Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven has passed away while recording with the band Treponem.

The rocker died unexpectedly during his sleep in Geneva. Raven was aged 46.

Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman said of his bandmate: "We are all deeply stricken with grief at the unannounced departure of possibly the funniest man on planet Earth and a brother to us all."

A funeral for the star will be held in a couple of weeks, with details of the arrangements on the band's website.

Raven worked with bands such as Ministry, Kitsch, Pigface, Amen and Murder Inc during his career.