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Mob Research founder and bassist Paul Raven passed away in a private home in a small French village on the Swiss border on 20th October 2007. Paul's death was natural causes at age 46. Raven (who is also known for his work with KILLING JOKE and PRONG) was in Geneva working with French recording artists TREPONEM PAL on their new release alongside drummer Ted Parsons (PRONG).
Raven was the charismatic bass player for Killing Joke for many years, also Prong and most recently Ministry and Mob Research. He was a great friend to many and a legendary bass player. We shall all miss Paul incredibly. We love you...
Statement on behalf of the Raven family
"The expression 'one of a kind' has lost its value but my beautiful brother, Paul Vincent Raven, redefined it. He was a one man army, as intelligent, funny, loving and singularly angry a man as I have ever known. His life was truly his own, from its beginning to this awful, tragic end. He was a born saint and an unbelievable asshole. This family's heart is bleeding and it will never stop. To know that we will never hear his voice and see his face again is a wound that nothing will heal. We would like to thank Paul's friends and comrades for their invaluable support at this impossible time."
Daniel Jon Raven.
Ted Parsons (Prong/Swans): "We made a lot of great music together. Words can't describe how I feel right now. I'm devastated. He will be missed by many. He was the king of the one-liners. Please send Raven and his family love and light."
Al Jourgensen (Ministry): "I am in total shock. The world of music is a sadder, emptier place. Not only was Raven an extraordinary talent, but one of my closest dearest friends. Our condolences and prayers go to his immediate family. He will be truly missed by artists, musicians and his fans the world over. The one consolation is knowing Raven's already hooked up with the right people and started a new project in the After Life. Godspeed, Raven. Rest In Peace, you fucking pirate."
Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker (Killing Joke): ''We are all deeply stricken with grief at the unannounced departure of possibly the funniest man on planet Earth and a brother to us all. Paul Vincent Raven unimaginable sadness is felt by all''
Paul Ferguson aka "Big Paul" (Killing Joke, Warrior Soul drummer): "I am hugely saddened by the death of our brother in arms Paul Raven. I offer his family my heartfelt condolences. It is a testament to his unique character that he is remembered so fondly by so many. Rest in Peace my friend."
Mark Gemini Thwaite (Mission UK/Mob Research): "Although I'd known Paul for nearly 20 years, I had really gotten much closer to him as we started work on Mob Research this year. He was so excited about the future of the band and we hoped to have the record out by Spring 2008.. His enthusiam and determination to make things happen was infectious and I shall miss him greatly. His sense of humour was priceless and, both hailing from the same part of the midlands in England, we shared many a brummie and black country joke together.. His last words to me - just a couple of days before he died - were 'Stay Positive'. That says it all about Paul.. the rock world has lost one of its most shining sons, may he have gone to a better place"
Tommy Victor (Prong): "Paul Raven was a grand-master of our cult, high up in the inner sanctum sanctorum. His status can never be forgotten, nor his presence replaced. One of our heroes. An unbelievable loss, but we are always going to laugh and smile in remembrance. exactly how he wanted it."
Sin Quirin (Ministry): "I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes because you're not physically with us anymore. I cant believe you're not here and it hurts a lot man.. But at the same time I can't help but smile at all the good times we had together. Those are the memories I'll always carry with me and I know you'll be smiling down on me as well. Not only were you a badass musician, you were one of my great, genuine friends, I'm going miss you Raven, but you'll never be forgotten and you'll always be with us."
Burton C. Bell (Fear factory): "I will miss my friend dearly, and I will think of him fondly throughout my days until we meet on the other side."
Wayne Hussey (Mission UK): "Raven was one of the good guys. He became a good friend of Mick Brown first and then gradually I got to know him and we got on very well. He was always encouraging, loved music, talking about it and playing it. The last time I heard from him was a month or so ago. Ironically he emailed me to tell me that it was 'a very nice thing to do to post a news message on MWIS about the death of a fan (Ashira)'. He also went onto say that he loved the idea of the Shepherds Bush shows and was gonna try to get to at least one or two of them. I shall miss him. I liked him a lot."
Marco Neves (Treponem Pal): "DANS NOTRE COEUR POUR TOUJOURS"
I met this guy 15 years ago !! the feeling from the very beginning was a very strong connection !! a true human very optimistic and living the life at 1000 % . Our vision of music and our taste so opened in different ways, to a lot of different sounds and colors, which is so important to create something original to bring us out of the same classic "routine". He was a true rebel, a real "rude boy".... coming up on stage with such an infectious energy to offer !!!! He was using Music as a weapon !!! and the most important was the way he loved to share everything with his friends and all people in general !!!
A VERY UNIQUE HUMAN BEING !! AN ORIGINAL FREEDOM FIGHTER !!!!
PAUL YOU'LL BE FOREVER TATTOOED IN OUR HEARTS !! REST IN PEACE !!
Reza (Killing Joke keyboardist): "Today I found out that my good friend Paul Raven passed away early this morning. Paul was a very amazing man, who I loved and trusted very much. He always had great ideas, ventures and always looked out for me, as if I were a little brother to him. I was very fortunate to be in contact with him several times in his last week and I had great conversations with him, we laughed and joked, which was an integral part of his personality. We had so much more to do, especially with his own personal project Mob Research, which I know he was extremely excited about. I don't know what more to say, as this is such an unexpected happening for me, as we were only talking a short time ago.. I can't believe he is gone. Paul will be greatly missed by music fans, friends and mostly his family; his bands will miss him terribly.. He was a great man and a unique bass player who has died at such a tragically early age. Love to you brother.. I miss you."
Bill Kennedy (producer, engineer):"I am so sad to find out one of my very best friends, Paul Raven, passed away today. He was the ledgendary bass player for Killing Joke, Prong, Ministry... RIP my Brother. Love You."
Casey Chaos (Amen founder and leader): "Paul Raven was someone I looked up to as a child, for his music, his unique style, inspiration, and I was fortunate enough to call him one of my best friends over the last 10 years. If not for Paul Raven, Amen would probably not even exist. Paul was the first person to put his money where is mouth was and produce the first Amen album, and even take Amen out on tour to open for Killing Joke in America in 2004. To commemorate Paul's life, Amen will be dedicating our Halloween appearance at London's Underworld and the remaining dates of our impromptu UK tour to him, in celebration of a punk legend. In Paul's giving spirit it will be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of a life unparalleled. Amen would like to sincerely send our best wishes to his loved ones, friends, family, and to the fans who will never hear any else who could play bass like Paul Raven, for he will be truly missed by all, whether you know it or not."
Legion (Mob Research): "A gathering of love as best as I could ever witness in my lifetime,
I wish everyone who could want to be here could be here,,,,, I have met people whom I never known before that from the first impression are images of Paul in their own way,,, it seen that a gathering of "atoms of people" for ever what we are, have aligned to see how the awareness of a sprit ,,that in that life of this person we can find the "gold of creation",
He loved without prejudice, almost to a fault,,,,,but mostly,, he showed me how to be a better person, among the first of "spirits" of illumination, I hope to greet me beyond the Rubicon"
Legion (at Raven's wake in France 31 October 2007)
13th Planet has dedicated a page to the life and art of Paul Vincent Raven HERE
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MOB RESEARCH is the bastard offspring of bassist Paul Raven (MINISTRY, KILLING JOKE, PRONG) and guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (MISSION UK, TRICKY. PETER MURPHY). Both born and bred in the midlands UK, the pair jammed back in 1989 then went their separate ways, crossing paths occasionally over the years before reuniting in L.A. in spring 2007 to ignite the fire that is MR. Raven enlisted legendary Detroit frontman Kory Clarke (WARRIOR SOUL), mad scientist Legion Davies on additional guitars and the beast was born.
The band have been busy recording their debut album 'HOLY CITY ZOO' in both New York City and Los Angeles, and have posted some samplers on MySpace to give its fans something to drool over until the MOB RESEARCH debut CD 'Holy City Zoo' is released.
"Making the record in New York & Los Angeles has added a tension to the music due to the rebublican induced climate of fear & the feeling of paranoia & impending disaster in large cities accross the world" - Paul Raven
"Mob Research has harnessed a new sense of positivity when all we see around us is negativity" - MarkGT
"A prophetic time for this combination of musical gangsters to come together, with a fantastic music and lyrical exposé for the masses. I've personally been waiting for this for a long time " - Legion
MOB RESEARCH is:
Kory Clarke - Vocals
Paul Raven - Bass
Mark Gemini Thwaite - Guitars
Legion Davies - rhythm gtr/keys
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