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{{short description|Song by Killing Joke}}
⚫
{{Infobox single
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
| Name = Empire Song
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
| Cover = Empire_Song_1982.jpg|
{{more citations needed|date=February 2015}}
| Artist = [[Killing Joke]]
⚫
{{Infobox song
| from Album = [[Revelations (Killing Joke album)|Revelations]]
| B-side = "Brilliant"
| name = Empire Song
| Released = {{Start date|March, 1982}}
| cover = Empire_Song_1982.jpg
| Format = [[7" single]]
| alt =
| Genre = [[Post-punk]]
| type = single
| Length = 7:19
| artist = [[Killing Joke]]
| Label = [[E'G Records]]<br>[[Polydor]]
| album = [[Revelations (Killing Joke album)|Revelations]]
| B-side = Brilliant
⚫
| Writer = [[Jaz Coleman]]<br>[[Geordie Walker|Kevin "Geordie" Walker]]<br>[[Martin "Youth" Glover]]<br>[[Paul Ferguson]]
| Engineer =
| released = March 1982
| recorded =
⚫
| Producer = [[Killing Joke]]<br>[[Conny Plank]]<br>[[Nick Launay]]
| studio =
⚫
| Last single = "[[Follow the Leaders]]"<br>(1981)
⚫
| venue =
| This single = "'''Empire Song'''"<br>(1982)
| Next single = "[[Chop-Chop]]"<br>(1982)
| genre = [[Post-punk]], [[gothic rock]]
| Misc = {{Extra track listing
| length = 7:19
| Album = [[Revelations (Killing Joke album)|Revelations]]
| label = [[E.G. Records|E.G.]]
⚫
| writer = [[Jaz Coleman]], [[Geordie Walker|Kevin "Geordie" Walker]], [[Martin "Youth" Glover]], [[Paul Ferguson]]
| Type = single
⚫
| producer = Killing Joke, [[Conny Plank]]
| prev_track = "The Hum"
⚫
| prev_title = [[Follow the Leaders]]
⚫
| prev_no = 1
| prev_year = 1981
| this_track = "'''Empire Song'''"
| next_title = [[Chop-Chop]]
| track_no = 2
| next_year = 1982
| next_track = "[[We Have Joy]]"
| next_no = 3
}}
}}
}}


'''''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 (Killing Joke album)|Revelations]]''.
'''''Empire Song''''' is [[Killing Joke]]'s first single from their third studio album, [[Revelations (Killing Joke album)|Revelations]]. It was released under [[E'G Records]] in March, 1982, and reached number forty-three in the [[UK Singles Chart]] that same month. [[Polydor]] also released ''Empire Song'' as a single in Ireland. The B-side ''Brilliant'' was produced by [[Nick Launay]].<ref name="Discogs">{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/release/376465|title=Empire Song|accessdate=9 December 2008}}</ref>


== Production and release ==
== Production and release ==

⚫
By 1982, members of Killing Joke, especially Coleman, had become immersed in the [[occult]], particularly the works of occultist [[Aleister Crowley]]. In February of that year, Coleman, moved to [[Iceland]] to survive the [[Apocalypse]], which Coleman predicted was coming soon. As a result, ''Empire Song'' was performed at [[Top of the Pops]] with Ferguson as vocals and drums. Because Coleman was absent, a "Coleman Fake" was placed in front of a keyboard, while the other three members kept playing. Geordie and Youth followed Coleman and moved to Iceland later that year. There, Coleman and Geordie worked with musicians from the band [[Þeyr]] in the project [[Niceland]]. After a few months, Youth decided there was no indication of the Apocalypse, and decided to move back to England. Youth then began the band [[Brilliant (band)|Brilliant]] with Paul Ferguson, but the latter defected and travelled to Iceland to rejoin Killing Joke with new bassist [[Paul Raven (musician)|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.
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.<ref>Hämäläinen, Jyrki "Spider" (2020). ''Killing Joke: Are You Receiving?'', p. 64-83. Milton Keynes: New Haven Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1912587407}}.</ref>

"Empire Song" was released in March 1982 by E.G. Records as the first single from the band's third studio album, ''Revelations''. [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] also released "Empire Song" as a single in Ireland. It reached No. 43 in the UK Singles Chart that same month.<ref name="UK chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19038/KILLING-JOKE |title=Killing Joke <nowiki>|</nowiki> Official Charts Company |website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] |access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> 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 [[Geordie Walker|Kevin "Geordie" Walker]] and bassist [[Martin "Youth" Glover]] followed Coleman and moved to Iceland later that year.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} There, Coleman and Walker worked with musicians from the band [[Þeyr]] in the project [[Niceland (band)|Niceland]]. After a few months, Youth decided there was no indication of the apocalypse, and moved back to England.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} Youth then began the band [[Brilliant (band)|Brilliant]] with Ferguson, but the latter defected and traveled to Iceland to rejoin Killing Joke with new bassist [[Paul Raven (musician)|Paul Raven]] (previously of [[Neon Hearts]] and the rock/[[glam rock|glam]] band Kitsch) in tow. After spending some time in Iceland, Killing Joke returned to England and began touring and recording again.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}


== Track listing ==
== Track listing ==

;Side A
;Side A

#"Empire Song" – 03:19
#"Empire Song" – 03:19


;Side B
;Side B

#"Brilliant" – 04:00
#"Brilliant" – 04:00


== Charts ==
== Charts ==

{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Year
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|-
|-
| 1982
| 1982
| [[UK Singles Chart]]
| [[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="chartstats">[http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=3458 Chart Stats - Killing Joke]. chartstats.com. Retrieved on 2010-07-05</ref>
| align="center" | 43
| align="center" | 43<ref name="UK chart"/>
|}
|}


== References ==
== References ==

{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|killing-joke|empire-song}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{Killing Joke}}
{{Killing Joke}}


{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire Song}}

[[Category:Killing Joke songs]]
[[Category:Killing Joke songs]]
[[Category:1982 songs]]
[[Category:1982 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jaz Coleman]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jaz Coleman]]
[[Category:Songs written by Geordie Walker]]
[[Category:Songs written by Geordie Walker]]
[[Category:Songs written by Martin Glover]]
[[Category:Songs written by Youth (musician)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Paul Ferguson]]
[[Category:Songs written by Paul Ferguson]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Nick Launay]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Nick Launay]]
[[Category:E.G. Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 01:05, 24 December 2021

"Empire Song"
Single by Killing Joke
from the album Revelations
B-side"Brilliant"
ReleasedMarch 1982
GenrePost-punk, gothic rock
Length7:19
LabelE.G.
Songwriter(s)Jaz Coleman, Kevin "Geordie" Walker, Martin "Youth" Glover, Paul Ferguson
Producer(s)Killing Joke, Conny Plank
Killing Joke singles chronology
"Follow the Leaders"
(1981) 		"Empire Song"
(1982) 		"Chop-Chop"
(1982)

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

[edit]

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.[1]

"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.[2] 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.[citation needed] There, Coleman and Walker worked with musicians from the band Þeyr in the project Niceland. After a few months, Youth decided there was no indication of the apocalypse, and moved back to England.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

Track listing

[edit]
Side A
  1. "Empire Song" – 03:19
Side B
  1. "Brilliant" – 04:00

Charts

[edit]
Year Chart Peak
Position
1982 UK Singles Chart 43[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hämäläinen, Jyrki "Spider" (2020). Killing Joke: Are You Receiving?, p. 64-83. Milton Keynes: New Haven Publishing. ISBN 978-1912587407.
  2. ^ a b "Killing Joke | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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