Many people including Al Jourgensen, critics and fans have compared the new Ministry album, Houses of the Mol, to their last great album Psalm 69. The comparisons are well founded because this album is fast, edgy, disturbing and just plain old fucked up. Its also the first Ministry album to be released without Paul Barkers influence.
Its damn cool that Jourgensen decided to be interviewed for SuicideGirls. But the mixture of the punk and hardcore attitude with the beautiful women was impossible for him to resist.
Check out Ministrys official website
Daniel Robert Epstein: You use Carmina Burana in the first song on Houses of the Mol. Is it not one of the greatest songs ever?
Al Jourgensen: Its pretty evil, yeah.
DRE: I heard you referenced this new album as Psalm 70.
AJ: One song is called Psalm 23 because of the actual psalm though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me. Its pretty evil. But a lot of people are calling it Psalm 70 which is one better than Psalm 69. They think its a very similar approach.
DRE: Do you feel its similar?
AJ: I think things just fell into place that way. Paul [Barker] left the band after 18 years and hes the more computer experimental guy and Im the more, drink a bunch of wine and play guitar guy. Its the first time we recorded it as a band with guitars and drums live since Psalm 69. So of course its going to sound like that but it wasnt conscious. I think it just fell into place that way.
DRE: How was it working without Paul?
AJ: It was awesome, man. It was great to rock again instead of waiting for a bunch of typing to get done.
DRE: Are you not a computer guy?
AJ: In some forms but I certainly dont want to make it too habit forming.
DRE: Were you upset about Paul leaving?
AJ: Hes got to move on, no problem.
DRE: So this was a more fun recording?
AJ: Yeah Paul and I were never best buddies. We were good business partners in a sense. We created well together. So it was nice to have good friends in the band this time. Paul and I two different people.
DRE: I heard you're doing a new Revolting Cocks album.
AJ: Yep thats what we are doing right now.
DRE: Do you have a certain mindset for Ministry then another for other projects?
AJ: Ministry is a lot more work for me because I have to do the lyrics, play guitar, produce and do the vocals. The Cocks is a lot more fun for me. Its four or five different people that all have their own ideas so all I have to do is play guitar and produce.
DRE: What does [ex-Mind Funk bassist] John Monte bring?
AJ: Awesome bass player, great energy, enthusiasm and he writes well. Ive known him for 15 years so its a no-brainer thats hes in the band.
DRE: Where do you discover the samples you use?
AJ: All over the place, man. There isnt one source. Obviously from TV on a song like TV Song. Then other things like a 1950s radio broadcast from a pirate radio station on the border of the United States and Mexico, which we found on a reel to reel.
DRE: Do you have a huge collection of rare stuff?
AJ: Yeah I guess so. The world is my sample, you know?
DRE: One critic said that a lot of the songs starting with W is a critique on our president.
AJ: I would say so. Fuck that guy!
DRE: Are you for John Kerry or just no Bush?
AJ: A little of both but mainly no Bush. Its not even Bush because hes an idiot. Its the administration behind Bush, all his cronies that were back there in the day with Reagan and Bush Sr. like the Wolfowitzs, the Cheneys, the Rumsfelds and their complete agenda for energy and oil companies.
DRE: So do you think your albums are better when a Bush is in office?
AJ: Thats what I hear.
DRE: Do you feel like the album itself is political?
AJ: I would say so. The times are political so sure.
DRE: How have you changed now that you're 45?
AJ: I dont know. Im still kind of an agro guy.
DRE: Are you an angry guy?
AJ: Thats what I hear [laughs].
DRE: You cant always be angry.
AJ: Of course not. I think Im a pussycat but whatever.
DRE: What would other people say?
AJ: I always hear rumors of stuff I did.
DRE: Is it stuff you did when you were doing drugs?
AJ: I think thats possible.
DRE: Do you regret anything?
AJ: I dont regret a fucken day in my life. Everything youve done points to where you are right now and Im pretty happy right now.
DRE: Do you ever get a chance to meet fans in person?
AJ: I stay away from that like the plague. Were out here in the middle of the desert by ourselves and thats the way it should be. I like peace, solitude and being out of the craziness. It doesnt have anything to do with my fans. I would rather just do my art, not talk about it, not party about it but just do my fucken art. Thats what makes me happy.
DRE: What do you do besides music?
AJ: Im getting politically active with this years election and I read like a motherfucker.
DRE: What are you reading now?
AJ: Right now Im reading a book by Eric Alterman and Mark Green called The Book on Bush: How George W. (MIS)Leads America.
DRE: Are you into TV?
AJ: I think its called CNN and BBC.
DRE: What about movies?
AJ: The last movie I saw was absolutely fucken stupid, The Day After Tomorrow. I havent seen any good movies for a while. Im waiting for Fahrenheit 9/11 and see what thats like. Ive read all of Michael Moores books so Im sure it will be good.
DRE: Ray Charles just passed. Was he a big influence on you?
AJ: A couple of songs of course, What He Say is a classic. But it wasnt anything real cognizant. If Hank Williams Sr. was alive today then died I probably would have a conniption fit.
DRE: Have you thought about putting together another label like you did with Wax Trax?
AJ: Ive thought about it but Im so busy doing music I wouldnt be able to give it my all and thats what you got to do to make it work.
DRE: What other bands are you doing now?
AJ: We call it the three-headed monster. Its Ministry, Revolting Cocks and Lard. We just gave Jello [Biafra] six songs to peruse and write some lyrics but hes busy with The Melvins doing another side project.
DRE: I read an older quote where you said you didnt like to be onstage. Is that still true?
AJ: I prefer studio life. Like I said, I create in quiet instead all the bread and circuses of a tour. Ive grown accustomed to playing live. Its a whole different thing when you're clean too. I nearly shit my pants the first time I ever went out there sober. I was like What the fuck is this? But nowadays Im used to it and its a lot more fulfilling than it used to be.
DRE: Festivals seem to be gearing up again. Would you do one of those again?
AJ: Festivals are almost a necessary evil. I understand the premise and attraction of seeing all these bands at once. But I dont like to play them as much because the sets are shorter; its not as intimate and its kind of a picnic atmosphere. Im not a big picnic guy.
DRE: I couldnt see you as a picnic kind of guy.
How do you create your music?
AJ: Every single song is different. Every single song is a journey. I dont have a set way to do anything. I usually go into an album without a single preset idea. The album writes me more than I write it in a sense.
DRE: Its not automatic though.
AJ: It just gets to the point where I get this riff stuck in my fucken head so it might be time to do an album then we take it from there.
DRE: You moved out of your house before you finished high school. Why was that?
AJ: Just normal teenager bullshit. But I still put myself through high school and college then started the band almost the end of college.
DRE: What degree did you get?
AJ: In history.
DRE: Has that helped you?
AJ: This rock thing got in the way of my teaching career.
DRE: I read you might go teach.
AJ: Thats the goal.
DRE: How long has that been the goal?
AJ: Since I was 19.
DRE: What are you up to next?
AJ: Were going to start a yearlong world tour.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Its damn cool that Jourgensen decided to be interviewed for SuicideGirls. But the mixture of the punk and hardcore attitude with the beautiful women was impossible for him to resist.
Check out Ministrys official website
Daniel Robert Epstein: You use Carmina Burana in the first song on Houses of the Mol. Is it not one of the greatest songs ever?
Al Jourgensen: Its pretty evil, yeah.
DRE: I heard you referenced this new album as Psalm 70.
AJ: One song is called Psalm 23 because of the actual psalm though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me. Its pretty evil. But a lot of people are calling it Psalm 70 which is one better than Psalm 69. They think its a very similar approach.
DRE: Do you feel its similar?
AJ: I think things just fell into place that way. Paul [Barker] left the band after 18 years and hes the more computer experimental guy and Im the more, drink a bunch of wine and play guitar guy. Its the first time we recorded it as a band with guitars and drums live since Psalm 69. So of course its going to sound like that but it wasnt conscious. I think it just fell into place that way.
DRE: How was it working without Paul?
AJ: It was awesome, man. It was great to rock again instead of waiting for a bunch of typing to get done.
DRE: Are you not a computer guy?
AJ: In some forms but I certainly dont want to make it too habit forming.
DRE: Were you upset about Paul leaving?
AJ: Hes got to move on, no problem.
DRE: So this was a more fun recording?
AJ: Yeah Paul and I were never best buddies. We were good business partners in a sense. We created well together. So it was nice to have good friends in the band this time. Paul and I two different people.
DRE: I heard you're doing a new Revolting Cocks album.
AJ: Yep thats what we are doing right now.
DRE: Do you have a certain mindset for Ministry then another for other projects?
AJ: Ministry is a lot more work for me because I have to do the lyrics, play guitar, produce and do the vocals. The Cocks is a lot more fun for me. Its four or five different people that all have their own ideas so all I have to do is play guitar and produce.
DRE: What does [ex-Mind Funk bassist] John Monte bring?
AJ: Awesome bass player, great energy, enthusiasm and he writes well. Ive known him for 15 years so its a no-brainer thats hes in the band.
DRE: Where do you discover the samples you use?
AJ: All over the place, man. There isnt one source. Obviously from TV on a song like TV Song. Then other things like a 1950s radio broadcast from a pirate radio station on the border of the United States and Mexico, which we found on a reel to reel.
DRE: Do you have a huge collection of rare stuff?
AJ: Yeah I guess so. The world is my sample, you know?
DRE: One critic said that a lot of the songs starting with W is a critique on our president.
AJ: I would say so. Fuck that guy!
DRE: Are you for John Kerry or just no Bush?
AJ: A little of both but mainly no Bush. Its not even Bush because hes an idiot. Its the administration behind Bush, all his cronies that were back there in the day with Reagan and Bush Sr. like the Wolfowitzs, the Cheneys, the Rumsfelds and their complete agenda for energy and oil companies.
DRE: So do you think your albums are better when a Bush is in office?
AJ: Thats what I hear.
DRE: Do you feel like the album itself is political?
AJ: I would say so. The times are political so sure.
DRE: How have you changed now that you're 45?
AJ: I dont know. Im still kind of an agro guy.
DRE: Are you an angry guy?
AJ: Thats what I hear [laughs].
DRE: You cant always be angry.
AJ: Of course not. I think Im a pussycat but whatever.
DRE: What would other people say?
AJ: I always hear rumors of stuff I did.
DRE: Is it stuff you did when you were doing drugs?
AJ: I think thats possible.
DRE: Do you regret anything?
AJ: I dont regret a fucken day in my life. Everything youve done points to where you are right now and Im pretty happy right now.
DRE: Do you ever get a chance to meet fans in person?
AJ: I stay away from that like the plague. Were out here in the middle of the desert by ourselves and thats the way it should be. I like peace, solitude and being out of the craziness. It doesnt have anything to do with my fans. I would rather just do my art, not talk about it, not party about it but just do my fucken art. Thats what makes me happy.
DRE: What do you do besides music?
AJ: Im getting politically active with this years election and I read like a motherfucker.
DRE: What are you reading now?
AJ: Right now Im reading a book by Eric Alterman and Mark Green called The Book on Bush: How George W. (MIS)Leads America.
DRE: Are you into TV?
AJ: I think its called CNN and BBC.
DRE: What about movies?
AJ: The last movie I saw was absolutely fucken stupid, The Day After Tomorrow. I havent seen any good movies for a while. Im waiting for Fahrenheit 9/11 and see what thats like. Ive read all of Michael Moores books so Im sure it will be good.
DRE: Ray Charles just passed. Was he a big influence on you?
AJ: A couple of songs of course, What He Say is a classic. But it wasnt anything real cognizant. If Hank Williams Sr. was alive today then died I probably would have a conniption fit.
DRE: Have you thought about putting together another label like you did with Wax Trax?
AJ: Ive thought about it but Im so busy doing music I wouldnt be able to give it my all and thats what you got to do to make it work.
DRE: What other bands are you doing now?
AJ: We call it the three-headed monster. Its Ministry, Revolting Cocks and Lard. We just gave Jello [Biafra] six songs to peruse and write some lyrics but hes busy with The Melvins doing another side project.
DRE: I read an older quote where you said you didnt like to be onstage. Is that still true?
AJ: I prefer studio life. Like I said, I create in quiet instead all the bread and circuses of a tour. Ive grown accustomed to playing live. Its a whole different thing when you're clean too. I nearly shit my pants the first time I ever went out there sober. I was like What the fuck is this? But nowadays Im used to it and its a lot more fulfilling than it used to be.
DRE: Festivals seem to be gearing up again. Would you do one of those again?
AJ: Festivals are almost a necessary evil. I understand the premise and attraction of seeing all these bands at once. But I dont like to play them as much because the sets are shorter; its not as intimate and its kind of a picnic atmosphere. Im not a big picnic guy.
DRE: I couldnt see you as a picnic kind of guy.
How do you create your music?
AJ: Every single song is different. Every single song is a journey. I dont have a set way to do anything. I usually go into an album without a single preset idea. The album writes me more than I write it in a sense.
DRE: Its not automatic though.
AJ: It just gets to the point where I get this riff stuck in my fucken head so it might be time to do an album then we take it from there.
DRE: You moved out of your house before you finished high school. Why was that?
AJ: Just normal teenager bullshit. But I still put myself through high school and college then started the band almost the end of college.
DRE: What degree did you get?
AJ: In history.
DRE: Has that helped you?
AJ: This rock thing got in the way of my teaching career.
DRE: I read you might go teach.
AJ: Thats the goal.
DRE: How long has that been the goal?
AJ: Since I was 19.
DRE: What are you up to next?
AJ: Were going to start a yearlong world tour.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 19 of 19 COMMENTS
AndyXero said:
Well, that was insightful.