Ministry (band)
From ArticleWorld
Ministry is one of perhaps two bands that had the biggest impacts through the band or those that filtered though them in the Industrial genre. The other would be Skinny Puppy. Both bands have opened people’s eyes in different ways. As Skinny Puppy explored raw experimentation and synthesizers as their foundation, Ministy took to the harsher road. They embraced the electric guitar and redefined the distortion factor for any instrument, mainly the Electric guitar though as this was the ring leader’s chosen poison. Al Jourgensen has been the brains and the puppet master for this band.
Contents |
Beginning
With the formation of this band in 1984, Al Jourgensen started the band in a style that was a harder for of New Wave, although this was to change after the first two albums. This music was hard edged in these two albums, With Sympathy and Twitch, but they lacked the aggressive force that was to be one of the defining factors for what is Ministry.
Land of Rape and Honey
Land of Rape and Honey was the album that would be the one that took Ministry to the path they were to follow to this day. It was among the hardest albums in the industry and showed what can truly be done with an electric guitar and with distortion and sampling. The album had numerous hits as did its successor, The Mind is a Terrible Thing To Taste. This newer album was a little less harsh, but was even more forceful with its delivery. It was one of the harder hitting albums at that time and had a number of songs that made people think. Some of the songs disturbed parents and caused a response that Jourgensen didn’t mind, but some of the record labels at the time cringed at.
Overview
Ministry has gone through a huge list of talent, yet Jourgensen keeps the band in the running. They have been among the best in their genre and have been on of the most honored for what they have done to the industrial genre.
Line ups
Here is the current lineup with past and current contributors:
- Al Jourgensen (voices & various instruments; always a member)
- Stephen George (drums, 1981-1985; tours from 1981-1984)
- Lamont Welton (bass; 1981)
- Marty Sorenson (bass; 1981-1982)
- John Davis (keyboards; 1981-1983)
- Robert Roberts (keyboards; live, 1981-1983)
- Brad Hallen (bass, 1982-1986; live, 1984)
- Mark Pothier (keyboards; live, 1983)
- Patty Jourgensen (keyboards, voices; 1983-1986)
- Doug Chamberlin (keyboards, backing vocals: Oct. 1983-Oct. 1984)
- Paul Barker (bass, keyboards, programming, voices; 1986-Aug. 2003)
- Bill Rieflin (drums, programming; 1986-Feb. 1995)
- Roland Barker (keyboards, saxophone; tours of 1986 and 1992-1993)
- Chris Connelly (vocals & various songwriting credits; 1988-1990)
- Kevin Ogilvie (guitar, keyboards, voices; tours of 1988-1990)
- Mike Scaccia (guitar; 1989-1995, 2003-)
- Martin Atkins (drums; tour in 1990)
- Terry Roberts (guitar; tour in 1990)
- William Tucker (guitar; tour in 1990)
- Michael Balch (keyboards, programming; 1991-1993)
- Louis Svitek (guitar; 1992-2003)
- Rey Washam (drums/percussion, programming; 1995-1999, 2003-2004)
- Adam Grossman (guitar; 2003)
- Tia Sprocket (drums; live from Feb. 2003-Apr. 2003)
- Mark Baker (drums; 2003-)
- Kol Marshall (keyboards; 2003-Mar. 2004)
- Max Brody (drums/percussion, programming, saxophone; 2001-2004)
- Darrell James (keyboards; tours in 2003 and 2004)
- John Monte (bass; Jan. 2004-Sep. 2004)
- Eddy Garcia (bass; Sep. 2004-Dec. 2004)
- Bryan Kehoe (guitar; May 2004-Sep. 2004)
- Rick Valles (guitar; Sep. 2004-Dec. 2004)
- Tommy Victor (guitar; 2005-)
- Paul Raven (bass; 2005-)
- Joey Jordison (drums; Feb. 2006-)
- John Bechdel (keyboards; Feb. 2006-)