My first real introduction to Ministry was Psalm 69 in the summer of '92. A fellow lifeguard had went to lollapalooza and came back with Psalm 69. he had left his CD player out when he went back on rotation and so I just hit play on whatever it was that he had in there and it totally blew me away. I listened to the whole thing and never slowed down!!
I had heard Stigmata on 120 minutes a few years back and another friend was super psyched in 1990 (91?) when ICYDFLSUL came out but I never made the connection that all 3 bands were the same band.
SO while I was first introduced to ministry via Stigmata on 120 minutes in like 1988 or 89 and I had didn’t really recognized them until 1992. And NWO as the cd opener was powerful and it never let up… excellent song opener.
Unless y’all are the types to get butthurt beyond repair because Al hates Chris and Paul, I do recommend checking out the book. There’s a lot of stuff about the early years. I’m at about the 1/2 way point and he still hasn’t done Ps69 if that gives any weight.
There’s some sloppiness on behalf of Wiederhorn, but overall it’s an easy and very enjoyable read. Yes, there is a fair amount of drunken or drug-crazed lunatic hijinks in it. Would people rather read about his stamp collection or something? The dude was a raging rock and roll psycho. Many of us fans actually do want to read more about that.
I finally found a UK seller who had a copy, so mine is in the post as we speak, apparently, can’t wait to read it.
[reply][reply]Unless y’all are the types to get butthurt beyond repair because Al hates Chris and Paul, I do recommend checking out the book. There’s a lot of stuff about the early years. I’m at about the 1/2 way point and he still hasn’t done Ps69 if that gives any weight.
There’s some sloppiness on behalf of Wiederhorn, but overall it’s an easy and very enjoyable read. Yes, there is a fair amount of drunken or drug-crazed lunatic hijinks in it. Would people rather read about his stamp collection or something? The dude was a raging rock and roll psycho. Many of us fans actually do want to read more about that.
This site seems to cater to my feelings about Al and the current version of Ministry for the most part. So, seeing so many people praise the book got me to reserve it for pick up tomorrow.
I love rock bios and I love(d) Ministry. Makes perfect sense to get it. I’d love to read more into what happened throughout the years. My main concern was that it’d be focused mostly on the Bush trilogy years.[/reply]…good lord.[/reply]
Elaborate. I don’t see how anything said there could be taken as being offensive or worthy of getting upset over.
Oh yeah man Al was totally an icon for me in the 90s and early 2000s. To be honest I always viewed Ministry as Al & Paul and they had a certain mystery/magic/bad-ass-ness about them. The thing is about those days is my opinion on them was based on magazine photo shoots from Psalm 69 - Animositisomina era and the magic of picking up the Ministry/Lard/Revolting Cocks/Pailhead material bit by bit. What sealed the obsession with them was seeing them live in a small nightclub in Jan 1995.
The saturation of the internet age which gave me unlimited access to Al interviews etc and the destruction of the core Ministry members (Paul) along with the IMO poor material with the Ministry logo made me totally lose interest with a band I thought I’d be bananas over until death!!! The magic had to end some time I guess.
I still go to Filthpig and still enjoy Pailhead and Lard records. However the band no longer hold that certain feeling for me…which saddens me.
When they were hot they were in fine style no doubt!
[reply]Twitch was Sherwood, anything good since was the Book Club. Poorgensen only revealed himself on the butt end of the Bush Trilogy.
Fact.
Oh please…[/reply]
He’s certainly gotten into the spirit of the thread, hasn’t he?
Al put out some of my favorite music of all time - with and without all those other guys in various combinations. At this point, I’d respect him more if he just retired and disappeared, but what are ya gonna do?
To be honest I always viewed Ministry as Al & Paul
I agree with this. Split Al and Paul apart and you just have solo projects for each guy even though Al has the M splashed all over his solo work.
Late,
grmpysmrf
they both have their bright and dark spots.
man if we were able to mash up any of Al’s post paul albums with the perfect pair that album would be great!
Late,
grmpysmrf
I liked Flowering Blight and Lead Into Gold a lot, not so keen on other Paul stuff really, but i’m always willing to give new releases a shot. I like the sound of the stuff Barker and Chris are doing at the moment, Bells Into Machines.
I respect Al for always being productive and energetic. He doesn’t care what people think of the directions he takes. He makes the music he wants to make and I really admire that about him.
He’s had the pleasure of working with some very brilliant and talented musicians over the years. It is unfortunate when bridges burn or respect isn’t paid. However, his music has kept my attention for nearly 20 years, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
[reply]Twitch was Sherwood, anything good since was the Book Club. Poorgensen only revealed himself on the butt end of the Bush Trilogy.
Fact.
Oh please…[/reply]
The irony is crushing
These fucking Al is great/Al is a dick threads are completely pointless. Do people not get sick of writing the same shit over and over?
I make my myself sick now and then but at least I’m not like Israel and I can pull out when necessary.
The truth is whenever there’s activity in the nu-Ministry camp these days it has an adverse effect on this place. There is a correlatory decline in quality around here when a hot new Ministry album is on the scene.
Congrats, Uncle J. You won, you cunt. You and your fake joint and desperate need to be an ‘Uncle’
These fucking Al is great/Al is a dick threads are completely pointless. Do people not get sick of writing the same shit over and over?
“These”?
I’ve been on Prongs quite regularly for over 3 years now and I think this is the FIRST I’ve seen.
No, I don’t think anything that has been said in this thread is revolutionary or particularly thought-provoking, but I found it to be quite refreshing, nonetheless.
It’s a place for people to actually say what they LIKE about the old geezer instead of the seemingly never-ending waterfall of hate.
The thread says, “We Love You Al”. It’s pretty easy to NOT click on it if you’re going to get your weeny bent out of shape that people are not talking about what a piece of corroded crap Al is as per usual.
[reply][reply]Twitch was Sherwood, anything good since was the Book Club. Poorgensen only revealed himself on the butt end of the Bush Trilogy.
Fact.
Oh please…[/reply]
The irony is crushing
These fucking Al is great/Al is a dick threads are completely pointless. Do people not get sick of writing the same shit over and over?
I make my myself sick now and then but at least I’m not like Israel and I can pull out when necessary.
The truth is whenever there’s activity in the nu-Ministry camp these days it has an adverse effect on this place. There is a correlatory decline in quality around here when a hot new Ministry album is on the scene.
Congrats, Uncle J. You won, you cunt. You and your fake joint and desperate need to be an ‘Uncle’[/reply]
…what? I have been using this forum for years and believe me I’ve had more than my share of negative things to say about Al’s recent work. I’m no fanboy…far from it…
The last album I really enjoyed or even listened to in full was ‘Houses of the Mole’ if that says anything…
I was just kind of drunk digging on some Ministry stuff yesterday and figured “you know what, despite all the bullshit, Al is a cool motherfucker and I’m grateful for the music he helmed”
I have no illusions that Al wrote and played everything I love and all that. I give the Book Club their due. But Al was the one spearheading things and his charisma is undeniable and a huge part of the band.
I don’t know what this chip on your shoulder is but if you truly hate Al and Ministry so much, why are you around?
