Well who wouldve guessed eh?!
I’m stunned Al reached out to Barker. Didn’t think it possible.
I was always a Barker guy up until I read Al’s book and found out about the life insurance policy fiasco, that was really fucking dark, I soured on Barker.
I’m guessing it’ll be a guest spot on a track or two, like whenever Alice Cooper works with his original band.
Way better than nothing, though!
Wow.
Heh…never say never
I’m stunned Al reached out to Barker. Didn’t think it possible.
I was always a Barker guy up until I read Al’s book and found out about the life insurance policy fiasco, that was really fucking dark, I soured on Barker.
I never read the book. What was the life insurance policy about?
Hunch: Ministry has changed so much beyond what it used to be that they probably won’t do much together under that name… considering who else he [al] has patched up with, I think a new Revolting Cocks featuring everybody is more likely.
^^I agree with that. New Revolting Cocks.
No money in Revco…the money is in Ministry and a new Luxa/Pan production full length would appeal to a lot of old fans as well as new ones.
I havent purchased anything remotely Ministry related since Last Sucker but would obviously dive into a new Jourgensen/Barker album out of sheer nostalgia & curiosity.
I did actually buy physical of the new one but sold it immediately…I bought it to get the free added digital from amazon haha
I’m stunned Al reached out to Barker. Didn’t think it possible.
I was always a Barker guy up until I read Al’s book and found out about the life insurance policy fiasco, that was really fucking dark, I soured on Barker.
A couple things -
It’s almost certainly what is known as a key man policy. These are pretty common in business partnerships. If one partner passed away it may irreparably damage the partnership. Partners typically take them out on each other. The beneficiary is typically the business. i.e. the surviving partner(s).
Jourgensen would have known about and signed off on the policy. There was no surprise. You can’t take out a life insurance policy on someone without their signature. If Jourgensen had any good legal representation or even the smallest amount of business sense he would have done the same with Barker and quite possibly did. Key man policies typically expire when the business relationship ends. So it is unlikely to be still in effect. But who knows what was really done?
For the first time in well over a decade, at least, I’m actually interested in hearing whatever comes of this. If Al made nice with the Book Club and went out on tour with a decent setlist, I think it would do quite well.
We’ll see how long this takes for fruition.
Both these guys will be well aware that their work together did well artistically as well as financially.
Theyll make another Ministry record together.
Both these guys will be well aware that their work together did well artistically as well as financially.
Theyll make another Ministry record together.
Can’t they make something that isn’t metal for once?
Well,in a recent interview Al said the next stuff will be more “Portishead than Motorhead”…but of course that could just be Al talking…
If were going to go via Bristol can we request more Smith & Mighty than Portishead?
…just sayin haha
No money in Revco…the money is in Ministry and a new Luxa/Pan production full length would appeal to a lot of old fans as well as new ones.
I havent purchased anything remotely Ministry related since Last Sucker but would obviously dive into a new Jourgensen/Barker album out of sheer nostalgia & curiosity.
I did actually buy physical of the new one but sold it immediately…I bought it to get the free added digital from amazon haha
I agree. I haven’t bought an album since Rio Grande Blood.
Given that Al just turned 60 and Paul is right behind him, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put together a nostalgia tour focusing on the classic material. If anyone could convince him to do that it would be Paul. For as much as Al talks about not living in the past and only focusing on the new stuff he’s also interested in earning a buck. A tour would be much more profitable than an album.
[reply]I’m stunned Al reached out to Barker. Didn’t think it possible.
I was always a Barker guy up until I read Al’s book and found out about the life insurance policy fiasco, that was really fucking dark, I soured on Barker.
I never read the book. What was the life insurance policy about?[/reply]
IIRC Barker took out life insurance on Al during the height of his drug addiction when things looked really dire. From Al’s perspective, this was Barker betting against him thinking the end was near.
When Al cleaned up and found out it scared him shitless.
Okay, I feel like i need to chime in here as I sell insurance for a living. Paul most likely did buy a key man insurance policy on Al. This would not be to make money, but most likely to cover any contractual obligations he may still have as the surviving member of Ministry, Luxa/Pan, etc. What is more surprising is that anyone would even insure Al at that time. I’m sure the premiums were sky high and really cut into the bottom line.
If Al would have died, the funds would have allowed Paul to buyout of any obligations to record labels, managers, and possibly even buy the back catalog.
This is not uncommon at all and is a very smart business move. It would not have been an envious position for Paul to be in with his business partner being a full blown heroin addict.
As for the news of Al and Paul reconciling,…
Isn’t this what we have all been waiting for since 2003? I wish I could make it to the Denver screening of the film just to see the interaction between Al and Paul on the panel. I wish them both the best of luck.
Watching FIX made me think Al was not only a full on junkie, but also extremely paranoid at that time, saying someone was going to kill him or after him or something. “Studying” under Timothy Leary probably made it all even worse. Watching Sphinctour live show I thought all that shit around Al’s neck was just some cool thing for looks and style, but I think FIX shows that it was just bunch of some amulets and trinkets “for protection”, etc.
I’m surprised Barker stuck around until 2004 if Al was like that constantly or quite often.
Thank you, El Rey! I always thought that sounded sketchy as it just doesn’t make sense that you can willy nilly buy insurance policies on people you think will die, but I figured it may be some oversimplification of something, and that does seem the case. Your explanation makes total sense. I could also see how that is “SMART” business for a guy in Paul’s position, and I can also totally see how someone in Al’s position could interpret it as treacherous (“banking on my death”).
Anyway, I’m glad to see these kids hug it out whether or not anything comes of it musically.
Maybe Gerda will come back to Prongs if Paul gets more to his present resume than a couple guitar pedals and the 5 CD’s he sold (all to Grumpy).
[reply]I’m stunned Al reached out to Barker. Didn’t think it possible.
I was always a Barker guy up until I read Al’s book and found out about the life insurance policy fiasco, that was really fucking dark, I soured on Barker.
A couple things -
It’s almost certainly what is known as a key man policy. These are pretty common in business partnerships. If one partner passed away it may irreparably damage the partnership. Partners typically take them out on each other. The beneficiary is typically the business. i.e. the surviving partner(s).
Jourgensen would have known about and signed off on the policy. There was no surprise. You can’t take out a life insurance policy on someone without their signature. If Jourgensen had any good legal representation or even the smallest amount of business sense he would have done the same with Barker and quite possibly did. Key man policies typically expire when the business relationship ends. So it is unlikely to be still in effect. But who knows what was really done?
For the first time in well over a decade, at least, I’m actually interested in hearing whatever comes of this. If Al made nice with the Book Club and went out on tour with a decent setlist, I think it would do quite well.[/reply]