''Turn to Red'' (sometimes known as ''Almost Red'' or ''Nervous System'') is an EP and the debut release by English

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of punk music that emerged in the late 1970s as musicians departed from punk's traditional elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and non-roc ...

band

Killing Joke Killing Joke are an English rock music, rock band from Notting Hill, London, England, formed in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass). Their first album, ''Ki ...

. It was released as a 7-inch EP on 26 October 1979 by

Malicious Damage Malicious may refer to: Films and video games * ''Malicious'' (1973 film) (''Malizia''), an Italian comedy starring Laura Antonelli * ''Malicious'' (1995 film), an American thriller starring Molly Ringwald * ''Malicious'' (2018 film), an Americ ...

and re-released as a 12-inch EP on 14 December by

Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...

History

In 1978,

Jaz Coleman Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman (born 26 February 1960) is an English singer and musician. He came to prominence in the early 1980s as the lead vocalist and keyboardist of post-punk group Killing Joke. Coleman is known for his unique raspy baritone voic ...

and

Paul Ferguson Matthew Paul Ferguson (born 31 March 1958) is an English rock drummer, best known for his work in the post-punk/ industrial group Killing Joke and cult English punk band Pink Parts. Following a stint as the drummer with the London-based Matt St ...

left Mat Stagger Band to form Killing Joke. In February 1979, they placed an advertisement in the music press which attracted guitarist Kevin "Geordie" Walker and bass guitarist Martin "Youth" Glover. According to Coleman, their

manifesto A manifesto is a published declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus or promotes a ...

was to "define the exquisite beauty of the

atomic age The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, is the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear weapon, The Gadget at the ''Trinity'' test in New Mexico, on July 16, 1945, during World War II. Although nuclear chain reaction ...

in terms of style, sound and form." The band was formed in June. The first song the band composed was "Are You Receiving?".Hämäläinen, Jyrki "Spider" (2020). ''Killing Joke: Are You Receiving?'', pp. 19. Milton Keynes: New Haven Publishing. . In late 1979, they began the Malicious Damage

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

with graphic artist Mike Coles as a way to press and sell their music. An advance of the EP was sent to legendary DJ

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...

, who was keen to champion the band's urgent new sound, and the release received extensive airplay. The band was immediately invited to record a John Peel Session for the BBC on 17 October 1979, which was aired on 29 October.

Release

On 26 October 1979, the EP was officially released in 10" format by Malicious Damage. ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'' made it Single of the Week on 10 November 1979. A supportive namecheck by

John Lydon John Joseph Lydon (; born 31 January 1956), also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the late-1970s punk band the Sex Pistols, which lasted from 1975 until 1978, and aga ...

in ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' secured more interest in the new band. On 14 December 1979,Adverts in ''

New Musical Express ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' Saturday, 15 December 1979 (page 38) and ''Melody Maker'' (page 22) it was re-released in 7" and 12" format by

, now with "Almost Red" added, a dub remix of the title track. The ''Turn to Red'' release became a collectable for the four scarce "art cards" that were included with the disc in its clear plastic sleeve. The track "Turn to Red" featured a locked groove, repeating the word 'red' infinitely. The building featured on the sleeve is

Centre Point Centre Point is a building in Central London, comprising a 34-storey tower; a 9-storey block to the east including shops, offices, retail units and maisonettes; and a linking block between the two at first-floor level. It occupies 101–103 ...

New Oxford Street Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, with around half a million daily visitors, and as o ...

, London. Killing Joke quickly developed this sound into something denser, more aggressive and more akin to heavy metal with their debut studio album, ''

''.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Killing Joke (

, Kevin "Geordie" Walker, Martin "Youth" Glover,

Original 7" Release

12" Release

Personnel

; Killing Joke *

–

production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stati ...

* Kevin "Geordie" Walker – production * Martin "Youth" Glover – production *

– production ; Technical * Mark Lusardi –

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...

* Jonz – mastering * Mike Coles – sleeve graphic design

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1979 debut EPs Killing Joke EPs Post-punk EPs