AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Ministry

Artist:Ministry

Song:N.W,O.

Album:Greatest Fits

Though Nine Inch Nails were more commercially successful, It's unlikely that they are successful if Ministry doesn't pave the way for the popularization of industrial dance music. What's that? It's heavy metal with a beat. The 1992 single N.W.O. is probably Ministry's biggest hit. The leader of Ministry is Al Jourgensen. He was born Alejandro Ramirez Casas Oct. 9, 1958 in Havana, Cuba but he grew up in Chicago and Breckenridge, CO. He moved back to Chicago in 1978 to attend University of Illinois Chicago and that's when he got into music. He was in the new wave group Special Affect. After they split up in 1980, Jourgensen started making music in his apartment with an ARP Omni synthesizer, a drum machine and a reel to reel tape recorder. He gave a demo to Wax Trax! Records co-owner Jim Nash and he suggested that Jourgensen record a single, form a band and play gigs. Jourgensen called the band Ministry. When he couldn't find a decent singer, Jourgensen decided to sing himself. And he ended up doing everything himself. There was a band and they did tour, But the members were disposable. Ministry was really a solo act. When Ministry's single I'm Falling made the dance chart, that got the attention of Arista Records owner Clive Davis. He signed them and planned to make them the next Joy Division. The 1983 album With Sympathy did OK. Two singles made the dance charts. But despite the success, Jourgensen butted heads with Davis and left Arista. He was unhappy that Davis brought in outside producers. And he claimed that Davis tried to turn Ministry into a synth pop band. That's what happens when two control freaks try to work together. Ministry returned to Wax Trax!. And while on tour, Sire Records owner Seymour Stein offered Ministry a record deal. Jourgensen was reluctant to sign at first. But he did sign. Stein has enough sense to leave bands alone. After Ministry's 1985 Sire debut album Twitch, Ministry's success was as an album and touring band. Their biggest hit was when the 1992 single N.W.O. reached #11 on the Billboard Alternative chart and the album Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs was certified Platinum. N.W.O. is obviously a protest song. MTV played the video in heavy rotation. Ministry recorded with Sire/Warner Bros. until 1999. This budget comp was released in 2001. In 2001, Jourgensen almost lost his arm due to a venomous spider bite. During recovery Jorgensen recovered from substance abuse. Ministry signed with Sanctuary Records in 2003. But the two albums they recorded were disappointing. Since then Jourgensen has recorded for his own label. Ministry went on a retirement tour in 2008. But they returned in 2011 and they still tour and record. A new album was released last year. Here's the video for N.W.O. by Ministry.