Let me guess . . . Al apologizes for his rudeness and makes up with the Book Club and hires them all for the next record and tour and they all skip off to the sunset eating stringcheese and sipping Capri-Sun . . .
I had a quick look at the issue in Chapters yesterday, and the Ministry article actually goes on for one more page beyond the pages filthpig shared with us.
Whoops! i’m on it. It’ll be posted with the rest of the scans on page one.
Amlux, i’ll totally safe gaurd that Rape&Honey poster for you 
As I read through the interview, I cringed every time I saw Al’s comments and began to dread them whenever his name was next for a comment.
Based on this, we can officially close the door on a TRUE Ministry reunion. Those wounds seem to be opened way too far.
On another note, we now know why Ministry never played Burning Inside after the Mind Tour. Al seems to almost resent the tune.
The “Burning Inside” video, which I caught on some crappy independent station’s local video show was my first experience with MINISTRY and it started everything for me.
If I were to pick two songs that are most deeply ingrained in my soul and represented what Ministry meant to me it would be “Burning Inside” and “So What” (both off ICYDFLSU, by the way).
I was feeling a bit down so I listened to bits of The Last Sucker on youtube.
It was funny. Felt better right away. I needed a good laugh.
For me it would be…
YOUUUUUU KNOW WHAT YOU ARRRRRRRRRE!
hell yea…that and
thaaaa missingggggg…those two tracks smashed my skull in high school …back when i was just a teeny bobber with shaved head and combat boots…i miss the 80’s
Well, I’ve very little to add to this discussion because everyone has either said what I was thinking, and if they haven’t, said stuff I wholeheartedly agree with.
Amlux, when you wrote what you did, I had this image of a disenfranchised 15 year old tearing his favourite rock band’s poster down his room in tears once he discovered the singer did drugs or some shit.
'sif you’d tear down a poster just coz Al’s a douche. Sheesh.
On a side note, the way decibel does things is interesting. If they hadn’t have gotten all the guys to have agreed to the interview, it wouldn’t have happened AT ALL.
I know this, coz I’m good friends with disembowelment’s drummer. He was telling me how decibel magazine was going to put their CD in the hall of fame, but the singer refused to be part of it and as a result, they couldn’t be part of it.
Al making fun of Chris working at a record store isn’t exactly any different from selling your surplus wares (that no one is listening to) as “limited edition” or part of a “tour package” that no one asked for in the first place.
Christ, even Gene Simmons could sell hundreds of KISS Koffins.
At least Chris and Paul and the rest AREN’T re-recording their back catalogues using a distortion pedal and a shitty drum machine and releasing it with a bunch of shitty, so-bad-only-grmpsmrf-would-buy-it covers and calling it a “Greatest Hits” package - for a quick cash grab.
As if everything he had achieved as a part of Ministry throughout their heyday meant absolutely NOTHING to him. The man is a human jukebox - with absolutely zero credibility.
Must be going through a second childhood.
Thanks for posting the articles. Yeah I saw Al play burning inside with Ogre…2003. I was at this show:
[font “Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif”][size 4]
Ministry at Roseland in NYC on 5/4/03[/size][/font]
[font “Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif”][size 4][b]
Setlist:[/b][/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]1 ANIMOSITY
2 UNSUNG
3 PISS
4 DEAD GUY
[/size][/font][font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2] 5 FILTH PIG
6 BAD BLOOD
7 CRUMBS
8 PSALM 69
9 N.W.O.
10 JUST ONE FIX
11 HERO
12 THIEVES
13 SUPERMANIC SOUL
14 RELOAD
15 SO WHAT[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]16 BURNING INSIDE
17 SUPERNAUT[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]Al’s wife Angie[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2][font “Times New Roman, Times, serif”][size 4]T[/size][/font]he floor at Roseland was in anarchy for almost 2 hours as Ministry launched an all out assault on NYC. Al appeared looking evil and sporting a cool mike stand with snakes(?) and handles like a bike on it. They did all the new stuff right away, then got down to bizness with the old tracks. The crowd was awesome as usual, mostly hardcore fans. The floor seemed a little sparse, though- I don’t think the show sold out. The band was in good form, very tight and loud as hell. They came on real strong with the new songs, but when the riffs to Dead Guy started the crowd really went nuts. From then on the floor was a series of huge, intense mosh pits. It was hard to keep yourself from getting killed. The stage had a big screen behind the band flashing images throughout the show. I remember George Bush during N.W.O. and William Burroughs footage during Burning inside. Al Jourgenson’s wife came out and sang with him on Bad Blood. The songs were all played perfectly, right down to the smallest samples and soundFX. Standouts included Filth Pig and So What, but the crowd really freaked during Just One Fix. After So What there was a brief interlude (apparently technical problems). When they came back out, Al introduced Ogre (lead singer from Skinny Puppy) and they banged out an intense version of Burning Inside together. Then Al said goodnight and left Ogre onstage to close with a cover of Black Sabbath’s Supernaut (Al covers this on 10K Homo DJs). Ministry puts on an amazing show, with no time wasting chatter or superficial bullshit. So when are they coming back?[/size][/font]
oh yeah, and thanks filthpig.
DANG, Revco! THAT’S a proper setlist.
That was the only tour I missed since '92. Sounds like it was a kick ass show (though I’ve heard a lot of negative about that tour too).
i am way late, but i would like to add a few things:
1-, mad props to filth pig for the upload.
2-i also cringed whenever al would begin his answers. gunnar calling him out on answering the burning inside video questions with remarks about him reading more book than paul and being better at scrabble i think is the best way to summarize most of his answers. he just doesn’t answer sometimes, and instead seems like he’s trying tot wow this interviewer with his “totally awesome rockstar stories bro! real Caligula shit”
3- once again, gunnar summarizes my precise thoughts on what the music represents to me, and how hypocritical it is of al to be comparing “success” or some type of personal value through grammy noms and houses and not having to work a regular job.
4- if you haven’t read chris’ book yet, it would recommend it highly. the behind the scenes type info on revco, mind, and their related tours was great. at least for those with the behind the scenes affinity. another thing i liked abut it is chris is just as critical of himself as everyone else in the book. just as quick to point out his own stupidity as he is pointing out others.
Wow that particular show was easily one of my best Ministry experiences ever… awesome show and setlist… I met up with Corey from litany at lit lounge after the show… Ogre walks in like 5 minutes later and had quite a few drinks with us at the bar. Chilled with Barker and Rick Ocasek out on the sidewalk for a long time too… good times and memories!
-jimmy
Thanks for posting the articles. Yeah I saw Al play burning inside with Ogre…2003. I was at this show:
[font “Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif”][size 4]
Ministry at Roseland in NYC on 5/4/03[/size][/font]
[font “Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif”][size 4][b]
Setlist:[/b][/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]1 ANIMOSITY
2 UNSUNG
3 PISS
4 DEAD GUY
[/size][/font][font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2] 5 FILTH PIG
6 BAD BLOOD
7 CRUMBS
8 PSALM 69
9 N.W.O.
10 JUST ONE FIX
11 HERO
12 THIEVES
13 SUPERMANIC SOUL
14 RELOAD
15 SO WHAT[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]16 BURNING INSIDE
17 SUPERNAUT[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]Al’s wife Angie[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2][font “Times New Roman, Times, serif”][size 4]T[/size][/font]he floor at Roseland was in anarchy for almost 2 hours as Ministry launched an all out assault on NYC. Al appeared looking evil and sporting a cool mike stand with snakes(?) and handles like a bike on it. They did all the new stuff right away, then got down to bizness with the old tracks. The crowd was awesome as usual, mostly hardcore fans. The floor seemed a little sparse, though- I don’t think the show sold out. The band was in good form, very tight and loud as hell. They came on real strong with the new songs, but when the riffs to Dead Guy started the crowd really went nuts. From then on the floor was a series of huge, intense mosh pits. It was hard to keep yourself from getting killed. The stage had a big screen behind the band flashing images throughout the show. I remember George Bush during N.W.O. and William Burroughs footage during Burning inside. Al Jourgenson’s wife came out and sang with him on Bad Blood. The songs were all played perfectly, right down to the smallest samples and soundFX. Standouts included Filth Pig and So What, but the crowd really freaked during Just One Fix. After So What there was a brief interlude (apparently technical problems). When they came back out, Al introduced Ogre (lead singer from Skinny Puppy) and they banged out an intense version of Burning Inside together. Then Al said goodnight and left Ogre onstage to close with a cover of Black Sabbath’s Supernaut (Al covers this on 10K Homo DJs). Ministry puts on an amazing show, with no time wasting chatter or superficial bullshit. So when are they coming back?[/size][/font]
Chilled with Barker and Rick Ocasek out on the sidewalk for a long time too
-jimmy
OCASEK??? Was he as completely awesome as I have always assumed him to be?
This is what i got out of this : That up until this record Al was a big part of the project, he switched from coke to heroin, the smack became more important, he let Paul run ministry (babysit) while he partied and just added things here and there. The rest of the band,wife etc. started to get sick of the smack Bill etc. left (thank god they had already made beers/the last temptation etc.) 2003 rolls around Al’s sober wants all of the control back we get the “nu-ministry”. Seems like ministry was more a means for dope money in the 90’s for Al than a creative outlet and that’s okay
Amlux, when you wrote what you did, I had this image of a disenfranchised 15 year old tearing his favourite rock band’s poster down his room in tears once he discovered the singer did drugs or some shit.
'sif you’d tear down a poster just coz Al’s a douche. Sheesh.
Thanks, fuck-o. I’ll remember to ask permission in future before I attempt any such buffoonary.
Mom says hi.
al did not have a clue.he always needs someone to take care of his shit. he’s been successful. nice try.
Yeah…Angie stepped in when Paul left.
Now that’s what a REAL ministry setlist should look like!
Thanks for posting the articles. Yeah I saw Al play burning inside with Ogre…2003. I was at this show:
[font “Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif”][size 4]
Ministry at Roseland in NYC on 5/4/03[/size][/font]
[font “Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif”][size 4][b]
Setlist:[/b][/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]1 ANIMOSITY
2 UNSUNG
3 PISS
4 DEAD GUY
[/size][/font][font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2] 5 FILTH PIG
6 BAD BLOOD
7 CRUMBS
8 PSALM 69
9 N.W.O.
10 JUST ONE FIX
11 HERO
12 THIEVES
13 SUPERMANIC SOUL
14 RELOAD
15 SO WHAT[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]16 BURNING INSIDE
17 SUPERNAUT[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2]Al’s wife Angie[/size][/font]
[font “Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”][size 2][font “Times New Roman, Times, serif”][size 4]T[/size][/font]he floor at Roseland was in anarchy for almost 2 hours as Ministry launched an all out assault on NYC. Al appeared looking evil and sporting a cool mike stand with snakes(?) and handles like a bike on it. They did all the new stuff right away, then got down to bizness with the old tracks. The crowd was awesome as usual, mostly hardcore fans. The floor seemed a little sparse, though- I don’t think the show sold out. The band was in good form, very tight and loud as hell. They came on real strong with the new songs, but when the riffs to Dead Guy started the crowd really went nuts. From then on the floor was a series of huge, intense mosh pits. It was hard to keep yourself from getting killed. The stage had a big screen behind the band flashing images throughout the show. I remember George Bush during N.W.O. and William Burroughs footage during Burning inside. Al Jourgenson’s wife came out and sang with him on Bad Blood. The songs were all played perfectly, right down to the smallest samples and soundFX. Standouts included Filth Pig and So What, but the crowd really freaked during Just One Fix. After So What there was a brief interlude (apparently technical problems). When they came back out, Al introduced Ogre (lead singer from Skinny Puppy) and they banged out an intense version of Burning Inside together. Then Al said goodnight and left Ogre onstage to close with a cover of Black Sabbath’s Supernaut (Al covers this on 10K Homo DJs). Ministry puts on an amazing show, with no time wasting chatter or superficial bullshit. So when are they coming back?[/size][/font]
Those shitting on Al, let’s keep in mind that by the same token, the others lack the charisma to have assembled such a beast as Ministry was in the first place…
They are side men.
I’m just putting things in perspective. Al is a psycho, but that’s a big part of why something like the Ministry camp was even possible. Let’s not forget that.
I think that concept is part of what Al is trying to get across when he’s saying that he was the crazy one and they looked down on him but he made it all possible by being that guy. Maybe in some convoluted way he feels he suffered to keep the circus going and he wanted some sympathy from them about it. He has a big chip on his shoulder about being perceived as this loser degenerate drug addict guy while they were the clear headed civilized ones. That much is obvious. He definitely read Connelly’s book and is PISSED about it. Addiction is a very confusing thing, and I don’t think people can understand how a “camp” of musicians would work, but in my experience a character like Al is absolutely necessary to bring the whole thing together.
Also I believe many of Al’s responses are coming from the fact that being so insecure he probably thought they’d be shitting on him as well so he was “pre-emptively defending himself”.
I just hope that he’s not back on the horse because a big part of recovery is humility and letting go and this interview really makes me wonder…
Paul’s track record has been pretty spotty at best since they parted ways. I’ll take nu-Ministry over USSA and his obnoxious nasal vocals ruined Flowering Blight’s great songs. We give him a lot of credit here but he probably wouldn’t have had a career in music if not for Al. Look what he’s doing now for a living. I think that’s what Al means when he is talking about “the ones who were crazy are the ones who are still professional musicians”–the irony there
Because the perception is that without Paul playing straight guy Al couldn’t hold it together. But without Al being the crazy guy, Paul couldn’t have gotten anything off the ground.
And he clearly wasn’t able to after they broke up.
Just a thought…