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
Wrong
Ministry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're wrong every time
What makes you think you've got a god-given right
For killing people in a needless fight
You're like a rapist with a target in sight
Democracy
The skull and bones the conservative right
You're like a plague turning day into night
Atrocity
You're wrong every time
You're wrong every time
What makes you think that you could start this mess
Then crawl away to a world you detest
You're fuckin' evil, but you couldn't care less
Conspiracy
What makes you think that we could ever believe
A major liar with a minor in greed
You make a profit of the people in need
Hypocrisy
You're wrong every time
You're wrong every time
Your time is coming and it won't be long
The bill of rights is now the bill of wrong
Already proven that you don't belong
In history
Your time is over
You'll be out on the street
What do you say to the people you meet
I saved the world because I didn't repeat
My policy
The song "Wrong" by Ministry is a politically charged criticism of those in power who abuse their authority to the detriment of the general population. The lyrics assert that these people are constantly wrong in their actions and that they are motivated by greed and a lust for power. The song begins by questioning those who believe they have the right to kill others in needless conflicts, comparing them to rapists with a target in sight. The word "democracy" is used sarcastically to suggest that those in power are not truly committed to the democratic ideals they claim to uphold.
The second verse takes aim at "the skull and bones conservative right" who are described as a plague that turns day into night. The lyrics suggest that those in power are inherently evil and do not care about the harm they cause to others. The chorus repeats the phrase "you're wrong every time" to drive home the idea that those in power are constantly making mistakes and causing harm.
The third verse attacks the hypocrisy of those in power who claim to be working for the greater good while profiting off the suffering of others. The lyrics suggest that these people are major liars with a minor in greed, profiting off the needs of the people they claim to serve. The final verse predicts the downfall of those in power, suggesting that they will soon be out on the street and facing the consequences of their actions.
Overall, the song "Wrong" is a scathing critique of those in power who abuse their authority and cause harm to others. The lyrics suggest that these people are motivated by greed and a lust for power, and are inherently evil. The song encourages listeners to question those in power and to stand up against injustice and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
You're wrong every time
You consistently make incorrect decisions and judgments
You're wrong every time
Reiteration of the fact that you continuously make incorrect decisions
What makes you think you've got a god-given right
What leads you to believe that you have the divine authority to take lives in unnecessary conflicts
For killing people in a needless fight
Excessively ending human lives in battles that serve no purpose
You're like a rapist with a target in sight
You have the same level of targeting and preying behavior as a rapist
Democracy
The system of government you belong to, despite your destructive tendencies
Whoever told you that you were bright
What individual made you think that you were intelligent
The skull and bones the conservative right
Members of the secretive, elitist organization known as the Skull and Bones who align with right-wing politics
You're like a plague turning day into night
Your presence and actions cause destruction and chaos, turning positivity into negativity
Atrocity
Your behavior is horrific and shocking
What makes you think that you could start this mess
What gives you the impression that you have the capability to initiate this crisis
Then crawl away to a world you detest
After causing turmoil, you escape to a place that you despise
You're fuckin' evil, but you couldn't care less
You behave in a manner that is entirely wicked, and yet you show no care about it
Conspiracy
The action of plotting against an individual or society
What makes you think that we could ever believe
What leads you to assume that we would ever accept your lies
A major liar with a minor in greed
You are primarily dishonest, but you also have a secondary tendency towards selfishness and material gain
You make a profit of the people in need
You exploit those who are vulnerable and wring out monetary benefit from them
Hypocrisy
Your behavior is fundamentally contradictory to your professed beliefs and values
Your time is coming and it won't be long
Your day of reckoning is approaching, and it will happen quickly
The bill of rights is now the bill of wrong
The cherished document outlining our human rights has been subverted and distorted
Already proven that you don't belong
Your unsuitability for your position has already been demonstrated
In history
Your actions will be recorded for posterity as evidence of your actions and character
Your time is over
Your period of influence is finished
You'll be out on the street
You will be removed from your current position and become homeless
What do you say to the people you meet
What response do you give to those who question you about your actions
I saved the world because I didn't repeat
The reason behind your change in behavior is to position yourself as a savior, prevent repetitions of your errors
My policy
Your new attitude and approach toward leadership
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALIEN JOURGENSEN, PAUL G. BARKER, WILLIAM FREDERICK RIEFLIN, CHRISTOPHER JOHN CONNELLY, ROLAND A. BARKER, LOUIS JAMES, JR. SVITEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind