Al: I never want to hear from THAT guy again. People thought he was Ministry ‘cos I was like Garbo, hiding in the suite, fucked up on smack, so someone had to do the interviews and he took it. He was just a fuckin’ bass player! Spinal Tap had something like two dozens of them!
I think this is a pretty funny statement out of Al considering that
A) Paul Barker wasn’t “fired” from the band, but left (this is according to both statements by Barker and Al).
B) According to Barker, he didn’t feel that he knew what else could be done with Ministry…I think this is sort of funny, as really, I don’t think Al does either. I lilked the last two albums, REALLY liked Rio, but outside of the sheer speed of Rio, it wasn’t anything all that new (IMO). Jourgensen (IMO) would seem to prove Barker right here in that the “industrial metal” concept (arguably) began by Ministry had sort reached a pinacle where they were concerned. In fact, if one is to go by Barkers statements, that sort of hit a pinnacle with Psalm 69…a radical change in sound then following because they were beginning to feel confined within the “industrial metal” framework.
I really can’t say I understand Al’s annoyance with Barker. And considering that Al plans on just one more Ministry release, hell…I think it would be great if the core ol Ministry team reassembled one last time (Jourgensen, Barker, Rieflin).
I really can’t say I understand Al’s annoyance with Barker. And considering that Al plans on just one more Ministry release, hell…I think it would be great if the core ol Ministry team reassembled one last time (Jourgensen, Barker, Rieflin).
If I can get cheesy for a moment, it’s just bad blood.
They got in a fight about something and split up, and now they hate each other. I very much doubt Paul was “just” the bass player, and I’m sure Al would have said something very different regarding Paul’s contribution if you’d asked him 10 or 15 years ago when they were still friends.
Also, Spinal Tap only had one bass player. They kept changing drummers.
he’s just probably playing the role of a “i’m so super awesome and super tough that i don’t care about all the other people” attitude too much. he probably also thinks (for some reason) that nowadays he writes his best songs, best lyrics and best music.
funny that rieflin, connelly and washam were all negative about al. barker is just “super busy” and i think he would be quiet about it for a while.
this is not the first time though, remember when in the process of making houses of the mole al was giving interview and he said: “he was a hired guy to play bass, he was just like a fucking employee!”
also fun thing is that when the split was announced it was all calm and stuff… like “yea, we part ways, it’s all in peace, etc”.
just thought that it would be cool if all previous classic ministry members got together and recorded a couple of albums… (just not that connelly or rieflin current wankery) …and if it would turn out better than houses and rio grande, lol.
Wankery? I rather like the Rieflin “project” and Pink Anvil…okay, Connelly, not so much. But if these guys got together, something interesting and, if not innovative, then at the very least unique, would occur. Let Al do his thing - I’ll continue to buy it, and hope for some kind of Industrial “supergroup” of all-stars to coalesce - but keep Al out of it. We all have heard time and time again that he’s a controlling jerk that is nearly impossible to work with. If the old Ministry were to get together for a reunion or farewell album or whatever, Al would just force them to play his metal like the hired hands he seems to be mistaking Barker for.
He can do that on his own, with random KJ members.
and hope for some kind of Industrial “supergroup” of all-stars to coalesce - but keep Al out of it.
They already did that. It was called Pigface, and the album was “Gub”.
I doubt we’ll get a “classic lineup” Ministry reunion - even if they all kissed and made up, Jourgensen, Barker, Rieflin, Connelly (and hell, Atkins and Ogre) are all in completely different places musically then they were in '89.
Still, I never expected to see the classic Pink Floyd lineup reunite, so I never say never.
Al: I never want to hear from THAT guy again. People thought he was Ministry ‘cos I was like Garbo, hiding in the suite, fucked up on smack, so someone had to do the interviews and he took it. He was just a fuckin’ bass player! Spinal Tap had something like two dozens of them!
I can’t believe Al is trying to convince us that Barker was just a hired hand. Open up the Psalm 69 sleeve - now who is that chilled looking guy peeking out from behind AL’s dreads? Why, it’s none other than Lanky Paul!! The other face of Ministry!!
Pffft!! ‘Hired hand’ my ass. What a joke Al has become in the last three years. The last two albums blew chunks. Can anyone say “Spinal Tap”?
[reply]
Pffft!! ‘Hired hand’ my ass. What a joke Al has become in the last three years. The last two albums blew chunks. Can anyone say “Spinal Tap”?
Paul was definitely not a mere hired hand. In the 20 plus years of Ministry there have been only 2 members, Jourgensen and Barker. [/reply]
You forgot Stephen George. Also, I believe Al asked Rieflin to be a full member, but he declined.
Anyway, this whole thread reminds me - does anyone else remember the Paul Barker hate site from several years ago? Some loser had enough time on his hands to devote an entire website to how much he hated Paul Barker. I sometimes wonder what happened to that guy.
You forgot Stephen George. Also, I believe Al asked Rieflin to be a full member, but he declined.
That’s the first I’ve heard of that, although you may be right. All I seem to remember about Rieflin leaving was an interviewer asking him how he felt about Ministry, and his reply being “I was never a part of Ministry (insert smirk),” implying that he had in fact contributed, but never been recognized. We know he was in Lard, Revco, etc, etc. I find it hard to believe that he didn’t in fact belong to the band proper. If I were just as prominent as that guy that was “just a fuckin’ bass player!” but didn’t recieve any credit for it, I’d prolly split, too.
For the record - when I hear the word Ministry, I think of Al, Paul, and Bill. Connelly is looming in the background…and maybe Scaccia is kicking Martin Atkins in the ribs. But Ministry comes down to the “main three” for me, and I still don’t get why Al can’t admit that they were an actual band. Is there THAT MUCH ego that he wants to pretend Ministry was all himself?
Anyway, this whole thread reminds me - does anyone else remember the Paul Barker hate site from several years ago? Some loser had enough time on his hands to devote an entire website to how much he hated Paul Barker. I sometimes wonder what happened to that guy.
It was one Alan Hines, whom took the site down after it was discovered he ripped off a bunch of Skinny Puppy fans of a live bootleg recording some years beforehand.
Unbeknownst to me, I actually (inadvertedly) had a hand in doing so when I linked to it one day. Funny shit.
If you ask me, Al was the ‘hired hand’ in that relationship. I’d say Paul ‘hired’ Al in order to boost his image. Y’know, add a bit of muscle. Make him look good.
'Cos let’s face it, the kids aren’t going to be turned onto some lanky, bespecled bass player with ‘gnarly’ computer skills. Are they? It’s hard to imagine a poster of Paul Barker adorning some 16 yr old goth rock kid’s bedroom wall - without Al involved somewhere.
If you ask me, Al was the ‘hired hand’ in that relationship. I’d say Paul ‘hired’ Al in order to boost his image. Y’know, add a bit of muscle. Make him look good.
'Cos let’s face it, the kids aren’t going to be turned onto some lanky, bespecled bass player with ‘gnarly’ computer skills. Are they? It’s hard to imagine a poster of Paul Barker adorning some 16 yr old goth rock kid’s bedroom wall - without Al involved somewhere.
Wow, check out the big brain on peligro. Getting into the thick of it with conspiracy theories and shit. Have you ever thought of putting these in a book?
Come on, Hypo Luxa and Hermes Pan made the best music by far together. I do like Rio, but I like Houses better. Paul Barker added a whole new dimension when he came on board to ministry. Paul did a hell of a lot more than just play the bass guitar in ministry. I always liked Paul’s vocals on the few ministry songs he did vocals. Lead into gold side project is great and very unique. I always thought Paul looked and was younger than Al. I don’t understand why Al is saying all this negative shit about Paul. I think it is great that Paul hasn’t made any comments about Al. Have a lot of respect for Paul. Paul’s stage presence is sorely missed when I saw them at hob in chicago this summer. [:/]
I think it is great that Paul hasn’t made any comments about Al. Have a lot of respect for Paul. [:/]
Yeah. I think it sums up Al’s personality perfectly. He’s the first one to get on his high horse and bitch and moan when something doesn’t go his way, whether it be in his band or some social/political issue. Paul seems to just let it slide.
I’ve often heard the term ‘Napoleon Complex’ used by certain people describing Al’s character. I’d imagine that kind of thing would be difficult to work with - hence the revolving door structure of the band of late.