Youth: The John Robb interview

The legendary Killing Joke bass player and top producer talks about life in the most idiosyncratic of bands, his musical journey, the power of magic, producing the Verve, Crowded House and many more in this in depth interview...
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'John Robb is perhaps the best music interviewer we have. He has a unique empathy with the subject and an in-depth knowledge and passion and his interviews are always gripping and passionate.' Rolling Stone.
Producer Matthew Shaw, Cameraman Chris Bowerman, Editor and Direction Shaun Qureshi.
Filmed for Lush and uploaded on this channel courtesy of Lush please check out their youtube channel / channel
Thanks to Mark Constantine for allowing us to use this content.

[@dwh5707]

Amazing time to be alive to witness and enjoy Killing Joke. I came in at Night Time with Raven on bass but Youth’s return/ reintegration was written somewhere. Recent tours- treasured memories. Hard to imagine more KJ without Geordie, peace and love to those that remain 🙏

[@strumbolli]

Joh Robb interviewing Youth better than the anything on the telly!! A truly interesting character and I love the sound of his Rickenbacker bass first and foremost. He has an energy that I find inspiring.

[@what163]

as a frostbit Canadian boy I grew up listening to KJ. I went to Europe and I am confident the journey there was inspired also partially by their music. I sat on the beaches of Dan Haag listening to Love Like Blood in 86, that tape followed me around Europe the next two years. I love the intent and energy and honesty of KJ. Fellow friend to gather. CHeers m8s. ❤❤❤

[@mayhem492]

You could just sit down with this lad and talk to him all night. Great musician, producer, writer, talker and complete space cadet. The perfect company!

[@mjruston1]

This is great. Two older men at the peak of their powers.

[@Unfunny_Username_389]

Yes! I wonder if they have ever been lovers?

[@25wattsprintdesign88]

Bloody marvellous conversation. Robb is the perfect host and keeps Youth on track in this fascinating discussion. Thanks, totally enjoyed this. RIP Geordie, I'm still pretty shattered by his sudden departure. But then again, life's a fragile thing, right?

[@Ranjeef]

Best Youth interview I have seen yet, great insights - love it, energising 🙏🔥❤️

[@thisisstevet]

"... if you fear it, draw it near ..." Great interview

[@nodarkthings]

John Robb is on fire at the mo with all these great interviews with legends.

[@stephenroe201]

His production on Together Alone by Crowded House is amazing .

[@X14366]

We need a Youth documentary - and a detailed look at the creative space at Space Mountain.

[@thbreadman23]

I'd love to have a look through that collection of books

[@PaulShendtown]

Fabulous stuff. When I first saw Killing Joke way back in '81 at the tender age of 16, one of the things that made a massive impression on me was the way that Youth and Geordie just stood there, menacingly, as if they were just a bit too cool to be bothered to move. Contrasted with Jaz bouncing around, as he did back then, like a possessed imp and Big Paul's tribal rhythms that gig remains a huge event in my life.

[@skriptico]

so envy for your gig fratello, I had the chance to see them here in shitaly live for the whatsthisfor tour, but the concert turned to a massive superviolent rumble :((. they warn the crowd a couple of time "you stop or we stop", but the fighting did not stop and they quit and leave the stage after a couple of pieces :(( i was on the point of crying openly. Wasted chance to see my fav band ever :( people fighting at concerts, fucking idiots, they're the worst really.

[@andchat6241]

Yeah ,one thing I really liked in 1980-81 Live Killing Joke was the Youth/Geordie dynamic - both were 'cool' but in different ways with Youth looking like he'd just got out of bed ! After a 30 year gap I saw the 'original line up again' & was surprised at how good they were ( only Jaz should have stayed behind his synth/keys)

[@paulgriffiths1062]

A true living legend. Great stuff. Copied by many..equalled by none.

[@carlrobinson6559]

Amazing in Manchester a few weeks ago, one of the best gigs I've ever been to actually and this is a really insightful interview, great stuff! 👍🙏😎🖤🔥

[@colinfuidge8660]

Another great interview.

[@hellfeeder23]

Fascinating interview.

[@mummyd1990]

Youth is a class act,very interesting guy and very intelligent and John is a legend in himself to,love it.

[@stevwood3502]

Great interview. Saw them in Glasgow recently.

[@hrorm]

You rule John Robb, have a great Odinsday

[@scottmcneil1150]

Brilliant John, thanks for this and for highlighting killing jokes forthcoming gig next year at the Albert hall x

[@patmcdonagh8939]

Thanks so much, a great interview overloaded with sage & beautiful ideas thoughts & advice, beautiful, thank you.

[@schattenheim]

Again a great interview 👌👍

[@timwilderspin]

So much wisdom here. Such an engrossing interview.

[@neilangus1363]

I love Youth

[@nasdkhan254]

If John Robb & Youth mixed their hairstyles together they would be complete🤣🤣🤣

[@richardchaffer3461]

Always on point, fascinating and insightful questions - top stuff!

[@TaraVanflower]

I love him so much.

[@TheLobohobo]

Met them first in Düsseldorf, 1980, last time live @ Royal Albert Hall… they changed. ☝🏻😎✨

[@laszlozoltan5021]

life is about change- wouldnt it be awful if everything just stayed the same ? it'd be awfully boring, I can tell you that.

[@andchat6241]

Yeah KJ changed a lot - from okay in '79 to being brilliant '81-'82 , then a 'big sound ' rock band in the mid 80s , bloody awful for over 15 years & then good again around 2010 , and after 2013 I have no idea what they've been doing ....

[@jamesmonoghan1281]

Art IS everything and more, then more.

[@jamesmonoghan1281]

Still love KJ I remember the Acklam hall gigs. Fantastic times.

[@steviox]

Marvellous.

[@thiscorrosion900]

Emptying the laundry machines' change boxes...bless him! LOL

[@empiresong6236]

Brilliant interview. Wouldn't a Youth autobiography be great?

[@gr3y_eminence]

Indeed. I would enjoy it. They're a sharp group of guys. I discovered their work later in life and never realized the power it could have through these times. But as a composer and frankly eccentric polymath kind of person. Jaz is one of the few who could outtalk me. Haha. His book is worth it, even though I have digested sections at a time. Their documentary Death and Resurrection Show is really worth it too - I bet you've seen it with your nickname! Greetings from New York were This World Hell is the anthem.

[@thiscorrosion900]

I barely knew Killing Joke back in 1987-88 when Brighter Than came out, and I was hearing it on WLIR radio here in NY and college radio and became an instant fan. I recall hearing at some point some DJs talking about the fact that allegedly Youth had gone round the bend, it was kind of like "oh haha Sanity yeah they wrote a song about it" (wankers), and it almost sounded like they just wrote him off, but of course, that's not the true story of what even happened. But then again this was years ago and there was still such a stigma about mental illness and drugs and whatever, I guess. Now I realize it was just some short term damage and Youth bounced back very well, of course. Stupid sensationalism. Iggy went through the same type of period. A cautionary tale kiddies, don't do drugs and if your "friends" try to push that shit on you, punch them right in the gob!

[@andchat6241]

Around '79 -'80 he was regarded as an 'Acid Freak ' including a trip down kings road in his underpants . But mostly he seemed pretty much together , he handled being edged of KJ in '82 & carried on being an interesting producer/character ( & never was just 'that bloke that was in Killing Joke ' before they were 'successful' )

[@andchat6241]

Or do drugs if you want to ...the choice is yours .

[@D-osOrg]

wicked !!!!! :D :D :D

[@patrickbertlein4626]

I just came to terms with the fact that I will eventually stop shaving my head and just let it grow, and look just like this.

[@thelengthmen]

Fantastic interview, learnt a lot and very entertaining too. High production values also appreciated

[@michaelfrazia4569]

his work with mccartney was great. diverse career

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

John can you interview john cale please but not on a stage (where we can't hear). Can you get him backstage or in a cafe or even on Zoom?

[@thedoc1210]

5:48 truth from Youth

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

My mum has that exact same statue of mary

[@katoness]

All this talk of art, gives you an awful thirst.

[@thiscorrosion900]

Kimono My House

[@freddiefries]

Hello to Yputh x

[@VincentRE79]

Youth is definitely a hoarder.

[@edwardmulholland7912]

Youth is like your eccentric uncle who is cool but a bit weird. He’s just like an old hippy, I can see why McCartney likes him.

[@aliencactus720]

Saying psychosis is a "shamanic" experience, is just a way to increase delusional patterns of thinking.

[@matthewburrows4359]

Jaz is my guru. However Youth is lovely cool guy.

[@helmutsecke3529]

🍐

[@Unfunny_Username_389]

47:35 - No - all drugs do that.

[@thiscorrosion900]

And brush 3x a day and don't take any fookin wooden nickels.

[@DrPhil-pw2to]

He gone up his own hole.

[@thiscorrosion900]

No he hasn't. At least he didn't end up in a bloody loony bin for life.

[@puzzleoyster]

Wait a moment or ten Youth All we want to create in a best band live experience in a studio Not quife sure you have to go to the lengths of ritualising the sterile studio walls. Why dont you expand your genius archetypes come to life in a concert situation and sack the environment you dont quite gets to your true philosopy

[@bernardmeyre]

I like John Robb as an interviewer. Witty , curious and respectul

[@freddiefries]

Interesting interview 😊

[@mdent23]

fantastic interview- kj and me have been pals since 80 when i met them and was invited into studio to hear final mix of whats this for

[@jezgomez]

Hope to see you at the gig today

[@STEVEFINNERTY]

top interview, great stuff.