MGT collaborates on new album by Big Paul Ferguson (Killing Joke)

Here’s a taste of the brand new album MGT recorded during the 2020 lockdown with legendary Killing Joke drummer Big Paul Ferguson -released today on all streaming platforms on Cleopatra Records. ‘Extrapolate’ was mixed by noted producer Tom Dalgety (Killing Joke, Ghost, Rammstein) & is from the forthcoming album, ‘Virtual Control’ which will be released on June 25 on CD, digital & vinyl.

28th April 2021 – As a founding member and co-creative mind behind proto-industrial post-punk icons Killing Joke, Big Paul Ferguson has already earned his place among the most influential and highly regarded musicians of his era. Ferguson’s signature tribal drum style not only set Killing Joke apart from the scores of British bands coming up in the ‘80s, adding both depth and weight to the band’s piercing, discordant sound, but it also became a reference point for rock percussionists that followed in the band’s wake. Now, this rock music veteran steps into the spotlight for his first ever solo album, Virtual Control.

Mark Gemini Thwaite with Big Paul (London)

Following on from the 7 track collaboration BPF ‘Remote Viewing’ EP with guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (MGT, Peter Murphy, Gary Numan) released in 2018, this new album features 10 original tracks also written with guitarist & instrumentalist MGT, who also mixed most of the album, and highlighted with special guest appearances from former Marilyn Manson member Tim Skold as well as Die Krupps mastermind Jürgen Engler, Virtual Control conjures a dense and foreboding aural atmosphere, layering guitars, synths and Ferguson’s own distinctive vocals, that underscores the thoughtfulness of Ferguson’s introspective and observant lyrics.  

In anticipation of the album’s full release on June 25, we are excited to share Virtual Control’s first single “Extrapolate,” one of the album’s most propulsive tracks that rides an unrelenting guitar/bass hook supported by taut percussion and a hypnotic lead vocal, expertly mixed by award-winning producer Tom Dalgety (Pixies, Rammstein).   Ferguson shares these thoughts on what inspired the song, “My reflections on the dichotomies, social and personal, of these times. How our lives are being affected by isolation coupled with the bombardment of conflicting information. Our trust in what is real and true being challenged on a daily basis.”  

Big Paul Ferguson: ‘Extrapolate’ single artwork

Mark: I’ve known the Killing Joke guys for years.. initially I befriended Paul Raven back in 1989 through mutual friend Bobby Rae Mayhem, who I was playing with in Spear of Destiny.. I jammed with Raven in London and remained friends.. this led inadvertently to an introduction to Big Paul after Raven died in 2007, I sent Paul a copy of the Mob Research album I had recorded with Raven, and once Paul was approached to submit a solo track to Mont Sherar’s Twilight of the Mortals book and vinyl release, Mont suggested I collaborate with Paul on his track(s). I think that was around 5 years ago.. 7 songs later we had the Remote Viewing EP in the can and that was released in 2018… we just spend the 2020 lockdown working on Paul’s next record ‘Remote Control’, which is released in June.” (Classofsounds.com)

Paul: “Mark is great to collaborate with, I couldn’t ask for more… he gets where I’m coming from and always delivers the missing pieces… It is very rewarding to have someone react favorably to one’s weird ideas and be able to elevate them as Mark has done, adding not only great guitar hooks but also bass and keyboard elements and after a lot of back and forth I’m really happy with his mixing. There’s no doubt in my mind that this material would still be demos on my laptop if it weren’t for the ease with which he and I work together and the magic touches he brings.” (ClassofSounds.com)

https://classofsounds.com/big-paul-ferguson-killing-joke-anuncia-voo-solo-com-colaboracao-de-mark-gemini-thwaite-e-lanca-o-video-extrapolate/

Stream the single: https://orcd.co/big_paul_ferguson_extrapolate  

Virtual Control is available on CD and in limited edition RED vinyl!  

Order the album: https://orcd.co/big_paul_ferguson_virtual_control  

Track List:

1. Lapdogs
2. Shiny Toys
3. The Unraveling
4. Extrapolate
5. Sea Of Judgement
6. Seeping Through The Cracks (feat. Tim Skold)
7. Data Lama
8. Glass Houses
9. Plausible Deniability
10. Dystopian Vibe (feat. Jürgen Engler of Die Krupps)

https://bravewords.com/news/killing-joke-drummer-big-paul-ferguson-releases-first-single-video-from-his-debut-solo-album

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

Mark GT collab with Killing Joke’s Big Paul Ferguson on ‘Remote Viewing’ EP

“Co-produced with seasoned guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite, the BPF Remote Viewing EP is a thirty-minute rhythmic rumination, punctuated by hefty dollops of hard truth” (Vassifer)

Released on 24th August 2018 via the Dead Radio Station record label, we are pleased to confirm this new collaboration on the solo release by Big Paul Ferguson: Official (aka BPF) of post punk legends Killing Joke… with KJ embarking on a 40th anniversary tour in September, drummer “Big Paul” has announced the release of his solo debut EP, titled Remote Viewing, a new collaboration with Mark Gemini Thwaite.   The EP’s seven tracks include guitar, bass, and keyboard contributions from MarkGT, best known for his work with The Mission, Peter Murphy, Tricky, Gary Numan, and his own band MGT;  Ferguson had performed drums on the latest MGT album, Gemini Nyte. Also appearing will be Brainshadow, who mastered the album & performs electric violin on “X-Box.”

“Killing Joke drummer delivers a 9/10 widescreen classic”.. BPF “assembled the finished tracks by fleshing out his pre-recorded loops of rhythms, guitar and keyboards, with the assistance of the multi-instrumentalist Mark Gemini Thwaite (MGT)”..  “these songs are superbly produced, and it’s MGT who co-produced the album with Big Paul in Los Angeles”  Louderthanwar.com

“Drums rise to meet the fiery guitars of underground veteran Mark Gemini Thwaite, whose presence is felt throughout the EP”… “ fulfills everything the words Big Paul solo release promise”… “With Thwaite adding dark menace behind the curtain, the drums unsurprisingly take center stage”

“Remote Viewing will provide new treasures to listeners years after their introduction to it. An essential addition to the discography of one of underground music’s most innovative minds” JoeGausten.com

Check out the video teaser below for ‘I Am War”.. “The thundering hooves of “I Am War” arrive to deliver another densely layered exorcism wherein Thwaite unleashes an electrical storm of guitar noise” (Vassifer.blogs.com)

Also check out the video teaser for ‘Reboot’:

 

“Incredibly refreshing and unique.. it’s easy to hit play and before you know it you’re at the end. It’s dark and surreal, but it combines that with relaxing, hypnotic vibes that makes it difficult to turn away from. If you like Nine Inch Nails or any kind of melodic industrial music then you have to check it out” MetalPlanetMusic.com

BPF first made its debut with the track “The Great Motivator” on the 7-inch vinyl EP included with special editions of writer/photographer/biographer Mont Sherar’s Twilight of the Mortals book released in 2017 via PC-Press, which also featured MarkGT and is included on the new EP release. Written and recorded by Ferguson & Thwaite at Drum ‘n’ Steel Works in Baltimore, USA & co-produced and mixed by Thwaite at Mob Research laboratories in Los Angeles.. The EP will be released in CD and digital editions and is available for pre-order now via Dead Radio Station 🎧
Check out the Soundcloud teaser on ReGen Magazine here:

Order via DeadRAdioStation records on CD /Digital [here]

BPF
Website, Facebook
Dead Radio Station
Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Boneyard
Website, Facebook
Killing Joke
Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

MGT DJ set announced / Artist Spotlight Interview

Following the success of the MGT & Friends live performances at WGT Festival (Germany) and London (UK), Mark will be making a special DJ set appearance later this month at Twilight of the Mortals Southern California Release (the Bats) party in Long Beach California on Friday 30th June – Mark will be spinning his fave Killing Joke tunes plus Big Paul Ferguson ‘The Great Motivator’ MGT remix featured on the forthcoming limited edition ‘Twilight of the Mortals’ vinyl release.

More info at http://www.pc-press.co.uk/twilight-of-the-mortals/
Full details on the facebook event page : https://www.facebook.com/events/449046578795726/

Meanwhile click on the link below for the Schecter Guitars Artist Spotlight on MGT – an in depth retrospective on Mark’s career, the inception of solo album ‘Volumes’, back story on the MGT Signature guitar, the MGT festival appearance at Wave-Gotik-Treffen and info on new albums with Primitive Race ft. Chuck Mosley (ex Faith No More), & Dale Crover of (the) Melvins, plus the forthcoming Gemini Nyte album with Ashton Nyte:

https://www.schecterguitars.com/news/3921-artist-spotlight-mark-gemini-thwaite

 

MGT artist signing at NAMM 2017

Happy New Year everyone! Hot on the heals of the commerical debut of the Mark Thwaite Signature Solo-II guitar, MGT is confirmed for an exclusive artist signing at the Schecter Guitar Research booth at the world renowned NAMM 2017 exhibition in Anaheim California this month! The NAMM Show is an annual event in the US described as “the world’s largest trade only event for the music products industry”.  Held at the Anaheim Exhibition Center, the new Schecter MGT Signature model will be on display and MGT will be available for photos and signing between 3:00-4:00pm on Friday 20th January at the Schecter Booth 210 Hall D (second level). Also signing at that time will be Al Jourgensen and members of Ministry. MGT will also be dropping by the Seymour Duncan booth 5560 Hall B between 1:30-2:30pm that same day. Click on the banners below for more info.

Protone unveil MGT Chorus pedal

Renowned US boutique guitar pedal company ProTone Pedals have teamed up with guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite, announcing their latest addition to their signature artist roster.. the MGT Dirty Chorus is a tweaked out evolution of the Raven Dirty Chorus, only this handwired version is optimized for guitar frequencies with an overhauled amp-like drive circuit, making it all his own.

MGT – known for his work with the likes of goth rockers like The Mission and Peter Murphy, Trip Hop svengali Tricky, classic rock & rollers like Thin Lizzy’s Ricky Warwick and The Who’s Roger Daltrey, and known in industrial circles for his collaborations with Revolting Cocks and Gary Numan, had this to say:

“My friend the late Paul Raven of Killing Joke came up with the original concept of the Raven Dirty Chorus back in 2007 – while we were working on the Mob Research debut album – and almost a decade since his untimely passing, I’m proud to announce the relaunch of this brilliant pedal with a few MGT refinements and an updated circuit! Thanks to Protone for making this dream a reality”

Protone MGT Dirty Chorus handwired pedal [click on image]

Check out MGT demoing the vintage chorus tones with full bodied tube-inspired overdrive and wobbly tremolo with his Schecter MGT Signature Solo-II guitar (also shipping this October) on the link below. The pedal is available to order now! http://protonepedals.com/pro-tone-pedals-mgt-chorus

JUST IN: MGT CAMEO IN NEW < P I G > VIDEO

Raymond Watts of UK industrial legends <PIG> recently contributed vocals on MGT’s latest solo album ‘Volumes’, and this was just one of many songs that the pair wrote together over the last few years. More of these collaborations now appear on the latest PIG album ‘The Gospel’, released this month on Metropolis records. Check out the MGT cameo in the latest video for ‘Found in Filth’ below, co-written by Thwaite:

In other news: check out these recent interviews with MGT featured in Revista The 13th online magazine, and Interview in Italian Ascension magazine (print).