Ministry Say Goodbye With The Last Sucker

Al Jourgensen is ready to move on, so Ministry's 11th studio album, The Last Sucker, will be the last of the industrial rock band's 27-year career.

"I've got a lot of side-projects and new projects I want to focus on," explains Jourgensen. "We have our own label, 13th Planet Records, we're building, and I want to sign, produce and collaborate with other artists.

"Being in the studio writing, recording and collaborating is my favourite part of this snake-oil industry. I'd rather be behind the console than behind the mic. Plus, I kinda like the synchronicity of Dubya and Ministry riding off into the sunset hand in hand."

The Last Sucker, set for a Sept. 18 release through 13th Planet/Megaforce, will be the third album in a trilogy that skewers the policies of U.S. president George W. Bush and other members his administration. Houses Of The Mole came out in 2004 and Rio Grande Blood was issued last year. The Last Sucker features a number of Bush samples throughout its 11 songs.

"My engineer and I were hunched over a computer for nights on end listening to this fucking idiot until our minds were numb," says Jourgensen. "I mean, I'm absolutely stupider for listening to his drivel for such concentrated periods of time, but I viewed including these sound bites as a necessary evil."

The Last Sucker, which also includes a cover of The Doors' "Roadhouse Blues," was recorded and produced by Jourgensen at his 13th Planet compound outside of El Paso, Texas this past spring. Jourgensen and engineer John "Bixby" Bilberry handled all the drum programming.

Jourgensen's vocals are augmented musically by guitarists Thomas Victor (Prong) and Sin Quirin (The Revolting Cocks) and bassist Paul Raven (Killing Joke, Prong). Fear Factory's Burton C. Bell contributes vocals to three songs.

Ministry will embark on a world farewell tour next year in support of the album.

Here are the songs on The Last Sucker:

"Let's Go"
"Watch Yourself"
"Life Is Good"
"The Dick Song"
"The Last Sucker"
"No Glory"
"Death And Destruction"
"Roadhouse Blues"
"Die In A Crash"
"End Of Days Part One"
"End Of Days Part Two"