Painkiller was formed in 1991 and featured saxophonist John Zorn, bassist Bill Laswell and Napalm Death drummer and Scorn founder Mick Harris on drums. The band began performing a mix of avantgarde jazz and grindcore, though later incorporated ambient and dub elements.
Mick Harris left the group in 1995 to devote himself to his electronic projects, the band has then occasionally performed with Hamid Drake or Ruins' Yoshida Tatsuya on drums.
Still Mick Harris returned to the band for live sets in 2008 and should be considered a true and active member of the band.
Current lineup:
John Zorn – saxophone, voice (1991–1995, 1997–1998, 2003, 2004–2006, 2008, 2024–present)
Bill Laswell – bass guitar (1991–1995, 1997–1998, 2003, 2004–2006, 2008, 2024–present)
Mick Harris – drums, voice (1991–1995, 1997–1998, 2008), electronics, effects (2024–present)
Former members:
Hamid Drake – drums (2003)
Tatsuya Yoshida – drums, vocals (2004–2006)
Guest/session musicians:
Justin Broadrick – guitar, drum machine, vocals (1991) (on Buried Secrets (1992), tracks "Buried Secrets", "The Toll")
G.C. Green – bass (1991) (on Buried Secrets (1992), tracks "Buried Secrets", "The Toll")
Keiji Haino – guitar, vocals (1991) (on Rituals: Live in Japan (1993), tracks "Vapors of Phlegm and Blood", "Tetragrammaton", "Cat's Cradle", "Demonic Possession", "Tokyo Lucky Hole"; on Collected Works (1998), track "Marianne")
Koichi Makigami – vocals (1991) (on Collected Works (1998), track "Marianne")
Buckethead – guitar (1993)
Kevin Sharp – vocals (1993)
Yamatsuka Eye – vocals (1994) (on Live in Osaka (1995) (Execution Ground Japanese bonus CD), tracks "Bodkyithangga", "Black Bile / Yellow Bile / Blue Bile / Crimson Bile / Ivory Bile")
Mike Patton – vocals (2003, 2008) (on 50th Birthday Celebration Volume 12 (2005))
Fred Frith – guitar (2008)
2025
Tzadik
CD, Album
2025
Tzadik
CD, Album
2024
Tzadik
CD, Album
2013
Tzadik
CD, Album
2005
Tzadik
CD, Album
2002
Tzadik
CD, Album
1998
1998
1994
1993
1992
1991
2019
2006
2013
2008
Earache
5xCD, Comp + DVD, PC + Box
2007
Earache
6xCD, Comp + Box
2007
2005
2001
Metrodome Group PLC, Dressed To Kill
10xCD, Comp + Box, Ltd
2000
Earache
Box, Ltd + 3xCD, Comp
1996
1995
Maboroshi No Sekai
CD, Comp
1995
Caroline Records
CD, Comp, Promo, Smplr
1992
Sentrax
CD, Comp
1992
1991
Relativity, Earache
Cass, Promo, Smplr
2020
OMX
CDr, Unofficial
2020
OMX
2xCDr, Unofficial, Pap
2020
OMX
2xCDr, Unofficial, Pap
2004
GruvMan
CDr, Ltd, Unofficial
2000
Not On Label
CDr, Comp, Ltd, Mixed, Unofficial, 6 c
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