| Al Jourgensen |
Al Jourgensen at the Astoria, London during 2004, promoting 'Houses of the Mole'.
|
| Background information |
| Also known as |
The Alien, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa, Dog, Alien Dog Star, Buck Satan, Uncle Al, Enchanted Al |
| Born |
October 9, 1958 (1958-10-09) (age 51)
Havana, Cuba |
| Genres |
Industrial metal
Industrial rock
Alternative metal
Thrash Metal
New Wave
Synthpop
EBM
Hardcore punk |
| Instruments |
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Bass, Harmonica, Mandolin, Saxophone, Piano, Drum Machine |
| Years active |
1978–present |
| Labels |
Arista Records
Sire Records
Warner Bros.
Sanctuary Records
13th Planet Records
Alternative Tentacles
Wax Trax! |
| Associated acts |
Ministry
Revolting Cocks
Skinny Puppy
Lard
1000 Homo DJs
PTP
Acid Horse
Lead Into Gold
Pailhead
Buck Satan & the 666 Shooters |
| Website |
http://www.ministrymusic.org |
Al Jourgensen (born October 9, 1958, in Havana, Cuba) is a Cuban-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 in Havana to a Cuban mother and father in 1958. Soon after, he came to the US to live with his mother and his Norwegian stepfather, who changed his name to Jourgensen. Growing up, he was a fan of such artists as Hawkwind, Pink Floyd, Can, Kraftwerk, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Kitty Wells, Buck Owens, George Jones, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Miles Davis.[1] His stepfather was a stock car driver, also known as a mechanic for Formula One driver Dan Gurney. Jourgensen was raised in Chicago, Illinois and Breckenridge, Colorado, eventually attending the University of Illinois - Chicago and University of Colorado. He worked as a radio DJ out of college, until becoming a professional musician by joining the band Special Affect. He formed Ministry in 1981.
Jourgensen was married to Patty Marsh from 1984-1993. He has a daughter from the marriage, Adrienne, born April 13, 1985.[2] He remarried in September 2002 to Angelina Lukacin at Graceland mansion.
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 been a life-long drug user, 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.[3] Jourgensen currently lives and records in El Paso, Texas.[4]
Professional life
Ministry
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 was 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.[5]
Jourgensen appeared as a fictional musician in the film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, and has had a number of songs appear in other films, including the 2008 Wicked Lake, produced by Fever Dreams, for which he composed the entire sound track. He also makes a small appearance in the film as an art school teacher.
In a November 2008 issue of Hustler Magazine, Al Jourgensen announced that the end of Ministry was official. The reasons behind this were Ministry "takes up so much time" as well as the hassle of getting out new albums. He also said he was responsible for six other bands and can get seven albums done a year when he is not working on new Ministry material.
RevCo
Revolting Cocks, now known as RevCo, is an American industrial rock band that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry. The band got their name after a fight in a Chicago bar in 1983. Jourgensen, Richard 23 and Luc Van Acker celebrated the formation of their new band with a few drinks. The evening then ended up in a brawl, with bar stools being thrown through the establishment's windows. As he was throwing the trio out, the owner, a man Jourgensen recalls was named Dess,[6] shouted, "I'm calling the police! You guys are a bunch of revolting cocks![6]" The trio subsequently decided to use the name for their band.
The band have changed lineups several times. RevCo currently features Al Jourgensen (guitars, keyboards, programming, background vocals, producer), Josh Bradford (vocals, background vocals), Sin Quirin (guitars, bass, keyboards) and Clayton Worbeck (keyboards, programming, mixing, bass). Their latest album, called Sex-O Olympic-O, which was produced by Jourgensen at his studio, was released on his 13th Planet label in March 2009.
Production Work
Jourgensen and Paul Barker of Ministry worked as a music production team under the names Hypo Luxa and Hermes Pan, producing their own work as well as other Wax Trax! Records acts. He has also done production work for Reverend Horton Heat, Nine Inch Nails, Dessau and GWAR.
Jourgensen has set up a recording complex for his 13th Planet label in his home in El Paso, TX. He is currently working with longtime cohort and Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra on new music for the duo's Lard project. Jourgensen is also scheduled to produce the new album from Prong.
Political views
Jourgensen frequently offered scathing criticism of the Bush family. Beginning with Ministry's 1992 album Psalm 69, continuing with the 2004 album Houses of the Molé, 2006's Rio Grande Blood, and 2007's The Last Sucker. His favorite targets have been former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and 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.
Discography
with Ministry
with Revolting Cocks
with Lard
References
External links
| Persondata |
| NAME |
Jourgensen, Al |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES |
Jourgensen, Allen David |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION |
Musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH |
1958-10-9 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH |
Havana, Cuba |
| DATE OF DEATH |
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| PLACE OF DEATH |
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