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
The Nature of Love
Ministry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is like an open hand
Stings a little when it lands
Hold me closer
Hold me tighter
Hold me so damn close that my heart's on fire
It's a fantasy
It's a nightmare
I said love
Love is like a razor blade
Double edge and double pain
Hold me closer
Hold me tighter
When I rip your flesh and the pain is fresh
It's a fantasy
It's a nightmare
And the whole damn world doesn't seem to care
I said love
Love is like a butcher knife
Double sharp for single lives
Hold me closer
Hold me tighter
As the lights go out and we start to shout
It's a fantasy
It's a nightmare
With a big black bruise and a handful of hair
I said love
The song Nature of Love by Ministry expresses the tumultuous and often painful nature of love. The lyrics use vivid and powerful metaphors to convey this message. The first verse suggests that love is like an open hand that can sting upon landing. It also highlights the intensity of the emotion and the desire to be closer to the loved one. The second verse compares love to a razor blade, with double pain and double edge, indicating that love can hurt both the lover and the beloved. The verse also suggests that despite the pain, people are still willing to hold onto love. The third verse likens love to a butcher knife, with double sharpness for a single life, making it deadly and dangerous. The verse ends with a chaotic scene of shouting and physical violence, suggesting that love can lead to destructive consequences.
Overall, Nature of Love is a powerful and thought-provoking song that explores the darker side of love. It argues that love can be both a beautiful and a dangerous phenomenon and that people should be aware of its complexities before diving into it. The lyrics are a reflection of the band's edgy and rebellious vibe, and the song resonates with people who have experienced heartbreak or been in toxic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is like an open hand
Love is something that is free-flowing and open, but it can also cause a sting of pain.
Stings a little when it lands
Love can hurt when it is not reciprocated or when it is not given in the way that we want.
Hold me closer
The desire for intimacy and connection in a relationship.
Hold me tighter
The need to feel secure and safe in a relationship.
Hold me so damn close that my heart's on fire
The intensity of love and the emotional fire that it can ignite.
It's a fantasy
Love can be an idealized concept that doesn't always match up with reality.
It's a nightmare
Love can also be a source of pain, disappointment, and heartbreak.
And the whole damn world is walking round in theirs
Love is a universal experience that everyone is searching for, but not always finding.
Love is like a razor blade
Love can be sharp and dangerous, causing both pleasure and pain.
Double edge and double pain
The duality of love, which can bring both joy and sorrow.
When I rip your flesh and the pain is fresh
The physical and emotional agony that can come with love, especially when it ends badly.
Love is like a butcher knife
Love can be brutal and merciless, cutting deeply into our lives.
Double sharp for single lives
The sharpness of love is even more pronounced when we are single and seeking out a partner.
As the lights go out and we start to shout
The breakdown of a relationship and the accompanying feelings of anger and frustration.
With a big black bruise and a handful of hair
The physical and emotional scars that can be left behind after a relationship ends.
I said love
The repeated use of this phrase emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of love and its ability to influence our lives in many ways.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: AL JOURGENSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FrightfulAccountant
An interesting period, at the time this was a radical but still logic evolution from their early years. EBM and Acid could not have existed without the pre existance of synthpop in the end. It was the eventual change for Industrial Metal that always appeared the odd choice to me. They got many new fans, but they pretty much lost all of their old ones. This is because of that more or less a bridge between the old and the new Ministry.
Patrick Barrett
Yeah, I remember trying to get a DJ to play "Stigmata" in 1989 just after Saturday night had rolled into Easter Sunday. He probably would have played this, but maybe he was worried about what would have happened to the bar if he'd have cranked out The Land of Rape and Honey.
SweetSweetWaldo
Damn! I forget how awesome this song is!
Alina Zarańska
ale jednak trochę zniechęca
Robin Coleman
Best early Ministry song of the era - also, if I had to explain #NumbersHouston in one song, this would be it.
mrbelvedere1632
Much love from Houston
Lorrie LeBlanc
💕🖤🎵Damn straight!!!!🎶🖤💕
Robertpere2
totally agree
Jose Riera (Tot Fosk)
I think I heard this one three weeks ago closing Tresor's second floor. It was amaaaaaazing :)
ShortyWop
Damn! Why have I never heard this b4? Huge fan for decades now. I'm from Detroit-Al's Chicago you can hear that house music influence this is 🔥🔥🔥