Guide Note: Ministry is a controversial Industrial Metal band fronted by lead singer, and frequent George W. Bush critic, Al Jourgensen.

In the early 1980s, the band's sound was like a slightly edgier Duran Duran or Depeche Mode. Jourgensen's credits were under the name "Alain Jourgensen". Jourgensen has since disparaged that early work.

With the 1985 album Twitch, Ministry's hard-driving sound began to come through. Shortly thereafter, Jourgensen was joined by bassist Paul Barker, who would work with Jourgensen until 2003. They rapidly became one of the most popular bands in industrial music, and leveraged their fame at the end of the decade by initiating a host of well known side projects such as the Revolting Cocks, Lard and 1000 Homo DJs.

In 1991, Ministry's song Jesus Built My Hot Rod became a mainstream hit. As their success increased over the early 1990's, so did the drug problems within the band. Though they continued to produce music, their popularity steadily declined over the late 1990s.

Around 2001, Al Jourgensen reported, he made the decision to kick drugs after a venomous spider bite nearly resulted in the loss of his arm. Though Barker left the band in 2003, Jourgensen persevered, and had some success with the 2006 album Rio Grande Blood.

As of 2008, the band is on its "C-U-La-Tour". Jourgensen has said repeatedly in recent years that he wishes to dissolve the Ministry project.

Fast Facts:

1. Origin: Chicago, IL
2. Formed: 1981
3. Studio Albums: 11

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