Tuesday 24 July 2018

MINISTRY

The combined forces of Matt ArtPix and Arcane Publishing are tomorrow having a staff outing to Bristol to see the one of my all-time favourite bands ... MINISTRY!!!!!




The US Industrial legends are now doing the UK leg of a lengthy tour, and I can't wait to see them again.
It will be extra special, as I've only ever seen them play in London, and have never been to Bristol before. So a new city and a new venue to explore as well!

Where on earth do I start with Ministry, what a band and what a sound!!!!
I first became aware of them in late 1989/early 1990, and couldn't wait to see them when they first came to the UK in December 1992, and played at Brixton Academy. An amazing night!!!

Their extraordinary sound is a complicated mixture of Industrial and Metal, with immense layers of clever sampling and electronics that has a groove and danceability.

Singer/founder and now chief protagonist Al Jourgensen, really is one-of-a-kind.
Fiercely intelligent and independent, well-read and politically conscious, he is a whirlwind of talent and opinions! As with so many 'Alternative' musicians people are either too scared of them or just too afraid to wander off the path of the mainstream, to hear what they are saying. He's too good to not listen to.

I'm sure a lot of people have a gig they just wish they'd been at.
Mine is a Ministry gig. 
Well, a whole tour really, from what is still my absolute favourite live recording – In Case You Didn't Feel Like Turning Up
Originally a video and CD of their 89-90 tour of America, it captures a totally chaotic gig, when they used to have a fence across the stage, and fans would run riot. With the two drummers, Bill Rieflin and Martin Atkins and Jourgensen's partner-in-crime Paul Barker, that's the gig at the top of my wish list! 
It makes me laugh, and have a pang of regret, every time I watch it!








Do please check them out if you've never heard of them ... And watch that video!!!! 





No comments:

Post a Comment