inistry Live at Cruel World 2024 in Pasadena, CA. 05-11-2024 (Full Set)
Pigs can now fly….This is a triumph! Love it, Uncle Al!
It was in August of 1992, on a hot summer’s day on the second Lollapalooza tour, (in Barrie, Canada) when Ministry took the stage, that time-and-space split apart…I’d never heard, or seen, anything like it. I know I wasn’t alone in that perception. I became an instant fan. Sure, I’d heard Ministry singles on the radio, like “Everyday is Halloween”, and danced to them in clubs – but seeing Ministry live was on a whole ‘nother level.
I went on to scour used record stores for any recordings of Ministry I could find. The early albums I found from the 1980’s were very different from the type of music I had heard that fine day. But I loved the early music, too! It was well-written, masterfully composed and played, and recorded on cutting-edge technology that made it possible – true 1980’s art you could dance to!
As for this show from the Cruel World Festival, I never thought I’d get to hear older Ministry songs performed live, as Al Jourgensen had strongly disowned them numerous times, publicly. I always thought that was a shame, and found that attitude hard to digest, as those early songs are some of his best work; many seem to agree, as evidenced by the positive comments on YouTube to this concert.
I can say that finding the video of this show is a very unexpected pleasure! Wish I had been there! I hope they tour with this stuff (and even expand it more), I’ll be there!
I’ve heard that Paul Barker is going to part of an upcoming Ministry record…wow! Hope it’s true. His presence has been very missed on the serval albums since his departure, since he and Al laid down the breakthrough Ministry sounds. This Ministry “revival” could truly be the gift that keeps giving! New recordings of select old songs on the way, too? Am I dreaming?
To sum up: If you’ve never experienced Ministry live, and you get the chance, I have two words of advice: DO IT!
-Dave
Multicam:
Great interview with Al Jourgensen and Lyndsey Parker that goes into the how’s and why’s of the new/old music: