I first heard Ministry in 1991 and I wasn’t ready for it.
Later when I heard N.W.O. , it was as if I was listening to life set on ultra high-speed rails directed straight to hell. So. . .since then I still listen to that song and I want to get into a car and drive as fast as I can. I think it’s one of the best songs ever created and it’s such a gorgeous track because it illustrates the height of someone’s creative power, all cylinders are firing, the surge of energy and unmistakable transmission of something greater than words can’t be denied to those who are open to hearing it. That’s art, my friends, that’s passion and mastery.
And I heard that Jourgenson was on heroin when he created it. It seems like some of the best shit is created when people get fucked up on drugs. Beatles, Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cobain, Joplin, Ray Charles, the list goes on and on really and all of them produced masterpieces when on drugs.
What do you think? Can you produce art as good as the art you produce when you’re on drugs?
Thanks.
S.
P.S. Al if you read this board, thanks for the music, your stuff has inspired me to follow my own passions. Hope to see you the next time you’re in Chicago.
Still, a lot of great art has been made under the influence of it. . .and not just heroin either. . .marijuana, cocaine, LSD, etc.
Agreed, but I’m afraid they’re right - heroin is by no means an inspiration.
I’m one of the lucky ones that got away without too awful much damage - but I’m an anomoly. It’s very rare that “creative types” ever flirt with heroin, and come away alive.
Please, feel free to smoke your pot. Ensure that you are in a safe place, and trip away. But shooting up never did any good for anyone. If anything, the horse took our heroes away from us.
Please be aware of what you are putting in your body.
I think it really depends on the band. Alot of bands do their best material while their taking drugs (Ministry, skinny puppy). But their are also many bands that consistentently release great records without taking any drugs at all (Melvins, Fugazi, shellac come to mind).
I think it really depends on the band. Alot of bands do their best material while their taking drugs (Ministry, skinny puppy). But their are also many bands that consistentently release great records without taking any drugs at all (Melvins, Fugazi, shellac come to mind).
I agree with you Christonabun, and let me be clear that I’m not advocating using heroin. I personally don’t have any issues with marijuana, nor do I have issues with LSD when it’s controlled, but it just seems to be a trend that taking drugs = better chance for awesome art.
Then there’s depression. Bleeding hearts tend to produce some pretty great art. Thom Yorke of Radiohead has battled with depression his whole life, and with his bandmates, I think they’ve produced some great stuff.
I always heard that Ministry was music for junkies. I did not understand till the first and only time I took ecstasy. well. the previous statement seemed to be right. I was loving Ministry long before this little experiment, and I still love Ministry but now, I don’t think any Straight edge could have written tracks like NWO nor Stigmata no Burning inside.
I would probably have to be on drugs to think that N.W.O. was anything other than extremely boring, and one of Minstry’s worst efforts. Wasn’t the height of Al’s heroin use responsible for Filth Pig and Dark Side? [:/]
I’ll snort it, but only socially.
I’ll snort it daily, but I’ll never shoot up.
I’ll shoot up, but only every once in awhile.
Dammit! There’s gotta be a vein that isn’t collapsed SOMEWHERE!
