Al Jourgensen

Al Jourgensen

Al Jourgensen (born October 9, 1958 in Havana, Cuba), is an American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa (his alias as a music producer), Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan. He is a member and/or founder of several industrial bands, working as a singer, guitarist or keyboard player.

Biography

Jourgensen was born to a Cuban mother and a Norwegian father. His father was a stock car driver, also known as a mechanic for Formula One driver Dan Gurney. Jourgensen was raised in Chicago, Illinois and Frisco, Colorado, eventually attending the University of Colorado. He worked as a radio DJ out of college, until becoming a professional musician by joining the band Special Affect. He began Ministry in 1981.

Jourgensen was married to Patty Marsh from 1984-1993, and he has one child from that marriage. He remarried in September 2002 to Angelina Lukacin at Graceland mansion.

Known for often appearing intoxicated on-stage, Jourgensen has been seen drinking whiskey and smoking cigarettes while performing. His lyrics reveal many aspects of his life, such as his heroin and cocaine addiction, alcoholism, and his political opinions. These were greatly influenced by the beat generation (William S. Burroughs collaborated on some of his tracks).

Jourgensen has had a life-long affinity for drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, which culminated in the 1995 police raid of Ministry's Texas headquarters and Jourgensen's arrest for possession. He received a five year probation sentence, a time that he recalls as the darkest in his life. As of 2003, he maintains that he has been drug-free, ever since a bite from a venomous spider almost caused him to lose an arm. [1] Jourgensen currently lives and records in El Paso, Texas. [2]

Professional life

Jourgensen formed Ministry in 1981 after he left the band Special Affect, which was a new wave/synth pop band (notably including Frankie Nardiello, founder of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and drummer Harry Rushakoff of Concrete Blonde). Early singles by Ministry and Jourgensen's other projects were released on Wax Trax! Records. He has also featured as guest on some Skinny Puppy albums as well as producing their Rabies album. During that time, it is said that Jourgensen befriended Nivek Ogre, who later joined Ministry.

Ministry's newest albums, Rio Grande Blood and The Last Sucker, as well as the 2006 Revolting Cocks album Cocked and Loaded were released on Jourgensen's new record label, 13th Planet Records. He formed this label after falling out with the mainstream agendas of major industry labels. [3]

Jourgensen appeared as a fictional musician in the film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, and has had a number of songs appear in other films.

He also holds a large collection of religious altars from which he frequently performs during his concerts.

Political views

Jourgensen is one of the more outspoken musicians in the industry today, frequently offering scathing criticism of right-wing politicians. Beginning with Ministry's 1992 album Psalm 69, continuing with the 2004 album Houses of the Molé and 2006's Rio Grande Blood. His favorite target has been first George H.W. Bush and then his son U.S. President George W. Bush. Ministry also contributed a song to the first Rock Against Bush album. The theme continues on Ministry's 2007 offering and in Jourgensen's various side projects.

Projects

• Ministry
• Revolting Cocks
• Lard
• 1000 Homo Djs
• PTP
• Acid Horse
• Lead Into Gold
• Pailhead
• Buck Satan & the 666 Shooters
• Eight and One Half

Trivia

• Produced the 1994 Reverend Horton Heat album Liquor In The Front.

References

• Ministrymusic.org
• Ministry @ prongs.org
• "Ministry's War on Bush". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2006-06-12.
• Roberts, Michael (April 10, 2003). "So What? Ministry isn't on a major label anymore, but Al Jourgensen still loves his job". Dallas Observer.
• "Al Jourgensen". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2006-06-12.