Ministry (band)

Ministry
Ministry performing live at the 2016 Punk Rock Bowling
Background information
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Industrial metal thrash metal alternative metal EBM (early) synthpop (early)
Years active	1981–2008 2011–present
Labels	Wax Trax! Situation Two Arista Sire Warner Bros. Sanctuary 13th Planet Megaforce
Associated acts	Revolting Cocks KMFDM Lard 1000 Homo DJs PTP Acid Horse Pailhead Nausea Amebix Soulfly Stonesour Nine Inch Nails Pigface Killing Joke Lead into Gold Fear Factory Prong Skinny Puppy Surgical Meth Machine Rigor Mortis
Members	Al Jourgensen John Bechdel Sin Quirin Cesar Soto Jason Christopher Roy Mayorga
Past members	Martin Atkins Mark Baker Michael Balch Paul Barker Max Brody Duane Buford Tony Campos Stephen George Zlatko Hukic John Monte Casey Orr Paul Raven Bill Rieflin Mike Scaccia Louis Svitek Rey Washam Tommy Victor Aaron Rossi

Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer and only original member Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a new wave synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to become one of the pioneers of industrial metal in the mid-1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with their fifth studio 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 most recent studio album From Beer to Eternity in September 2013, and subsequently began to tour again with new guitarist Cesar Soto.

Al Jourgensen began Ministry in Chicago, Illinois in 1981. His first band prior to Ministry was Special Affect with Groovie Mann (of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult), drummer Harry Rushakoff (Concrete Blonde) and bassist Marty Sorenson. After that was the short-lived Silly Charmichaels, with Ben Krug, Tom Krug and Tom Wall (all of The Imports).

The original line-up of Ministry consisted mainly of Jourgensen (vocals and guitar), Stephen George (drums), Robert Roberts (keyboards), and John Davis (keyboards), although with a few personnel changes, the band's image would begin to focus more on Jourgensen and Stephen George. Ministry's original sound was essentially new wave synthpop that was more melodic and stylized than the aggressive music for which they would become known. Ministry released four 12" singles on Wax Trax! Records from 1981 to 1984 (anthologized on Twelve Inch Singles (1981–1984) that featured the club favorite "Everyday Is Halloween").