A pioneer of industrial rock and metal, Ministry was formed in Chicago in 1981
around singer and multi-instrumentalist Al Jourgensen, who is the band’s driving
force. Originally a synth-pop group on the Wax Trax! label, the band’s signing
with Arista Records led to the recording of their debut album With Sympathy
(1983). After a second, similar album, Twitch (1986)—which brought Ministry into
the Warner Bros. fold via the Sire label—the addition of Paul Barker (bass,
keyboards, programming) and Bill Rieflin (drums, keyboards, guitar) changed the
game, and in 1988, The Land of Rap...