Requiem (Killing Joke song)

"Requiem" is a song by the English post-punk band Killing Joke. It was released in September 1980 by E.G. Records as the second single from their first studio album, Killing Joke.

"Requiem"
Single by Killing Joke
from the album Killing Joke
B-side	"Change" "Requiem" (demo)
Released	26 September 1980
Recorded	August 1980
Studio	Marquee Studios (London)
Genre	Post-punk gothic rock
Length	3:42
Label	E.G. Malicious Damage
Songwriter(s)	Jaz Coleman Paul Ferguson Martin Glover Kevin Walker
Producer(s)	Killing Joke
Killing Joke singles chronology
"Change" (1980) "Requiem" (1980) "Follow the Leaders" (1981)

Release

"Requiem" was released on 26 September 1980 on 7" vinyl by E.G. Records and Malicious Damage as the second single from the band's first album, backed by the B-side "Change".^[1] A 12" version of the single was also released, with "Change" and a demo of "Requiem" as the B-sides.^[2]

The single did not chart in the UK,^[3] but it reached number 1 on the UK Indie Chart^[4] and 43 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Cover versions

The song was covered in 1997 by the American rock band Foo Fighters as one of the B-sides to their song "Everlong",^[5] and was included in the 2007 re-release of their album The Colour and the Shape.^[6]

The British industrial metal band Godflesh performed "Requiem" live on their 2001 tour in support of their album Hymns For that tour, the group was accompanied by the Killing Joke bass guitarist Paul Raven and, in one instance, by the Killing Joke singer Jaz Coleman.^[7]

Requiem was covered by the British post-punk band Eagulls in 2013 as the B-side to their "Nerve Endings" single,^[8] which received a limited release on 7" vinyl.

The French band LANE (Love and Noise Experiment), created by ex-members of the Thugs and Daria, two bands from Angers, performed it live during its 2018 tour, and then recorded a studio version in 2019 that can be found on Spotify.^[9]

Track listing

7" vinyl

• E.G. / Malicious Damage — EGMD 1.0^[1]

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Requiem"	3:42

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Change"	3:58

12" vinyl

• E.G. / Malicious Damage — EGMDX 1.0^[2]

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Requiem"	3:42

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Change"	3:58
2.	"Requiem" (Malicious Demo 2)	3:42

Personnel

• Jaz Coleman – lead vocals, synthesizer, lyrics, production
• Geordie Walker – guitar, production
• Youth – bass guitar, production
• Paul Ferguson – drums, backing vocals, production

Charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[10]	43

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalogue no.
United Kingdom	26 September 1980	E.G. Malicious Damage	7"	EGMD 1.0[1]
			12"	EGMDX 1.0[2]