Ministry

Ministry
Background information
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Industrial metal, thrash metalm], new wave, synthpop (early)
Years active	1981–2008, 2011-2013, 2014-present
Status	Active
Associated acts	Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, Lard, 1000 Homo DJs, PTP, Acid Horse, Pailhead, Pigface, Killing Joke, Lead into Gold, Fear Factory, Prong, Skinny Puppy, Surgical Meth Machine, Rigor Mortis
Website	/www.alfuckingjourgensen.com
Members
Al Jourgensen John Bechdel Sin Quirin Aaron Rossi Casey Orr
Past members
John Davis Stephen George Robert Roberts Marty Sorenson Shay Jones Brad Hallen Paul Barker Bill Rieflin Chris Connelly Nivek Ogre Mike Scaccia Howie Beno Michael Balch Louis Svitek Duane Buford Zlatko Hukic Rey Washam Max Brody Mark Baker John Monte Paul Raven Tommy Victor Tony Campos Jello Biafra

Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a new wave synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the mid-1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs (1992) and touring as part of the Lollapalooza festival.

After 27 years of performing, Jourgensen decided to end the band in 2008, saying a reunion would never happen. However, in August 2011, a reunion was announced, when Ministry confirmed they would play one of their first shows in four years at the Wacken Open Air festival in August 2012. Ministry released a new album, Relapse, on March 23, 2012, which was followed by a world tour. Following the death of long time guitarist Mike Scaccia, Ministry released their final album From Beer to Eternity in September 2013, and subsequently began to tour again with new guitarist Cesar Soto.

Discography

Studio albums

• With Sympathy (1983)
• Twitch (1986)
• The Land of Rape and Honey (1988)
• The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste (1989)
• Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs (1992)
• Filth Pig (1996)
• Dark Side of the Spoon (1999)
• Animositisomina (2003)
• Houses of the Molé (2004)
• Rio Grande Blood (2006)
• The Last Sucker (2007)
• Relapse (2012)
• From Beer to Eternity (2013)

Members

Current Members

• Al Jourgensen – vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, bass guitar, drums,(1981–2008, 2011–2013, 2014-present)
• John Bechdel – keyboards (2006–2008, 2011-2013, 2014–present)
• Sin Quirin – guitars, bass (2007–2008, 2011-2013, 2014–present)
• Aaron Rossi – drums (2007–2008, 2011-2013, 2014–present)
• Mandi Martyr - bass (2016-present)
• Cesar Soto - guitars (2015–present)

Former members

• John Davis – keyboards (1981–1982)
• Stephen George – drums (1981–1985)
• Robert Roberts – keyboards (1981–1984)
• Marty Sorenson – bass (1981–1982)
• Shay Jones – vocals (1982–1983)
• Brad Hallen – bass (1983–1985)
• John Soroka – keyboards/collaboration (1984–1986)
• Paul Barker – bass, keyboards, programming, vocals (1986–2003)
• Bill Rieflin – drums, keyboards, programming, guitar (1986–1995)
• Jeff Ward - drums (1988; died 1993)
• Chris Connelly – vocals, keyboards & various songwriting credits (1987–1993)
• Nivek Ogre – vocals, guitar, keyboards (1988–1990)
• Mike Scaccia – guitars, bass (1989–1995, 2003–2006, 2011–2012; died 2012)
• Howie Beno – programming, editing (1990–1993)
• Michael Balch – keyboards, programming (1991–1992)
• Louis Svitek – guitar (1992–1999, 2003)
• Duane Buford – keyboards (1995–1999)
• Zlatko Hukic – electronics, guitar (1995–1999)
• Rey Washam – drums, percussion, programming (1995–1999, 2003)
• Jello Biafra - vocals (2006)
• Max Brody – drums, percussion, programming, saxophone (1999–2004)
• Mark Baker – drums (2004–2005)
• John Monte – bass (2004)
• Paul Raven – bass, keyboards, guitar, drums (2005–2007; died 2007)
• Tommy Victor – guitars, bass (2005–2008, 2011–2012)
• Joey Jordison - drums (2006-2007)
• Tony Campos - bass (2007-2008, 2011-2013, 2014-2015)
• Burton C. Bell - lead vocals (2007-2008)
• Jimmy DeGrasso - drums (2008)
• Casey Orr – bass, keyboards (2012-2013)
• Monte Pittman – guitars (2014–2015)

External links

• Facebook
• Bandcamp
• Myspace