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Empire Song
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Wikipedia article
'Empire Song' is a song by English post-punk band Killing Joke. It was released in 1982 by E.G. Records as the first single from their third studio album, 'Revelations'.
Production and release
By 1982, members of Killing Joke, especially singer Jaz Coleman, had become immersed in the occult, particularly the works of Aleister Crowley. In February of that year, Coleman moved to Iceland to survive the apocalypse, which Coleman predicted was coming soon.Hmlinen, Jyrki "Spider" (2020). 'Killing Joke: Are You Receiving?', p. 64-83. Milton Keynes: New Haven Publishing. .
"Empire Song" was released in March 1982 by E.G. Records as the first single from the band's third studio album, 'Revelations'. Polydor also released "Empire Song" as a single in Ireland. It reached No. 43 in the UK Singles Chart that same month. As a result of Coleman moving to Iceland, "Empire Song" was performed at 'Top of the Pops' with drummer Paul Ferguson on vocals. Because Coleman was absent, a dummy was placed in front of a keyboard, while the other three members played.
Guitarist Kevin "Geordie" Walker and bassist Martin "Youth" Glover followed Coleman and moved to Iceland later that year. There, Coleman and Walker worked with musicians from the band eyr in the project Niceland. After a few months, Youth decided there was no indication of the apocalypse, and moved back to England. Youth then began the band Brilliant with Ferguson, but the latter defected and traveled to Iceland to rejoin Killing Joke with new bassist Paul Raven (previously of Neon Hearts and the rock/glam band Kitsch) in tow. After spending some time in Iceland, Killing Joke returned to England and began touring and recording again.
Track listing
;Side A
#"Empire Song" 03:19
;Side B
#"Brilliant" 04:00
Charts
References
Category:Killing Joke songs
Category:1982 songs
Category:Songs written by Jaz Coleman
Category:Songs written by Geordie Walker
Category:Songs written by Youth (musician)
Category:Songs written by Paul Ferguson
Category:Song recordings produced by Nick Launay
Category:E.G. Records singles
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