One of the most iconic bands in music history, Ministry is currently embarking on their final tour. I recently caught up with guitarist extraordinaire Sin Quirin, to discuss the highlights of the current tour, his thoughts on Ministry’s final studio album,” The Last Sucker", and most recently the Ministry cover release entitled,” Cover Up", and future touring plans of the guitarist.
Ministry is gearing up to perform at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on April 27th at the Worcester Palladium. This will be a very historic event for the band, as they headline the Sunday New England Metal Fest Show, which has been a staple event in New England for many years.
It doesn't end there. Al Jourgensen will bring his band for four nights at the House of Blues in Chicago and end the U.S. run of the tour on May 11. Then Ministry head over to Europe for a run of dates end of May.
Thank you so much for checking in. You are currently on tour with Ministry. It is your final tour. How is it going so far? I know you are in Texas performing tonight.?
Yes, we are in Dallas tonight. The tour has been going great. The crowds have been very responsive. We've had a lot of sold out shows. It has been going really well.
Actually, you recorded,” The Last Sucker" in El Paso? Is that correct?
Yes, I did.
Is that where the band actually hails from; Texas?
No that is where Al moved. The band was pretty much born in Chicago. He was there for a number of years. He moved to El Paso, I would say about four or five years ago. He lived in Austin for a few years, as well.
How did you actually end up getting the gig in Ministry? I know you were in Revolting Cocks. How did you hook up with Al? Was it on tour in Europe?
Sort of. We shared the same booking agent. He initially introduced me to Al a few years back. We remained in contact, when it was time for him to put the Revolting Cocks touring line-up together. He gave me a call, and asked me if I wanted to be a part of it. After we did that tour. He asked if I wanted to write material for,” The Last Sucker"
The Last Sucker
"The Last Sucker", is an awesome album. Your guitar work is phenomenal. When you were ready to go into the studio and record the album, in what direction did you want to take the band? Did you want to go maybe more old school?
I did, I actually did. It is funny that you asked that. Because Al had initially told me that he wanted me to write real, real heavy riffs and ideas for the album. He said, he wanted it to be heavier than,” Rio Grande Blood". But knowing, this was going to be the last Ministry album. I kind of went back to albums like "Land Of Rape And Honey" and Psalm 69" type of feel. I brought that slower competitor riff kind of song ideas to the table.
I liked that idea. So you were aware it was the last Ministry studio album? Oh yes, it was something that he was talking about for the past two or three years now.
I can't help but notice too, the political vibe to the album. Would you say it kind of deals with the chaotic state the world is in today with the war in Iraq and you kind of wanted to focus on that too? No, I mean if you look at the previous two album,” House of The Mole'" and Rio Grande Blood" they were also political. This was sort of the end of this trilogy for him. But we knew it was going to be important for us as well.
What was it like working in the studio with Al? Was it like a dream come true? Were you a fan of Ministry for many years before you joined the band? Yes, very much so. I mean Ministry was one of the bands that influenced my styleof playing and style of writing. So
Political vibe?
to bein the studio was a great experience for me. He is great to work for; he is a great producer and pushed me in a positive way. Which is what a producer is supposed to do. He brought things out in me, that I didn't know I had in me.
That is awesome. Ministry just released their covers album,” Cover Up" on April Fools Day. How did you decide what classic songs to record? In what direction did you actually approach the playing style for the album? I love how it is kind of has that Ministry Industrial feel, but at the same time it also has a punk feel to it. Would you agree? Yes, the songs were primarily chosen by Al. But there were a few ideas that we all kicked around and ran by each other. Basically, the way that went down is, I went in there and I learned all these songs the way they were originally played. Then I just sort of gave them Ministry kind of touch. Yeah know? I made them a little industrial, a little heavier and faster. That is how that went down.
Actually, "Cover Up" has a wide variety of special guests including Burton C. Bell. What it like working with him? Actually, Burton is on the road with us.
Ministry live
Are you performing any of the cover songs live, like "Under My Thumb"? We are doing that song live. We do about three songs from the cover album.
What is the rest of the set list like for this tour? We are doing a lot of new stuff. Some songs from the last three albums. Then we go into older stuff. Then we do some "Cover Up" stuff.
Ministry has a very important show coming up in Worcester on April 27th at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival at the Palladium. Are you looking forward to performing at this mega event? Of course. We treat every gig, as pretty much the same. Whether it is a festival or
the band
club, and we approach it the same way. Yes, I am looking forward to that show. I heard about that festival for years. Should be fun. For Ministry to be a part of it is awesome.
Now does the Ministry tour end May 11 in Chicago? The American tour ends on May 11th in Chicago. Then we are off for a week and a half. Then we got to Europe for two months.
I noticed, they added more shows to the House of Blues in Chicago too. We are doing four nights in Chicago.
What was it like working with the stellar musicians that Al surrounds himself with on his albums including Paul Raven that recently passed away? It was great. I have been a friend for Tony Campos for about almost fifteen years now. I was very familiar with him. When we did "The Last Sucker, " we kind of recorded that album in different sessions. I went in there and did my songs with Al. Then Tommy came in and did his songs and Raven came in and did his songs. Then we kind of all got together for a couple of tracks. We all kind of did it separately. The "Cover Up" album, I pretty much laid down all the guitars and bass on that except for songs like,” Under My Thumb", we brought in Tony Campos to do bass. Burton, who was in town to do vocals? We brought in Josh, who was also in town
Ministry live - Thieves at the Filmore 2008
because we were working on the new Revolting Cocks album, as well. But it was great working with all the guys.
How proud are you to be part of the legacy of Ministry?
It is unbelievable, it is amazing. It is an honor to be a part of an extremely influential band. I am flattered that they asked me to be a part of it. It feels great. I have to pinch myself everyday.
Now what about your band The Revolting Cocks? Are you going to be touring with them soon?
Yes, we have a new record coming out in September. There will be a revolting Cocks tour, as well. I am not sure if that will be in late 2008, or early 2009. That is what my focus is on, after this tour.
How you would describe your sound? Were you influenced by classic rock? I can really hear those influences on "Cover Up?
Yes, very much so. I am heavily influenced by bands from the 70's. Guitar player wise, Jimi Hendrix, Ace Frehley, and Randy Rhoads, those are probably the guys that influenced my lead playing.
That must have been really fun making this album then. What inspired Al to make a covers album?
He just wanted to go, well "Last Sucker" was the last studio album". He just wanted to do a record where we just have fun in the studio and it wasn't this big political thing. We didn't want to re-invent the wheel on this one. We just wanted to have a blast and go back to that feeling of when you first start jamming with your friends in the garage and you are playing with your buddies just for the love of music. You are just having a good time with your friends and stuff. That was really the vibe and idea behind the "Cover Up" album.
Sin, I want to thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview. I hope to make it down to the Palladium for the last Ministry show. Best of Luck with the rest of the tour?
Thank you very much.
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