Dying Scene (DS) first caught up with legendary post-punk and industrial drummer Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd (PiL), Ministry, Killing Joke, Nine Inch Nails, Pigface, Brian Brain) at the 47th anniversary celebration of The Alley, an historic staple of Chicago’s underground scene. Between July and September 2023, DS visited Atkins at his aptly named Museum of Post Punk & Industrial Music (PPIM) in Chicago. Atkins led tours, told stories, hosted a whiskey and pancake brunch, and sat for an interview over coffee. Atkins was around for the beginning of punk rock, drove the beat in the development of the post-punk sound in PiL and helped countless punk, post-punk, and industrial bands hit the road and choose their own adventures with his own Invisible Records and his book, Tour:Sma...
