Ministry Bassist Paul Raven Found Dead at 46

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Ministry Bassist Paul Raven Found Dead at 46

posted Oct 21, 2007 at 10:19 AM by zMETALlica. (24 Comments)

Band Photo: Ministry (?)

Ministry's bassist Paul Raven was found dead today [October 20th] in a private home in a small French village on the Swiss border. Initial reports indicate Raven's passing was due to a heart attack. Raven (known also for his work with Killing Joke, Prong) was in Geneva working with French recording artists Treponem Pal on their new release, with Marco Neves, Ted Parsons (Prong) and members of The Young Gods.

Born in Wolverhampton UK on January 16, 1961, Paul Vincent Raven established himself with his work in the seminal post-punk/industrial group Killing Joke when, in 1982 he replaced the original bassist for the band, recording and touring with the group throughout its most commercially successful period, performing on Fire Dances, Night Time and Brighter than a Thousand Suns. Throughout his extensive career, Raven participated in other collaborations including Prong, Murder, Inc., Pigface, Godflesh.

Most recently, Raven was nominated for a 2006 Grammy for Best Metal Performance for his work with Ministry's Al Jourgensen, with whom he had begun working with in late 2005 on the 13th Planet release Rio Grande Blood. After a 2006 World Tour with Ministry, Raven helped Jourgensen and Prong's Tommy Victor pen the September 18, 2006 Ministry release The Last Sucker, Ministry's final studio release.

States Jourgensen: "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. God's speed, Raven. Rest In Peace, you fucking pirate."

Raven's newest project, Mob Research, featuring members of Warrior Soul and The Mission UK, and schedule for release on 13th Planet Records in 2008, was in the final mixing and mastering phases at the time of Raven's sudden and unexpected passing.

A memorial dedicated to the Life and Art of Paul Raven can be found at www.thirteenthplanet.com.

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24 Comments on "Ministry Bassist Paul Raven Found Dead at 46"

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1. rk writes:

damn thats a bummer. Ministry is one of the few non metal bands i like listening to time to time. I would figure al would die b4 anyone with his problems in the past with herion.

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 11:59 AM ET | IP Logged

2. SlayerDoom writes:

Damn this sucks, i hope ministry keeps going for the next year until they call it quits...but this really does suck.

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 12:07 PM ET | IP Logged

3. holyshit writes:

damnit! lost another one....this f uckin sucks. R.I.P.

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 1:25 PM ET | IP Logged

4. WARRIORS OV SICKNESS writes:

R.I.P.

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 2:26 PM ET | IP Logged

5. Jrizzle writes:

R.I.P. This sucks

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 2:44 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

6. Vicarious_Intent writes:

Holy sh**...what a loss. He wasn't even that old...
I hope the band is doing alright in dealing with this loss. RIP Paul, a great bassist in a great band.

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 2:44 PM ET | IP Logged

7. Public Execution writes:

I wish the best to Raven's family, and to Ministry.
R.I.P.

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 2:45 PM ET | IP Logged

8. Caveman writes:

Dam, thats sh**ty. R.I.P to a great talent that will be missed.

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 3:02 PM ET | IP Logged

9. Xavez writes:

FFFUUUUCCKKK NO!!!

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 4:49 PM ET | IP Logged

10. Black Widow writes:

I never much liked this band but that still sucks

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 6:13 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

11. SexBloodandMetal writes:

f***! This f***ing sucks!

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 6:17 PM ET | IP Logged

12. LivingDead writes:

ok guys i guess ill b honest. Ministry sucks balls!!!!!
but RIP peace dude, as a fellow musician i gotta respect the talent u had. 2 soon 2 soon

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 8:29 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

13. zach writes:

f***.... R.I.P dude
now playing: Just One Fix-Ministry

# Oct 21, 2007 @ 11:45 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

14. ArchNemesis28 writes:

R.I.P. dude

# Oct 22, 2007 @ 12:55 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

15. acacia writes:

man this sucks f***ing R.I.P

# Oct 22, 2007 @ 4:00 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

16. Red_Chord writes:

Always sad to see a life ended so young but I guess he had some good times with some stuff that probably didn't help his heart. so he lived fast, died young. Hope they have bass guitars up there.

# Oct 22, 2007 @ 5:42 PM ET | IP Logged

17. CrawfordTexasJingoJango writes:

R.I.P.

# Oct 23, 2007 @ 9:12 AM ET | IP Logged

18. russ writes:

r.i.p. paul raven

# Oct 24, 2007 @ 7:58 PM ET | IP Logged

19. Timothy Alexander Dotson writes:

Goddamn It!
Is it me or is this website just getting even more and more depressing every time I come on here?!
Every time, I come on here, some band has broken up, or someone in metal had just recently died! This is just sooo upsetting!
Especially now that we have lost the great Paul Raven. What the hell is Ministry supposed to do now?! I sure hope that they can continue onwards in their touring and such and hopefully find somebody who's at least half as good as Raven was.

Well, here's to him now! Goodbye Paul Raven.
We'll miss you! Heavy Metal For Life(In Life and Death)! Heavy Metal Forever!
Rest In Peace Paul Raven. Goodbye.

# Oct 25, 2007 @ 12:42 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

20. amongthedead writes:

Never really got into the music, but that doesnt mean anything now. Another great bassist gone. R.I.P Paul. You did your part. And rocked it.

# Oct 25, 2007 @ 1:17 PM ET | IP Logged

21. comatoast writes:

death is a passage to a new dimension...sorry to see you leave, you accomplished great things here. now its time to soar!

# Oct 26, 2007 @ 12:25 AM ET | IP Logged

22. Andrew writes:

Ive never gotten into their music, and don't like their music, but I know how much they impacted the metal scene for years and how many people are gonna be affected by this loss. Its a shame when great musicians die young. It sucks.

# Oct 26, 2007 @ 7:58 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

23. blood_artist writes:

i'm not a big fan but i respect this band very much . Sad to see him go , but happy to think that he went to a better place. R.I.P.

# Oct 28, 2007 @ 5:20 PM ET | IP Logged

24. Angryman writes:

WARNING, do not go to FIRSIDE BANK for an auto loan. They are in the business to take advanced of the little guy.

# Nov 1, 2007 @ 2:46 PM ET | IP Logged

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