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 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

Rio Grande Blood
Ministry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And now a message from the President of the United States George W. Bush
I've adopted sophisticated terrorist tactics
And I'm a dangerous, dangerous man
With dangerous, dangerous weapons
I want to drain the coal resources in America
And foreign sources of crude oil.
I'm a weapon of mass destruction
And I'm a brutal dictator

And I'm evil

I've got something that I must confess
I make a profit off people oppressed
I take the money â??til there's nothing left
And all I gotta say is Yippie Aye Yay

[Chorus]
Rio Grande Blood

I want money
I want yer money
I want crude oil
It's the government's money
I'm an asshole

I can't remember the world such a mess
Not for the companies I like the best
Exxon and Conoco fuck all the rest
And all I gotta say is Yippie Aye Yay

[Chorus]

I want money
I want yer money
I want crude oil
It's the government's money

We went to war because of our dependence on foreign oil Haliburton
We went to war because of money
Haliburton
We will settle for nothing less than victory, victory
Haliburton
We will settle for nothing less than crude oil -crude oil
Verse 3
Squeezing the middle class whom I detest
Taxing the poor so the rich can invest
I know I'm an asshole, but aren't you impressed
And all I gotta say is Yippie Aye Yay

[Chorus]

Rio Grande Blood
Rio Grande Blood
I want crude oil
Rio Grande Blood

I want money
Rio Grande Blood

Overall Meaning

The song 'Rio Grande Blood' by Ministry is a scathing commentary on the US government's policies and actions under the Republican administration of President George W. Bush. The lyrics are addressed to the president himself as he is portrayed as a villainous figure who is obsessed with money and power. The song begins with a sample of Bush's voice confessing to using "sophisticated terrorist tactics" and having "dangerous weapons" in his possession.

The chorus "Rio Grande Blood" is a reference to the US-Mexico border where many Mexican immigrants have died trying to cross to the US in search of a better life. The lyrics condemn the US government's obsession with crude oil, corporate interests, and the exploitation of natural resources, which has resulted in wars and countless deaths. The song portrays the US government as a corrupt and greedy entity that prioritizes profits over human life, further highlighted by the line "I want money, I want crude oil, it's the government's money, I'm an asshole."

The third verse highlights the government's cruel policies towards the middle and lower classes, with the lyrics "squeezing the middle class whom I detest, taxing the poor so the rich can invest." The song is a call to action for people to wake up and resist the corrupt system that is destroying lives and environment.

Line by Line Meaning

And now a message from the President of the United States George W. Bush
Introducing the singer of this song as the then President of the United States, George W. Bush

I've adopted sophisticated terrorist tactics
Admitting to using methods of terrorism in a sophisticated manner

And I'm a dangerous, dangerous man
Acknowledging oneself as a perilous individual

With dangerous, dangerous weapons
Possessing hazardous weapons

I want to drain the coal resources in America
Desiring to deplete coal reserves within America

And foreign sources of crude oil.
Wishing to obtain crude oil from other countries

I'm a weapon of mass destruction
Considering oneself a weapon of mass destruction

And I'm a brutal dictator
Viewing oneself as a cruel dictator

And I'm evil
Claiming to be wicked

I've got something that I must confess
Admitting to having a confession to make

I make a profit off people oppressed
Earning a profit through the subjugation of others

I take the money âtill there's nothing left
Continuously taking money until there is nothing left

And all I gotta say is Yippie Aye Yay
Ending this confession with an exclamation of Yippie Aye Yay

[Chorus]
The repeated lyrics of the song's chorus

Rio Grande Blood
Referencing the geographical area of Rio Grande in association with the song's contents

I want money
Expressing the desire for money

I want yer money
Desiring the listener's money

I want crude oil
Wishing to obtain crude oil

It's the government's money
Claiming that the money belongs to the government

I'm an asshole
Self-identifying with the vulgar term 'asshole'

I can't remember the world such a mess
Stating that the world is in a state of disarray

Not for the companies I like the best
Excluding certain companies from contributing to this 'mess'

Exxon and Conoco fuck all the rest
Preferring Exxon and Conoco over other companies

And all I gotta say is Yippie Aye Yay
Closing this angry message with an exclamation of Yippie Aye Yay

[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus again

We went to war because of our dependence on foreign oil Haliburton
Claiming that the reason for going to war was due to dependence on foreign oil companies like Haliburton

We went to war because of money
Stating that the decision to go to war was financially motivated

We will settle for nothing less than victory, victory
Resolving to reach a victorious outcome

Haliburton
Referencing Haliburton again in association with the war

We will settle for nothing less than crude oil -crude oil
Insisting on acquiring crude oil as the desired outcome of the war

Squeezing the middle class whom I detest
Expressing dislike towards the middle class and the act of pressuring them financially

Taxing the poor so the rich can invest
Making the poor pay taxes so the rich can use those funds to invest

I know I'm an asshole, but aren't you impressed
Recognizing being an asshole but questioning why listeners aren't impressed

And all I gotta say is Yippie Aye Yay
Ending the song with a repeated Yippie Aye Yay

Rio Grande Blood
Repeating the reference to Rio Grande

Rio Grande Blood
Repeating Rio Grande reference again

I want crude oil
Again expressing the desire for crude oil

Rio Grande Blood
Repeating once more the Rio Grande reference and the song title