Ministry: Chicago’s Most Popular and Most Controversial Industrial Band

The band was first formed in 1981 in Chicago, IL by Al Jourgensen. The original lineup consisted of Jourgensen, who, at the time, was responsible for all of the lead vocals, guitar, programming and production, along with Stephen George on drums, Robert Roberts on keyboards and background vocals and, finally, John Davis also on keyboards and vocals. Ministry took advantage of the technological boom of the 1980s and fused it with edgy sounds characteristic of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_wave" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">dark wave</a> era. During the early years of the band, Ministry had created a unique fusion of catchy synth-pop, dark wave, and metal; catching the attention of music critics across the United States. The band introduced this new sound by releasing four 12" singles through Wax Track! Records in 1981 and their first LP “With Sympathy” in 1983 via Arista Records. <a href="https://medium.com/local-chicago-bands/ministry-chicagos-most-popular-and-most-controversial-industrial-band-2c01fb349ea0">Learn More</a>