Editing Martin Atkins

{{short description|English musician}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- For individuals; see Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name              = Martin Atkins
| image             = Martin Atkins.jpg
| alt               = 
| caption           = Atkins in 2010
| image_size        = 
| birth_name        = Martin Clive Atkins
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1959|8|3}}
| birth_place       = [[Coventry]], England<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/1527673/martin-atkins/biography|title=Martin Atkins Biography|magazine=Billboard|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref>
| origin            = 
| instrument        = Drums
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Experimental rock|Avant-rock]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/12/18/sculpted-chaos/|title=Sculpted Chaos : Pigface's Blistering Rock Freak Show Just Won't Quit|last=Kot|first=Greg|date=18 December 1998|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=25 May 2018|quote=Somehow keeping it together is Martin Atkins, a British expatriate and avant-rock veteran with stints in esteemed bands such as Public Image Ltd. and Killing Joke.}}</ref>|[[industrial music|industrial]]|[[post-punk]]}}
| occupation        = Musician
| years_active      = 
| label             = 
| associated_acts   = {{hlist|[[Public Image Ltd]]|[[Ministry (band)|Ministry]]|[[Pigface]]|[[Killing Joke]]|[[Nine Inch Nails]]|[[Murder, Inc. (band)|Murder, Inc.]]|[[The Damage Manual]]|Opium Jukebox}}
| website           = 
}}

'''Martin Clive Atkins''' (born 3 August 1959) is an English drummer, best known for his work in [[post-punk]] and [[Industrial music|industrial]] groups including [[Public Image Ltd]], [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]], [[Nine Inch Nails]], [[Pigface]], and [[Killing Joke]]. He also works as a consultant, has written multiple books on the music industry, and is the music industry studies coordinator at [[Millikin University]] in Decatur, IL. Atkins is the owner and operator of the Museum of Post Punk and Industrial Music in Chicago, is an honorary board member of the Chicago-based nonprofit organization [[Rock For Kids]], and is a fellow of [https://www.inplaceofwar.net/ In Place of War].

== Early life ==
Atkins was born in [[Coventry]], England.<ref name="billboard" />

== Career ==

=== 1979–1985 ===
Atkins' first major exposure as a drummer was with [[John Lydon]]'s post-[[Sex Pistols]] band, [[Public Image Ltd]]. He joined in 1979, just in time to contribute to the song "Bad Baby" on the album ''[[Metal Box]]''. Atkins' first live show with PiL was recorded and released as a live album ''[[Paris au Printemps]]'' and his first year with the band included appearances on [[John Peel|The John Peel Sessions]] for the [[BBC]], ''[[American Bandstand]]'' and the BBC's live ''[[Old Grey Whistle Test]]''.

In 1980, Atkins left Public Image Ltd to concentrate on his band Brian Brain with Pete Jones (who also played with Public Image Ltd in 1982 and 1983) on bass (in 1983 replaced by original [[Go-Go's]] bassist Margot Olavarria) and Bobby Surgeoner on guitar (later replaced by Olavarria's husband, Geoff Smyth). Named after the Worcestershire and Gloucestershire seam bowler [[Brian Brain]], the band released six singles and one LP (''Unexpected Noises'') on [[Secret Records]],<ref name=fodder /> and continued to release singles and LPs on Atkins' own Plaid Records throughout the 1980s. The band had a minor [[UK Indie Chart|indie chart]] hit in 1980 with "They've Got Me in the Bottle" (#39),<ref name=lazell /> and club hits with the singles "Jive Jive" (1981) and "Funky Zoo" (1982).

Atkins was hired in late 1980 by Public Image Ltd to perform on ''[[The Flowers of Romance (album)|The Flowers of Romance]]'', drumming on four tracks. In 1982 he re-joined as a full-time band member, co-producing and co-writing the album ''[[This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get]]''. Atkins left PiL for the last time in 1985.

=== 1985–2005 ===
After leaving Public Image Ltd, Atkins revived his Brian Brain project<ref name=freeman /> and recorded an EP at Planet Sound Studios in New York for his own, short-lived label ''Plaid Records'',<ref name=dupler /> which was released in July 1985.<ref name=goodman /> Throughout the late 1980s, the 1990s and early 2000s, Atkins performed with many bands, including [[Nine Inch Nails]] (appearing in the video for "[[Head Like a Hole]]"), as well as [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]]. The dual-drumming of Atkins and [[Bill Rieflin]] appears on the live Ministry album/video ''[[In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up]]''. Atkins later joined [[Killing Joke]], performing on 1990s ''Extremities, Dirt, and Other Repressed Emotions''. He also managed the band for that time, and designed their live show scenery and some merchandise.

Atkins formed his [[Industrial music|industrial]] [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]], [[Pigface]], during a [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] tour in 1989–1990. After joining [[Killing Joke]] for their 1990 recording, ''[[Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions]]'', he went on to form [[Murder, Inc. (band)|Murder, Inc.]], a new band featuring [[Geordie Walker]] and [[Paul Raven (musician)|Paul Raven]] from Killing Joke, and [[Chris Connelly (musician)|Chris Connelly]], in 1992.<ref name="obit">{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1572403/ministry-killing-joke-bassist-paul-raven-dead-at-46/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221151652/http://www.mtv.com/news/1572403/ministry-killing-joke-bassist-paul-raven-dead-at-46/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 December 2014 | title=Ministry/ Killing Joke Bassist Paul Raven Dead At 46 | publisher=[[MTV]] | date=21 October 2007 | access-date=8 May 2015 | last=Harris | first=Chris}}</ref> During this time, he played with the [[Revolting Cocks]] and is credited alongside [[Chris Vrenna]] in [[Nine Inch Nails]] for performing extra drums on "[[Wish (Nine Inch Nails song)|Wish]]" and "Gave Up," tracks two and six of the ''[[Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP)|Broken]]'' EP (as well as the aforementioned "[[Head Like a Hole]]").

In between creating albums and touring with Pigface he also formed [[The Damage Manual]] with [[Jah Wobble]], Walker, and Connelly. Atkins later produced and released a collaborative album with [[Skinny Puppy]]'s [[Nivek Ogre]], the latter's first project outside of Skinny Puppy, under the moniker [[Rx (band)|Rx]]. The resulting album was entitled ''Bedside Toxicology''.

Between 2000 and 2002 he released four albums as Opium Jukebox featuring instrumental cover tunes done in a [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]] style.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/418782-Opium-Jukebox | title=Opium Jukebox| website=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>

=== 2006–present ===
In October 2006, Atkins visited Beijing to discover the emerging Chinese music scene. During his stay, Atkins recorded and signed a handful of Chinese bands to [[Invisible Records]] and recorded material for a new Pigface album.

Atkins has taught at [[Columbia College Chicago|Columbia College]] in Chicago where he instructed the course "The Business of Touring". He is also an active guest lecturer, speaking at such institutions as the University of Southern California, the Midi School in Beijing and [[Lebanon Valley College]] in Annville, Pennsylvania. Atkins has since become an instructor at the [[Madison Media Institute]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin]]. Atkins has announced plans to take his lecturing further by eventually opening a school of his own.<ref name=ss /> He is also a former department chairman for a music business program he designed at [[SAE Institute|SAE Chicago]].<ref name=cst /> He now is the acting Music Business program coordinator at [[Millikin University]] in Decatur, IL.

Atkins has held a number of seminars at [[Tech Music Schools]] (Drumtech, Vocaltech, Guitar-X and Keyboardtech) in London, with more planned for the future.

Atkins has written what he calls "the first real book on touring". The book ''Tour:Smart'', featured contributions from [[Henry Rollins]], [[Cynthia Plastercaster]], [[The Enigma (performer)|The Enigma]], the [[Suicide Girls]], [[Zim Zum]] (formerly of Marilyn Manson), [[Kevin Lyman]], Curse Mackey, CPA Lisa Malina and various other managers, journalists, venues, agents, sponsors, and radio personalities.<ref name=ts1 /><ref name=ts2 />

Atkins was on the tenth annual Independent Music Awards judging panel, and was also a judge for the seventh annual season of Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.<ref name=ima />

Starting in 2015, Atkins has written and performed several podcast stories for The Martin Atkins Minute, included with the [[NPR]] [[All Songs Considered]] podcast.<ref name=nprmam />

In 2018 Martin released ''Band:Smart'', the follow-up to his ''Tour:Smart'' book. This book covers record labels, book agents, crafting a stage show, band names, social media and lots more.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://martinatkins.bigcartel.com/product/band-smart-success-in-the-music-business-on-your-own-terms-1 |title = Band:Smart Success in the Music Business on Your Own Terms}}</ref>

In 2021, Martin opened Chicago's "Museum of Post Punk and Industrial Music" documenting the history of the two movements with over 3000 items and ephemera. Displays include handwritten lyrics by Trent Reznor for Pigface,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1149977756/what-to-know-about-the-chicago-museum-of-post-rock-and-industrial-music |title = NPR - Pigface to Reznor: Here's what you'll find in Chicago's new industrial rock museum}}</ref> Martin's drum set,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://columbiachronicle.com/punk-drummer-martin-atkins-harnesses-diy-spirit-to-create-museum-of-post-punk-music |title = Punk drummer Martin Atkins harnesses DIY spirit to create Museum of Post-Punk Music}}</ref> vintage rarities from [[Skinny Puppy]], and a myriad of other rare items from the history of Industrial music. 

In 2022, Martin was also inducted by [[Brian Eno]] as a fellow of [https://www.inplaceofwar.net/ In Place of War], a global organization that uses creativity in places of conflict as a tool for positive change.

== Discography ==
{{Expand list|date=February 2021}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;with Public Image Ltd
* 1979: ''[[Metal Box]]'' ("Bad Baby" only)
* 1980: ''[[Paris au Printemps]]'' (live)
* 1981: ''[[The Flowers of Romance (album)| The Flowers of Romance]]''
* 1983: ''[[Live in Tokyo (Public Image Limited album)| Live in Tokyo]]'' (live)
* 1984: ''[[This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get]]''
;with Brian Brain
* 1987: ''Time Flies When You're Having Toast''
{{col-2}}
;with Ministry
* 1990: ''[[In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up]]'' (live)
;with Killing Joke
* 1990: ''[[Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions]]''
;with Pigface
{{Main|Pigface discography}}
* ''[[Gub]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Fook (album)|Fook]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Notes From Thee Underground]]'' (1994)
* ''[[A New High in Low]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Easy Listening...]]'' (2003)
* ''[[6 (Pigface album)|6]]'' (2009)
;with Nine Inch Nails
* 1992: ''[[Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP)| Broken]]'' (EP)
;with Swans
* 1995: [[The Great Annihilator]] ("My Buried Child" only)
{{col-end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=fodder>{{cite web
| url        = http://www.fodderstompf.com/DISCOGRAPHY/SOLO/bbdisc.html
| title      = PiL Discography &#124; Brian Brain Discography
| publisher  = Fodderstompf
| access-date = 3 January 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=lazell>{{cite book
| last       = Lazell
| first      = Barry
| title      = Indie Hits 1980–1999
| year       = 1997
| publisher  = Cherry Red Books
| isbn       = 0-9517206-9-4}}</ref>
<ref name=dupler>{{cite news
| first      = Steven
| last       = Dupler
| author-link = Steven Dupler
| title      = Audio Track, New York
| date       = 15 June 1985
| publisher  = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| page       = 30
}}</ref>
<ref name=freeman>{{cite news
| first      = Kim
| last       = Freeman
| title      = Grass Route
| date       = 25 May 1985
| publisher  = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| page       = 85
| url        = https://books.google.com/books?id=DyUEAAAAMBAJ&q=brian+brain
| quote      = Back in New York, former Public Image Ltd. drummer/writer/producer Martin Atkins has gone solo with a new label called Plaid Records. The first project there is an EP by Brian Brain, which features Margot Olavarria, formerly of the Go-Go's.
| access-date = 23 November 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=goodman>{{cite news
| first      = Fred
| last       = Goodman
| title      = Album Reviews
| date       = 20 July 1985
| publisher  = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]
| page       = 66
| url        = https://books.google.com/books?id=ISQEAAAAMBAJ&q=Brian+Brain
| quote      = Four-song EP by New York based outfit employing heavy drum sound and chant vocal arrangements. Title track is an anti-drug tune that manages to avoid becoming bogged down under the weight of its message.
| access-date = 23 November 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=ima>{{cite web
 |title=Independent Music Awards – 7th Annual Judges
 |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2008.asp
 |publisher=Independent Music Awards
 |access-date=23 November 2014
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306153750/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2008.asp
 |archive-date=6 March 2014
}}</ref>
<ref name=ts1>{{cite news
| first      = Brett
| last       = Emerson
| title      = Martin Atkins, Tour:Smart
| date       = 8 February 2009
| publisher  = [[The Second Supper]]
| url        = http://www.secondsupper.com/review.php?r=52
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101129033451/http://secondsupper.com/review.php?r=52
| archive-date= 29 November 2010
| access-date = 23 November 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=ts2>{{cite news
| first      = Brett
| last       = Emerson
| title      = Martin Atkins – Tour:Smart
| publisher  = [[The Second Supper]]
| url        = http://secondsupper.com/review.php?r=53
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716033446/http://secondsupper.com/review.php?r=53
| archive-date= 16 July 2011
| access-date = 23 November 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=ss>{{cite news
 |first       = Richie
 |last        = Corelli
 |title       = Aim Low, Get High: An Evening with Martin Atkins
 |date        = 6 March 2007
|publisher   = Soundsect
 |url         = http://soundsect.com/feature.php?id=4
 |access-date  = 23 November 2014
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130202165732/http://soundsect.com/feature.php?id=4
 |archive-date = 2 February 2013
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
<ref name=cst>{{cite news
 |first       = Sandra
 |last        = Guy
 |title       = The Sitdown: Martin Atkins, ex-Public Image Ltd. drummer, educator
 |date        = 22 November 2014
|publisher   = [[Chicago Sun-Times]]
 |url         = http://entertainment.suntimes.com/entertainment-news/sitdown-martin-atkins-ex-public-image-ltd-drummer-educator/
 |access-date  = 23 November 2014
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129051843/http://entertainment.suntimes.com/entertainment-news/sitdown-martin-atkins-ex-public-image-ltd-drummer-educator/
 |archive-date = 29 November 2014
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
<ref name=nprmam>{{cite web
| url        = https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/448976198/the-martin-atkins-minute/archive
| title      = The Martin Atkins Minute
| publisher  = NPR
| access-date = 21 December 2016}}</ref>

}}

== Bibliography ==
Further reading:
* {{cite book|first=Jyrki "Spider" |last=Hämäläinen|title=Killing Joke: Are You Receiving?|publisher=Milton Keynes: New Haven Publishing Ltd |isbn=978-1-912587-40-7 |date=2020}}

== External links ==
*[https://martinatkins.bigcartel.com/ Martin Atkins] on Bigcartel Store
*[http://www.tstouring.com/ Official Tour:Smart page]
*[https://www.myspace.com/thereligionofmarketing Official Gallery Page]
*[http://www.toursmart.tstouring.com/?cat=5 Martin Atkins Blog]

{{Public Image Ltd}}
{{Ministry (band)}}
{{Killing Joke}}
{{Pigface}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins, Martin}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English industrial musicians]]
[[Category:Columbia College Chicago faculty]]
[[Category:English rock drummers]]
[[Category:English session musicians]]
[[Category:Killing Joke members]]
[[Category:Ministry (band) members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Coventry]]
[[Category:Pigface members]]
[[Category:Public Image Ltd members]]
[[Category:English post-punk musicians]]
[[Category:Murder, Inc. (band) members]]
[[Category:The Damage Manual members]]