Ministry was formed in Chicago, Illinois, United States in 1981 by Alain Jo… Read Full Bio ↴Ministry was formed in Chicago, Illinois, United States in 1981 by Alain Jourgensen (born Oct. 8, 1958, Havana, Cuba), who had previously been in a new wave band called Special Affect (fronted by future My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult leader Frankie Nardiello, aka Groovie Mann).
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 MolΓ© 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 β the βC U LaTour.β
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 β vocals, keyboards, synths, guitar, bass, drums, and various others (1981βpresent)
John Bechdel β keyboards (2006β2008, 2011βpresent)
Sin Quirin β guitars, bass (2007β2008, 2012βpresent)
Aaron Rossi β drums (2007β2008, 2011βpresent)
Casey Orr β bass, keyboards (2012βpresent)
Former Members:
John Davis β keyboards (1981β1982)
Stephen George β drums (1981β1985)
Robert Roberts β keyboards (1981β1984)
Marty Sorenson β bass (1981β1982)
Shay Jones β vocals (1982β1983)
Brad Hallen β bass (1983β1985)
John Soroka β keyboards/collaboration (1984β1986)
Paul Barker β bass, keyboards, programming, vocals (1986β2003)
Bill Rieflin β drums, keyboards, programming, guitar (1986β1995)
Chris Connelly β vocals, keyboards & various songwriting credits (1987β1993)
Nivek Ogre β vocals, guitar, keyboards (1988β1990)
Mike Scaccia β guitars, bass (1989β1995, 2003β2006, 2011β2012)
Howie Beno β programming, editing (1990β1993)
Michael Balch β keyboards, programming (1991β1992)
Louis Svitek β guitar (1992β1999, 2003)
Duane Buford β keyboards (1995β1999)
Zlatko Hukic β electronics, guitar (1995β1999)
Rey Washam β drums, percussion, programming (1995β1999, 2003)
Max Brody β drums, percussion, programming, saxophone (1999β2004)
Mark Baker β drums (2004β2005)
John Monte β bass (2004)
Paul Raven β bass, keyboards, guitar, drums (2005β2007)
Tommy Victor β guitars, bass (2005β2008, 2011β2012)
Tony Campos β bass (2007β2008, 2011β2012)
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 - ΞΞΞ¦ΞΞΞΞΞ (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 MolΓ©
2006 - Rio Grande Blood
2007 - The Last Sucker
2012 - Relapse
2013 - From Beer to Eternity
2018 - AmeriKKKant
2021 - Moral Hygiene
2024 - HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
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 MolΓ© 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 β the βC U LaTour.β
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 β vocals, keyboards, synths, guitar, bass, drums, and various others (1981βpresent)
John Bechdel β keyboards (2006β2008, 2011βpresent)
Sin Quirin β guitars, bass (2007β2008, 2012βpresent)
Aaron Rossi β drums (2007β2008, 2011βpresent)
Casey Orr β bass, keyboards (2012βpresent)
Former Members:
John Davis β keyboards (1981β1982)
Stephen George β drums (1981β1985)
Robert Roberts β keyboards (1981β1984)
Marty Sorenson β bass (1981β1982)
Shay Jones β vocals (1982β1983)
Brad Hallen β bass (1983β1985)
John Soroka β keyboards/collaboration (1984β1986)
Paul Barker β bass, keyboards, programming, vocals (1986β2003)
Bill Rieflin β drums, keyboards, programming, guitar (1986β1995)
Chris Connelly β vocals, keyboards & various songwriting credits (1987β1993)
Nivek Ogre β vocals, guitar, keyboards (1988β1990)
Mike Scaccia β guitars, bass (1989β1995, 2003β2006, 2011β2012)
Howie Beno β programming, editing (1990β1993)
Michael Balch β keyboards, programming (1991β1992)
Louis Svitek β guitar (1992β1999, 2003)
Duane Buford β keyboards (1995β1999)
Zlatko Hukic β electronics, guitar (1995β1999)
Rey Washam β drums, percussion, programming (1995β1999, 2003)
Max Brody β drums, percussion, programming, saxophone (1999β2004)
Mark Baker β drums (2004β2005)
John Monte β bass (2004)
Paul Raven β bass, keyboards, guitar, drums (2005β2007)
Tommy Victor β guitars, bass (2005β2008, 2011β2012)
Tony Campos β bass (2007β2008, 2011β2012)
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 - ΞΞΞ¦ΞΞΞΞΞ (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 MolΓ©
2006 - Rio Grande Blood
2007 - The Last Sucker
2012 - Relapse
2013 - From Beer to Eternity
2018 - AmeriKKKant
2021 - Moral Hygiene
2024 - HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Reload
Ministry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got something to say you better jump in my face
Got something to hide you're scared as shit and should die
Aim
Aim
Reload
You say it's time to collect I'll kick your ass and eject
Time to settle the score, throw your ass through the door
Aim
Aim
Reload
You wanna lie like a dog you're gonna wake up with fleas
Inside a world full of shit you're still an asshole to me
Aim
Aim
Reload
Got something to hide you're scared as shit and should die
Aim
Aim
Reload
You say it's time to collect I'll kick your ass and eject
Time to settle the score, throw your ass through the door
Aim
Reload
You wanna lie like a dog you're gonna wake up with fleas
Inside a world full of shit you're still an asshole to me
Aim
Aim
Reload
"Reload" by Ministry is a fierce, intense song about facing one's fears and standing up for oneself. The lyrics are aggressive and direct, calling out those who hide their true feelings or intentions. The song begins with a challenge to speak up and be honest, warning that those who hide their true selves are cowards who deserve to die. The chorus encourages the listener to aim and reload, suggesting that taking action is the only way to move forward.
The second verse takes on a more personal tone, calling out specific individuals who have wronged the singer. The line "you say it's time to collect, I'll kick your ass and eject" suggests that the singer is not afraid to take physical action in order to right a wrong. The verse ends with the powerful line "throw your ass through the door," further emphasizing the idea that the singer is taking control of the situation.
The final verse takes a more pensive turn, acknowledging the difficulty of living in a world that can be full of lies and deceit. Despite this, the singer maintains their resolve, declaring that even in a world full of shit, others will still be assholes. The song ends with a final call to aim and reload, suggesting that the battle is ongoing and that one must always be prepared to defend themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
You got something to say you better jump in my face
If you have something to communicate, you better be direct with me and tell me to my face.
Got something to hide you're scared as shit and should die
If you're concealing something, you must be terrified, and it would be best if you never existed.
Aim
Prepare yourself for the consequences of what you're about to say or do.
Aim
Be fully focused and committed to what you're doing or about to say.
Reload
You're given another chance, so make the most of it and don't screw it up.
You say it's time to collect I'll kick your ass and eject
If you think it's time to settle a debt, I won't hesitate to beat you up and make you leave.
Time to settle the score, throw your ass through the door
It's time to resolve any issues, and if necessary, I'll throw you out the door to do so.
You wanna lie like a dog you're gonna wake up with fleas
If you choose to deceive me like a dog, the consequences will be unpleasant for you.
Inside a world full of shit you're still an asshole to me
Even in a terrible world, you're still unpleasant to me.
Aim
Don't lose focus, and be prepared for what comes next.
Aim
Be precise, and don't make any mistakes.
Reload
It's your last chance to do something correctly, and don't waste it.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL JOURGENSEN, ALIEN JOURGENSEN, PAUL G. BARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@RockandRollsince1992
This band helped me through the most terrible time in my life. I will forever be grateful. The power their songs fueled me with are the reason I am still alive
@joshuayettou3552
The bass is so sick in this. Paul Barker is the man!
@christopherblosser9387
God bless Paul Barker, wherever he is today.
@alexruiz7426
@Christopher Blosser heβs still making music. Check out his project Lead Into Gold
@christopherblosser9387
@Alex Ruiz Thank you so much, checking out now!
@brentb5303
@Christopher Blosser Lead into Gold will be opening for Skinny Puppy on their fair well tour this summer. Tickets aren't cheap though.
@ogreboy8843
You have heard Nursing Home, right? π
@redalert7504
didn't even know they had a music video for it. Just made me love it that much more, this is america!
@DarkturtleX
Seath Crystalline Yep America. People always fighting and arguing. Not very different compared to the rest of the world. The only difference is the amount of money.
@DarkturtleX
Seath Crystalline true