Photo by Juan Salmeron
Ministry Frontman Al Jourgensen Celebrates 60th Birthday On October 9
Just Days Before Ministry’s Breakthrough Album
“The Land Of Rape And Honey” Turns 30 On October 11
Ministry Embarks On New North American Tour November 21
Find Tickets At MinistryBand.com
It’s a feat few thought could happen, perhaps most shocking to Al Jourgensen himself. The industrial godfather and founder of noise provocateurs Ministry turns 60 years old on October 9, surviving 12 American presidents, 37 years in the music industry and a whole lot of well-documented raucous behavior in between.
The landmark birthday comes just two days before another Ministry milestone-the 30th anniversary of the band’s pioneering album, “The Land Of Rape And Honey,” which was originally released on October 11, 1988 and produced the hit single “Stigmata.” It went on to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1996 and remains one of the band’s best selling albums.
A stylistic breakthrough for Ministry, “Land Of Rape And Honey” took a steep departure from the synthpop elements of the band’s previous albums, 1983’s “With Sympathy” and 1986’s “Twitch,” and incorporated heavier, more aggressive sounds showcasing Jourgensen’s studio prowess that married metal-inspired guitar riffs with heavy sampling, as well as chugging bass lines from then new member Paul Barker. The album is considered as setting the precedent of the industrial music genre and influenced a number of bands that would come out of the scene thereafter.
See a visual collage of the album’s finest moments, created by Ben Garcia.
“Really, 30 years ago? It was the half-way point of my life, and as much as I like this record, it’s kind of a shame that some of the same topics I was railing about then (fascism) are still pertinent now,” says Jourgensen. “Time flies, but nothing changes.”
Hear Jourgensen talk more about the anniversary on an upcoming radio appearance on Dave Navarro’s Dark Matter Radio—his first interview as a 60-year-old! The program airs October 17 from 9-11 pm PST. Listen live on DashRadio.Com ALT-X station
Ministry continues to remain active in 2018, with the release of its latest album “AmeriKKKant” in March, decrying the current state of America’s political system and its mad man in charge. “This album provides FEMA-type relief for the devastation ‘Hurricane Cheeto’ has brought upon us,” says Jourgensen. Ministry will embark on the second leg of its North American tour beginning November 21 and continuing through December 21 with support from Carpenter Brut. Confirmed tour dates include:
11/21/2018 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
11/23/2018 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
11/24/2018 – Denver, CO – Fillmore
11/27/2018 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre
11/29/2018 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
11/30/2018 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
12/01/2018 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theater
12/02/2018 – Toronto, ON – Rebel
12/04/2018 – Rochester, NY – Anthology
12/05/2018 – Washington, DC – Fillmore
12/06/2018 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
12/07/2018 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
12/08/2018 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
12/10/2018 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
12/11/2018 – Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theater
12/12/2018 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey
12/13/2018 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston
12/14/2018 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
12/16/2018 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
12/18/2018 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues San Diego
12/20/2018 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
12/21/2018 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
11/23/2018 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
11/24/2018 – Denver, CO – Fillmore
11/27/2018 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre
11/29/2018 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
11/30/2018 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
12/01/2018 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theater
12/02/2018 – Toronto, ON – Rebel
12/04/2018 – Rochester, NY – Anthology
12/05/2018 – Washington, DC – Fillmore
12/06/2018 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
12/07/2018 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
12/08/2018 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
12/10/2018 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
12/11/2018 – Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theater
12/12/2018 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey
12/13/2018 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston
12/14/2018 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
12/16/2018 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
12/18/2018 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues San Diego
12/20/2018 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
12/21/2018 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
For tickets and more information, visit www.ministryband.com/shows.
Website: www.ministryband.com
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