College Times

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Calendar

Media Credit: Courtesy HER PR

Over the past quarter-century, Ministry has earned the respect of fans, critics and fellow musicians for their musical innovation, politically charged lyrics and ass-kicking riffs. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Ministry guitarist, vocalist and founding member Al Jourgensen has announced that the band's current tour will be its swan song.

Jourgensen seems determined to go out with a bang. He's enlisted several notable musicians to join him on the aptly title "C U LaTour," including Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell, who contributed vocals to three songs on Ministry's final studio album, The Last Sucker. In a recent phone interview, Bell said he was eager to help.

"I met Al a couple years ago," said Bell. "(Keyboardist) John (Bechdel) has been playing with Ministry for a couple years now, and because of John, I was able to get backstage and meet Al finally. We were talking about maybe working together later on, but I found out that they were recording the last record and just as a fan, I just had to be a part of it. So I just called Al up and I was like 'Hey man, I know you're doing your last record. I would love to contribute in any way possible.' He thought about it for a couple days and called me back and said 'Come on down.'"

Bell said the first Ministry album he heard was 1988's groundbreaking The Land of Rape and Honey.

"I was working in a record store when it came out," Bell said. "I was into industrial and post-punk kind of stuff. At that point in time, I was really into Sisters of Mercy and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds… I didn't even hear about Ministry before this record. Maybe I was a late bloomer or something, but when this record came out I was like 'Holy fuck!' That record spoke (to me). That's what I was feeling when I was that age, like 18, 19."

Ministry was also a big influence on Fear Factory's sound in the latter's formative years, Bell said.

"I was a huge fan of Ministry before Fear Factory," Bell said. "I was more into the industrial side of heavy music. That was more of my input. (Original Fear Factory guitarist) Dino (Cazares) liked industrial, but he was the one who came from the death metal, grindcore side. But Ministry was a huge influence. We used to play those records all the time."

Bell's latest project, Ascension of the Watchers, has a markedly softer sound than either Fear Factory or Ministry. Bell said the band, which also features Bechdel and is signed to Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records, showcases a different side of his musical taste.

"It's important that I have a distinguishing aspect about it," Bell said. "If I'm gonna do something else besides Fear Factory, then I'm gonna do something completely different. If I want to make music like Fear Factory, I'll just do it with Fear Factory. I've already got that side of my music, but this is the other side. It's a whole different feeling. It's a whole different vibe. It's very atmospheric to me. It's a different type of heavy, more like the ambient type of heavy."

Bell said an Ascension of the Watchers tour is on the horizon.

"We're planning to tour after this Ministry tour. We're planning a fall tour through the States. We'll try to make it interesting and make it memorable. I've gotta show people that I mean business."

Ministry w/Meshuggah, Hemlock, Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, April 8, 6:30 p.m., $35-$100

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