent
Youth in
Killing Joke.
Raven first appeared on the
Fire Dances album, just before the band's most successful period. 1985's Night Time gave the band a handful of hit singles and allowed
Raven's distinctive sound to become an integral part of the band. By 1988, however, the band was on the verge of collapse, as
Outside the Gate proved to be a critical and commercial failure.
Raven and
Killing Joke returned with 1990's Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions, winning critical acclaim and pushing the band (briefly) back into the spotlight. However, internal tensions once again took their toll, with several members, including
Raven, departing to form the short-lived group Murder Inc. When
Killing Joke reformed in 1992, it was without
Raven.
Joining New York hardcore outfit
Prong a year later, he contributed to two classic albums, 1994's
Cleansing and the follow-up,
Rude Awakening.
Rude Awakening was
Prong's last studio album, as the band embarked on a lengthy sabbatical.
Raven become in demand as a producer and remixer, working with Spahn Ranch,
Psychic TV, and
Die Krupps, amongst others. In 2001, he joined Matt Zane's Society 1. ~ Jim Harper