Ministry To Start Final Tour In Vancouver

11/14/07 4:00pm

by Jared Story (CHARTattack)

After 26 years of industrial metal fury, Ministry are jumping into their Jesus-built hotrod and riding off into the sunset. And the filth pigs in Vancouver will be the first to see Al Jorgensen's legendary band for the last time.

The CU LaTour will begin in everybody's favorite tour-opening city on Mar. 28. You'll recall that The Police started their world trek in Van City this summer and Ministry's favourite band and biggest influences, the Spice Girls, will do the same on Dec. 2. Swedish metallers Meshuggah and American group Hemlock will provide support, for Ministry, not the Spice Girls, that is.

Ministry have announced the CU LaTour on their website. Jorgensen has assembled an all-star cast for the band's last romp, consisting of guitarists Tommy Victor (Prong) and Sin Quirin (Revolting Cocks), keyboardist John Bechdel (False Icons, Prong), drummer Jimmy Degrasso (Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies, Alice Cooper) and bassist Tony Campos (Static X). Also joining the band as a "special featured artist" will be Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell.

The 49-year-old Al Jorgensen has hinted at Ministry's eventual expiration for years now and earlier this year said that Ministry's latest Bush-bashing release, The Last Sucker, would be the band's last.

"I've got a lot of side-projects and new projects I want to focus on," explained 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 end of Ministry comes hot on the heels of the end of one of its members. On Oct. 20 Ministry and former Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven was found dead in his home after an apparent heart attack. He was 46.

Here are Ministry's tentative Canadian dates:

March 28 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
May 3 Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
May 4 Toronto, ON @ The Guvernment