With drummer Stephen George, Ministry debuted with the Wax Trax! single Cold Life, which -- typical of their early output -- was in the synthpop dance style of new wavers like the Human League and Thompson Twins. The album With Sympathy, on the major label Arista in 1983, followed a similar musical direction -- one that Jourgensen was dissatisfied with. He returned to Wax Trax! and recorded several singles while rethinking the band's style and forming his notorious side project, the Revolting Cocks.
In 1986, with Jourgensen the only official member of Ministry, the Adrian Sherwood-produced Twitch was released by Sire Records. While not as aggressive as the group's later material, it took definite steps in that direction with a more industrial / ebm sound.
Following a 1987 single with Skinny Puppy's Kevin Ogilvie (aka Nivek Ogre) as PTP, Jourgensen once again revamped Ministry, with former Blackouts bassist Paul Barker officially joining the lineup to complement Jourgensen's rediscovery of the guitar. Fellow ex-Blackouts William Rieflin (drums) and Mike Scaccia (guitar), as well as vocalist Chris Connelly, were heavily showcased as collaborators for the first of several times on 1988's The Land of Rape and Honey. With Jourgensen and Barker credited as Hypo Luxa and Hermes Pan, respectively, this album proved to be Ministry's stylistic breakthrough, a taut, explosive fusion of heavy metal, industrial dance beats, samples and punk aggression.
1989's The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste built on its predecessor's artistic success, and In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up was recorded on its supporting tour, introducing collaborators like drummer Martin Atkins (ex-Public Image Ltd., later of Pigface), guitarist William Tucker, and Jello Biafra). Jourgensen embarked on a flurry of side projects, including the Revolting Cocks (with Barker, Barker's brother Roland, Front 242 members Luc Van Acker and Richard 23, and many more), 1000 Homo DJs (with Biafra, Rieflin, and Trent Reznor), Acid Horse (with Cabaret Voltaire), Pailhead (with Ian MacKaye), and Lard (with Biafra, Barker and Rieflin).
In late 1991, Ministry issued the single Jesus Built My Hotrod, a driving rocker featuring manic nonsense vocals by co-writer Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers; its exposure on MTV helped build anticipation for the following year's full-length Psalm 69 (subtitled The Way to Succeed & the Way to Suck Eggs, although the only title that appears on the album consists of a few Greek letters and symbols). The record reached the Top 30 and went platinum, producing two further MTV hits, N.W.O. and Just One Fix. Ministry consolidated its following with a spot on the second Lollapalooza tour that summer, joined by guitarist Louis Svitek. However, drug and legal problems sidelined the band in the wake of its newfound popularity, resulting in the clouded Filth Pig being released in 1995, too late to capitalize on their prior success.
More problems with drugs and arrests followed, and Jourgensen returned to some of his side projects, recording a new album with Lard, among others. In 1999, the single Bad Blood was featured prominently in the sci-fi blockbuster The Matrix, setting the stage for the release of Dark Side of the Spoon (the title a reference to the band's heroin problems) later that summer.
Guitarist William Tucker committed suicide in May 1999.
The band was nominated for a Grammy in 2000 for "Bad Blood," but they lost to Black Sabbath, and were dropped from Warner Bros. around the same time. They were also added to the Ozzfest tour but were kicked off before it began because of a management change. To compound their sorrows, Ipecac Records announced three live albums to be released, with material from the Psalm 69 tour being the main focus, but when Warner Bros. caught wind of the project they stamped it out, despite the CDs already being ready for printing.
In 2001, the band filmed a scene for Steven Spielberg's A.I. and released the song from the film on a greatest-hits album, appropriately titled Greatest Fits. The group signed to Sanctuary Records later in the year. They released the Sphinctour album and DVD in the spring of 2002 to satisfy fans who were disappointed by the Ipecac situation. The next spring, Animositisomina was released, advertised as a return to the Psalm 69 style of songwriting, and featuring a cover of Magazine's The Light Pours Out of Me.
Barker left the Ministry camp in 2003. He stated that the trigger was his father dying while the band was wrapping up a summer tour in Europe, and also stated in early 2004 that his family life was his main focus at that particular time. Jourgensen continued Ministry with Mike Scaccia and various other musicians.
Houses of the Molé followed in June 2004. It was the first part in a trilogy of "anti-Bush" albums (Rio Grande Blood in 2006 and The Last Sucker in 2007).
In September 2005 Ministry celebrated their 25th anniversary with Rantology. Jourgensen remixed such hits as Jesus Built My Hotrod and N.W.O. for the set, which also included live material, rarities, and the new track The Great Satan. An extensive tour with the newly reformed Revolting Cocks followed.
In 2007, after nearly three decades, nearly a dozen studio albums, and four Grammy nominations, Ministry announced that the album The Last Sucker would be its last. The album completed an uber-critical trilogy aimed at exposing the foils, failures and fabrications of the George W. Bush administration. Ministry embarked on its "final" world tour in the spring of 2008 – the “C U LaTour.”
Jourgenson then concentrated on running his label, 13th Planet Records. Three post-break-up Ministry albums were released: The Last Dubber, a remix album of The Last Sucker; Cover Up, a compilation of new and old cover versions by Ministry; and Adios, a live album documenting the "C U LaTour".
On August 7, 2011, it was announced that Ministry was reforming and would play at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2012. The reunion lineup featured Jourgensen on vocals, Scaccia and Tommy Victor both on guitar, Aaron Rossi on drums, John Bechdel on keyboards and Tony Campos on bass.
Jourgensen told Metal Hammer in August 2011 that Ministry had been working on a new album called Relapse. "Bush is gone, so it's time for something new," he said. "I think this is actually gonna wind up being the fastest and heaviest record I've ever done."
Ministry announced on their website that they entered the studio on September 1, 2011 with engineer Sammy D'Ambruoso to begin recording their new album. On December 23, 2011, Ministry released "99%", the first single from Relapse. The album was released on March 23, 2012.
On December 23, 2012, guitarist Mike Scaccia died following an on-stage heart attack, while playing with his other band, Rigor Mortis.
In an interview with Noisey in March 2013, Jourgensen announced that Ministry would break up again, explaining that he does not want to carry on without Scaccia. "Mikey was my best friend in the world and there's no Ministry without him", he said. "But I know the music we recorded together during the last weeks of his life had to be released to honor him. So after his funeral, I locked myself in my studio and turned the songs we had recorded into the best and last Ministry record anyone will ever hear. I can't do it without Mikey and I don't want to. So yes, this will be Ministry's last album."
The album, titled From Beer to Eternity, was released on September 6, 2013. Jourgensen has stated that Ministry plans to tour in support of From Beer to Eternity, but will not record any more albums.
Current Members:
Al Jourgensen – vocals, keyboards, synths, guitar, bass, drums, and various others (1981–present)
John Bechdel – keyboards (2006–2008, 2011–present)
Sin Quirin – guitars, bass (2007–2008, 2012–present)
Aaron Rossi – drums (2007–2008, 2011–present)
Casey Orr – bass, keyboards (2012–present)
Former Members:
John Davis – keyboards (1981–1982)
Stephen George – drums (1981–1985)
Robert Roberts – keyboards (1981–1984)
Marty Sorenson – bass (1981–1982)
Shay Jones – vocals (1982–1983)
Brad Hallen – bass (1983–1985)
John Soroka – keyboards/collaboration (1984–1986)
Paul Barker – bass, keyboards, programming, vocals (1986–2003)
Bill Rieflin – drums, keyboards, programming, guitar (1986–1995)
Chris Connelly – vocals, keyboards & various songwriting credits (1987–1993)
Nivek Ogre – vocals, guitar, keyboards (1988–1990)
Mike Scaccia – guitars, bass (1989–1995, 2003–2006, 2011–2012)
Howie Beno – programming, editing (1990–1993)
Michael Balch – keyboards, programming (1991–1992)
Louis Svitek – guitar (1992–1999, 2003)
Duane Buford – keyboards (1995–1999)
Zlatko Hukic – electronics, guitar (1995–1999)
Rey Washam – drums, percussion, programming (1995–1999, 2003)
Max Brody – drums, percussion, programming, saxophone (1999–2004)
Mark Baker – drums (2004–2005)
John Monte – bass (2004)
Paul Raven – bass, keyboards, guitar, drums (2005–2007)
Tommy Victor – guitars, bass (2005–2008, 2011–2012)
Tony Campos – bass (2007–2008, 2011–2012)
Discography (Studio albums):
1983 - With Sympathy
1986 - Twitch
1988 - The Land of Rape and Honey
1989 - The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste
1992 - ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ (Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs)
1996 - Filth Pig
1999 - Dark Side of the Spoon
2003 - Animositisomina
2004 - Houses of the Molé
2006 - Rio Grande Blood
2007 - The Last Sucker
2012 - Relapse
2013 - From Beer to Eternity
2018 - AmeriKKKant
2021 - Moral Hygiene
2024 - HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Jesus Built My Hotrod
Ministry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jerry Lee Lewis was the devil
Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet
All of a sudden, I found myself in love with the world
So there was only one thing that I could do
Was ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long
Ding dang a dong bong bing bong
Every time I try to do it all now baby
Am I on the run
Why why why why why baby
If it's so evil then?
Give me my time, with all my power
Give it to me all again (wow)
Ding a ding a dang a dong dong ding dong
Every where I go
Every time you tell me baby
When I settle down
Got to get me a trailer park
And hold my world around
Why why why why?
Ding ding dong dong dong ding dong
Dingy dingy son of a gun
Half my time I tell you baby
Never am I all for sure
Why why why why why baby
Sicky sicky from within
Every time I stick my finger on in ya
You're a wild wild little town bitch
Now how 'bout ding a dang dong dong dong ling long
Dingy a dingy dong a down
Every time you tell me baby
When I settle down
Got to get me a trailer park
And hold my world around
Why why why why?
In my dang a ding a ding a ding dong
A sticky sticky son of a gun
Ding a danga danga dong dong ding dong
Why why never know
Why why wack a dong a dang ding dong
Then you take it on the bill
Ding dang dong don't dong
Whoa!
I want to love ya!
Why why why, why why darling
Do you do you tell me to play?
Half the time I talk about it all now baby
You know what I'm talkin' about I said
Why why why it'll
Ticky ticky ticky ticky son of a gun
Ding ding dong a bong bong bing bong
Ticky ticky thought of a gun
Bing bing bang a bang a bang bing bong bing a bing bang a bong
Binga bing a bang a bong bong bing bong bing banga bong
Bing bing bang a bong bong bing bing binga binga banga bong
Bing bing bang a bang bang bing bong
Ding dang a dang bong bing bong
Ticky ticky thought of a gun
Every time I try to do it all now baby
Am I on the run
Why why why
It'll ticky ticky ticky ticky ticky ticky
Dawn of a gun
Bing bing bang a bong a bong bing bang a
Ticky ticky thought of a gun
Bing bip bip a bop bop boom bam
Ticky ticky through the day
If you got a doubt 'bout baby
The memory is on the bed
Why why why why why
Darlin' uh it don't know
When my time is on
Might tell me never do it on his own
If my time was all as is yours
Make me burn a wish
When my time with you is brutish
No I'll never not ever
Why why why why why why baby heavy hell
Alone and it's here it's this thunder
The thunder oh thunder
Oh!
Jesus built my car
It's a love affair
Mainly Jesus and my hot rod
Yeah, fuck it!
The lyrics to Ministry's song Jesus Built My Hotrod are bizarre and somewhat nonsensical, combining multiple phrases and references that do not seem to flow cohesively. The opening lines suggest that the singer has discovered the 'truth' of rock music and has become infatuated with the world in response. The lines "Jerry Lee Lewis was the devil / Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet" seem to act as a sort of preamble, setting the tone for the manic, stream-of-consciousness style that follows. The rest of the lyrics are composed of repetitive, almost nonsensical phrases, including "ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long" and "ticky ticky thought of a gun". These phrases appear to have no clear meaning, though they may be interpreted as evoking a sense of chaos and confusion.
Overall, the song is characterized by its frenzied energy and lack of clear meaning. It seems to be a celebration of hedonism and rebellion, as evidenced by lines like "Got to get me a trailer park / And hold my world around". The repeated questioning of "why" may suggest a sense of existential angst or dissatisfaction with the status quo. The final line, "Jesus built my car / It's a love affair / Mainly Jesus and my hot rod", is a more straightforward nod to the song's title, though it is still tinged with irony and absurdity.
Line by Line Meaning
Soon I discovered that this rock thing was true
I have recently discovered that rock and roll is a genuine art form
Jerry Lee Lewis was the devil
Jerry Lee Lewis represented counterculture values that ran counter to the conservative status quo
Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet
Jesus is a master of artistic creation, and has been throughout his career as a spiritual leader
All of a sudden, I found myself in love with the world
I have become enamored with life's beauty and passion, and subsequently capitalized on this feeling as inspiration for creative work.
So there was only one thing that I could do
I came to a general conclusion based on my actions and beliefs
Was ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long
Sticking to my personal values and doing what I believed to be right
Ding dang a dong bong bing bong
Expression of an artist's discontent and frustration towards the established order
Ticky ticky thought of a gun
The idea or notion of using weapons, firearms or other weapons fascinates or bothers the artist
Every time I try to do it all now baby
The artist is referencing the struggle that comes with balancing creativity and personal values with the expectations of the public and those around them
Am I on the run
Asking if the artist is escaping their issues rather than dealing with them
Every where I go
An expression of uncertainty or confusion about the artist's place or role in the world at large
Every time you tell me baby
The artist is referencing the expectation of others regarding their behavior and creative output
When I settle down
The artist is discussing the prospect of losing their artistic drive
Got to get me a trailer park
Referencing the idea of downsizing or simplifying one's life in order to focus on what matters
And hold my world around
Finding fulfillment and meaning within one's art and creativity
Sicky sicky from within
The artist may be referring to internal struggles or conflicts that affect their ability to create, or their mental health in general
You're a wild wild little town bitch
Conveying the idea that the world around us is wild, chaotic and difficult to make sense of
Now how 'bout ding a dang dong dong dong ling long
The artist is making an existential comment questioning the meaning of existence or reality as well as challenging societal norms
Every time I settle down
Referencing the idea of losing one's artistic spark or motivation to create
Binga bing a bang a bong bong bing bong bing banga bong
The artist is expressing a desire to escape the chaos and uncertainty of the world through their art
Bing bing bang a bang a bang bing bong bing a bing bang a bong
The artist may be commenting on the absurdity and randomness of the world around us
When my time is on
The artist is discussing the passing of time and the larger questions surrounding temporal existence
Might tell me never do it on his own
Referencing the idea that people often struggle to find meaning and purpose in their lives
Make me burn a wish
The artist is expressing a desire or yearning for something – creative inspiration, personal fulfillment, etc.
No I'll never not ever
The artist is affirming their personal commitment to their art and creative drive
Jesus built my car
Referencing the idea that artistic inspiration and creativity can come from unexpected and unconventional sources
It's a love affair
Comparing the artist's relationship with their work to that of a romantic relationship – passionate, fulfilling and often turbulent
Mainly Jesus and my hot rod
Asserting the idea that religious or spiritual inspiration can be a driving force behind artistic creation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Allen Jourgensen, Paul Barker, William Fredrick Rieflin, Gibson Haynes, Michael Bruce Balch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thejesuschrist
hell yeah! 🤘
@malakahmed4101
No way😂
@judegeorge7427
ITS HIM
@MinistroDeClavos
Thank you again for built my Hotrod
@holdmybeer
i love you mr jesus!
@sickhorrorfreak
Based jesus
@amagiclantern
This is my favorite Christian band
@sethsutech7505
lol
@FirCorred
@Natalie Pawlik - I think I just fell in love with you ✨🌙🌼❤☮ (;
@pedrocardoso5106
Is one Satanic band....!!
Ministry = Satanic band..!