I didn’t know Paul Raven, but the Ministry bassist and part-time Portlander was both an influential musician (he was in Killing Joke, Ministry and Prong among other notable acts) and well-loved guy. Ex-LocalCutter Michael Byrne let us know about Raven’s passing, calling him a “good dude and a tremendous musician.” That sentiment seems to be shared pretty much across the board. Here’s a bit from the Reuters article concerning Raven’s death. Our condolences to friends, family and fans both in Portland and around the world.

NEW YORK- Paul Raven, bass player with British punk band Killing Joke, has died in Geneva aged 46, the band said in a statement on Monday.

“Paul had been recording with Ted Parsons and Marco Neves in Geneva for the band Treponem Pal. After a day of recording, Paul retired to bed and did not wake up,” the statement said.

Raven joined the band in 1982, but also played and wrote with other groups including Ministry, Godflesh, Prong, Pigface, Murder Inc, and Amen.

Killing Joke’s music has been covered by bands including Metallica, Foo Fighters, Fear Factory, Nouvelle Vague and LCD Soundsystem.

“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,” Killing Joke front man Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker said.

A statement from Paul’s brother, Daniel John Raven, was posted on MOB Research’s (another of Raven’s projects) MySpace page:

“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.”

A remembrances page is on the 13th Planet website.

A more complete obituary was posted on Pitchfork.

An interview with Raven on Metal Realm.

Photo courtesy of 13th Planet and Steffan Chirazi.

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