Biography
Writing Career
As of October 2010, Joel Gausten has written nearly 3,000 published articles for a variety of music, gaming and automotive publications.
Gausten has interviewed several notable musicians over the years, including Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, Eric Singer of Kiss, Rick Dufay of Aerosmith, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure, David Thomas of Pere Ubu, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Jarboe, Nicholas Bullen of Napalm Death, Midge Ure of Ultravox and Thin Lizzy, Jimmy Destri of Blondie , Roger Miret of Agnostic Front, Alex Skolnick of Testament, Paul Allender of Cradle of Filth, Marky Ramone, Bill Laswell, Tony Maimone of They Might Be Giants, Matthew Good, Chris Connelly of Revolting Cocks, Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Xzibit, Geddy Lee of Rush, Hugo Burnham of Gang of Four, Pete Jones of Public Image Limited, Ted Parsons of Prong, Tommy Victor of Ministry, Jerry Only of The Misfits, Texas Terri, Richard Lloyd of Television, Yngwie Malmsteen, Martin Atkins of The Damage Manual, Amanda Ghost, J Mascis, Hunt Sales of Tin Machine, Musiq Soulchild, Bob Daisley of Rainbow, Celtic Frost, Billy Ray Cyrus, Nicole Blackman of KMFDM, Cosey Fanni Tutti of Throbbing Gristle, Opeth, Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys, Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy, Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, 3LW, Reeves Gabrels, Gitane Demone of Christian Death and Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, among many others.
Gausten's notable non-music celebrity interviews include Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank and Art Monk of the Washington Redskins.
Gausten's books include Tales of Horror: The History of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD, Pandemonium: Inside Killing Joke, Prong: The Early Years, The SABBATH Interviews and From Satan to Sabbath: The Metal Interviews 2000-2009. Gausten's upcoming books include Rock N Roll Monster: The Rik L Rik Story and Albums that (Should've) Changed the World. He was also a contributor to/editor for Martin Atkins' best-selling 2007 book, Tour:Smart, alongside such notables as Henry Rollins and Steve Albini.
Gausten has been the subject of articles in a variety of magazines including Blender , Revolver Punk Globe and Scream Magazine. In November 2006, Suicide Girls famously called him "a very busy man."
Recently, he became the host of his own bi-weekly radio show, "Glory Is Noise." The show includes an eclectic mix of music and interviews with underground and mainstream recording artists.
Music Career
A drummer since age 9, Gausten has appeared on over 50 CDs, EPs and internationally distributed compilations by such acts as Electric Frankenstein, The Undead, The Sixth Chamber, Broken Heroes and The Graveyard School. He was a sporadic member of The Undead from 1998 to 2008. In 2001, he performed as a member of Pigface alongside Martin Atkins (Killing Joke), Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks), Charles Levi (My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult),Chris Haskett (Rollins Band) and Meg Lee Chin. In 1995, he rehearsed with The Misfits as a fill-in drummer and later appeared on a number of Misfits bootlegs recorded during these rehearsal sessions.
Gausten also worked with The Misfits as a promoter, booking and coordinating the band's legendary "homecoming" show at Action Park in Vernon, New Jersey on August 31, 1996.
While living in Los Angeles in 2005, he performed with a Ramones cover band with members of The Wildhearts, Dirty Looks, Life, Sex & Death, London, White Lion, Clam Abuse, AntiProduct and Prong.
Gausten is an active supporter of the West Memphis 3 and has performed benefit concerts (with The Undead) and published articles on their behalf. In addition, he has performed as a member of The Undead at benefit concerts in memory of slain punk fan Brian Deneke.
Gausten joined Electric Frankenstein on drums for a Canadian tour in the summer of 2008. He previously played with the band 10 years earlier, contributing drums to two recording sessions. Also in 2008, he briefly performed under the name "Hung Lo" in the "secret" punk project Kung Fu Killers.
Highlights in Gausten's album discography include Electric Frankenstein's Sod The Odds!, Electric Frankenstein / Le Shok and 'Don't Touch Me, I'm Electric!' (Double Album Version) and The Undead's 12 Hits Un-Covered. He is also co-producer of an upcoming tribute album to Betty Blowtorch and is currently drumming with the electronic project, Effectionhate.
