MINISTRY!!

[Guy]

Did anyone else catch their recent dates? My already ravaged ears are still ringing from their onslaught at the Forum. The sound was a bit ropey for the first few songs but from there on they were fab. First time I've seen them for over ten years. Great stuff.



The new album is also worth a listen. This cover version is presently my favourite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi8frf2UIWk

[Stoney]

The S.O.D. cover is REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lfran]

They put on a great show in Belfast. My only niggle is that I think the tickets were a touch overpriced, resulting in the venue being noticeably less than a sell out.

[szmurf]

can't stand them - never could get into that sort of racket

[Stephanie D.]

ministry was in Paris le bataclan two days ago, and i've read some reports about that gig. it was awful because of the singer who was extremely drunk. He was on stage physically but his eyes and mind were somewhere else. At a moment during a gig, he went off the stage and the musicians started playing a song but they stopped for 10mn. Someone came to the stage to say to the audience that the gig was over because the singer was very sick (too much alcohol. Some people saw him at the café nr le bataclan, all the afternoon before the gig) the SAMU take him at the hospital where he still is maybe

photo taken during their gig at le bataclan

[Sequoia225]

ministry was in Paris le bataclan two days ago, and i've read some reports about that gig. it was awful because of the singer who was extremely drunk. He was on stage physically but his eyes and mind were somewhere else. At a moment during a gig, he went off the stage and the musicians started playing a song but they stopped for 10mn. Someone came to the stage to say to the audience that the gig was over because the singer was very sick

drunk, sick,
Dear me, that doesnt sound anything like Al Jourgensen. lol!

I gave up when they got a bit too "metal" and the stuff just got boring, but back in the day - with the combination of Al, Ogre from Skinny Puppy and producers like Dave Ogilvie (Mind...) and Adrian Sherwood (Twitch) - beautiful, provocative, "way ahead of its time" music was made.
Still remember when I first heard "Stigmata" when it came out - mind blown. Nothing like it at the time.
But the Mind... tour was one of the loudest, craziest shows Ive still ever been to (21 years and tons of shows later). Just legendary.

But yeah - this guy is and was a mess

Those interested at all should see this:

trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDT9836cdCQ


movie site
http://fixtheministrymovie.com/

 

[Guy]

Well if he drops dead now it will be on the back of one of their best albums. But I suspect that Al will continue to be the Shane Macgowan of industrial metal and just keep going in spite of all those reports of his imminent demise.

In 1994 when they were recording Filth Pig an NME journo reported his self destructive smack/crack habit in lurid detail. That was nearly 20 years ago. Me I'm just glad he managed the whole set in London.

[Sequoia225]

"the Shane Macgowan of industrial" - haha nice comparison.

When I was first working in studios around 94, I knew a guy whose friend got a job at Chicago Trax. I used to hear a lot of good stories. One of the first lessons I was taught here in LA studios was how to make good cappuccino for the artists. One of the first lessons the guy at Chicago Trax (where Al always recorded) was how to wake Al up without getting punched in the face. lol

[Sequoia225]

Oddly enough - I had my ipod on "shuffle" today - and among all the thousands of songs on there - within 5 songs I heard
"(Every Day Is) Halloween"  (with Al's fake brit accent and all)  - and then -
"New World Order"

Still hard to believe those two songs are the same person.

[kip]

Found this on the Ministry FB page:

MINISTRY / PARIS Al Jourgensen Hospitalized
July 27, 2012 PARIS 9:05 pm Ministry Front man Al Jourgensen collapsed on-stage during the live Ministry performance and was rushed to hospital via ambulance where he was examined by numerous physicians and diagnosed to have had a full-system collapse due to extreme dehydration and heat exhaustion intensified by the lack of ventilation on stage at the venue. Doctors confirm via blood tests conducted that Jourgensen’s alcohol blood levels were well below normal and no narcotics were found in his system. As a result, Ministry has cancelled today’s appearance at the L’Etaples France Rock en Stock Festival in order to allow Mr. Jourgensen a few days rest to recuperate and receive additional medical attention in Switzerland. Jourgensen fully intends to complete the remaining shows on the Ministry DeFiBriLlaTouR European leg.
Jourgensen extends his most sincere apologies to his devoted Parisian fans who displayed so much love, respect and concern for him before and after the Ministry show. Says Jourgensen: “I will make it up to you, somehow. I love Paris, I love the Parisian people. I’m so sorry …but, shit happens and the shit hit the fan for me last night.”

[Sequoia225]

KIP!!!

[Jonesy]

Not as good as Billy Milano and the boys though. One of the comments says its Casey Orr on bass. Ex GWAR.

[rick a.]

I knew Al couldn't bury Ministry. More power to him.

[sammyj]

I'm good friends with Al's ex-wife. I wish i could tell you all some of the crazy, hilarious stories about Al that i've heard. I'll share one- I have a photo of Al in college drama class, circa 1978. He's looking like one of the Doobie Brothers. And what can be seen adorning his feet?
A PAIR OF CLOGS! (Stoney can verify this!)
For any of you from Michigan out there, he is a big fan of the Detroit Redwings, although
while he tries, he is a poor Ice hockey player himself. I've witnessed this. Although my bet
is that the with the copious amounts of, say, "performance enhancing" chemicals he self administered
right before attempting to play were responsible for him spending more time on the ice than on his skates!

[Bever]

I never saw them live before. Half a year ago my iPod shuffled to Ministry, and I was sold again. Looked at their page, and saw they had a gig in Holland. Bought tickets, drove 200km, didn't regret a second. Very powerful performance. I had a blast!