There are many bands that can lay claim to having an impact in their respective
genres, but there are few that have made both an impact a crater in their genres
and the music world as a whole. The six time Grammy nominated Industrial
juggernaut that is known as
Ministry is one of the band that can lay this claim over the past
three decades. Ministry has been the main hot rod in music that Al Jourgensen
has driven in giving music that not only defined Industrial music, but also
impacted a large number of other acts that have had various levels of dominance
in the music world.
Ministry may have been the main tool that Al has had in presenting his music,
but it isn't the only one in his long array of projects. Through the course of
the past three decades, Al has used Ministry and his many other projects to draw
in other artists from bands like Cheap Trick, Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy,
KMFDM, R.E.M., Soulfly, and many others in being parts of the machine that he
always makes to temper the music within his mind as it takes shape into music
that has shown aggression, emotion, and a style that never dies. It is his
genius in direction that has influenced legions of fans worldwide and hundreds
of other artists. If the music industry is one big family, then Al is the uncle
that everyone wants to hear for what he weaves in his creative visions and the
unique direction his music projects.
As with all great things, the Ministry mastermind would face a number of
personal challenges. The first was the many vises that surface in the fast paced
world of music. Each of these he would overcome, drugs (with the support of
family and a steel conviction); the loss of his closest friend and band mate,
Mike Scaccia; and as of the beginning of 2014, his battle with alcohol. Many
artists have faced these types of challenges and succumbed to the extinction
that comes with time. Al Jourgensen has shown that even when he is on the mend
that in him music never dies. It is this that has made him an artist that has
gained the respect of his industry, that admiration of those that he has
inspired, and the gratitude in who he is by those that are lucky to call him
their friend.
Al Jourgensen has always been ahead of the curve in his ideas and Ministry is
one of the symbols of his ideas, direction, and mastery as a musician. For the
rest of 2014, "Uncle" Al has some special gifts to his fans on his site and we
will be showing you how you can get these gifts here on Music Eternal.