Ministry of Rock








" An Un-Pious Ministry "


Until Nine Inch Nails crossed over to the mainstream, Ministry did more than any other band to popularize industrial dance music, injecting large doses of punky, over-the-top aggression and roaring heavy metal guitar riffs that helped their music find favor with metal and alternative audiences outside of industrial's cult fan base. That's not to say Ministry had a commercial or generally accessible sound: they were unremittingly intense, abrasive, pounding, and repetitive, and not always guitar-oriented (samples, synthesizers, and tape effects were a primary focus just as often as guitars and distorted vocals). However, both live and in the studio, they achieved a huge, crushing sound that put most of their contemporaries in aggressive musical genres to shame; plus, founder and frontman Al Jourgensen gave the group a greater aura of style and theater than other industrial bands, who seemed rather faceless when compared with Jourgensen's leather-clad cowboy/biker look and the edgy shock tactics of such videos as "N.W.O." and "Just One Fix." After 1992's Psalm 69, which represented the peak of their popularity, Ministry's recorded output dwindled, partially because of myriad side projects and partially due to heroin abuse within the band, but the band continued to resurface through the rest of the decade.







Ministry were formed in 1981 by Alain Jourgensen (born October 8, 1958, Havana, Cuba) ; he had moved to the U.S. with his mother while very young and lived in a succession of cities, eventually working as a radio DJ and joining a /punk-new wave band called Special Affect (fronted by future My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult leader Frankie Nardiello, aka Groovie Mann). Featuring drummer Stephen George, Ministry debuted with the Wax Trax! single "Cold Life," which -- typical of their early output -- was more in the synth pop/dance style of new wavers like the Human League or Thompson Twins. The album With Sympathy appeared on the major label Arista in 1983 and followed a similar musical direction, one that Jourgensen was dissatisfied with; he returned to Wax Trax! and recorded several singles while rethinking the band's style and forming his notorious side project the Revolting Cocks.


In 1985, with Jourgensen the only official member of Ministry, the Adrian Sherwood-produced Twitch was released by Sire Records; while not as aggressive as the group's later, more popular material, it found Jourgensen taking definite steps in that direction. Following a 1987 single with Skinny Puppy's Kevin Ogilvie (aka Nivek Ogre) as PTP, Jourgensen once again revamped Ministry, with former Blackouts bassist Paul Barker officially joining the lineup to complement Jourgensen's rediscovery of the guitar; fellow ex-Blackouts William Rieflin (drums) and Mike Scaccia (guitar), as well as vocalist Chris Connelly, were heavily showcased as collaborators for the first of several times on 1988's The Land of Rape and Honey. With Jourgensen and Barker credited as Hypo Luxa and Hermes Pan, respectively, this album proved to be Ministry's stylistic breakthrough, a taut, explosive fusion of heavy metal, industrial dance beats and samples, and punk aggression. Released in 1989, The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste built on its predecessor's artistic success, and In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up was recorded on its supporting tour, introducing other frequent Ministry contributors like drummer Martin Atkins (later of Pigface) and guitarist William Tucker (as well as featuring a guest shot from Jello Biafra). Jourgensen next embarked on a flurry of side projects, including the aforementioned Revolting Cocks (with Barker, Barker's brother Roland, Front 242 members Luc Van Acker and Richard 23, and many more), 1000 Homo DJs (with Biafra, Rieflin, and Trent Reznor), Acid Horse, Pailhead (with Ian MacKaye), and Lard (again with Biafra, Paul Barker, Rieflin, and drummer Jeff Ward).


In late 1991, Ministry issued the single "Jesus Built My Hotrod," a driving rocker featuring manic nonsense vocals by co-writer Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers; its exposure on MTV helped build anticipation for the following year's full-length Psalm 69 (subtitled The Way to Succeed & the Way to Suck Eggs, although the only title that appears on the album consists of a few Greek letters and symbols). The record reached the Top 30 and went platinum, producing two further MTV hits with "N.W.O." and "Just One Fix," and Ministry consolidated their following with a spot on the inaugural Lollapalooza tour that summer (joined by new guitarist Louis Svitek). However, drug and legal problems sidelined the band in the wake of its newfound popularity, resulting in the clouded Filth Pig being released in 1995, too late to capitalize on their prior success. More problems with drugs and arrests followed, and Jourgensen returned to some of his side projects, recording a new album with Lard, among others. In 1999, the new single "Bad Blood" was featured prominently in the sci-fi special-effects blockbuster film The Matrix, setting the stage for the release of Dark Side of the Spoon (the title a reference to the band's heroin problems) later that summer. Guitarist William Tucker committed suicide in May 1999.


Ministry were nominated for a Grammy in 2000 for "Bad Blood," but they lost to Black Sabbath and were dropped from Warner Bros. around the same time. They were also added to the Ozzfest tour, but they were kicked off before it even began because of a management change. To compound their sorrows, Ipecac Records announced three live albums to be released with material from the Psalm 69 tour being the main focus, but they only had a verbal agreement and when Warner Bros. caught wind of the project, they stamped it out despite already having the CDs ready for printing. In 2001, Ministry filmed a scene for Steven Spielberg's A.I. and released their contribution to the film on a greatest-hits album, appropriately titled Greatest Fits. The song received a decent amount of promotion, but the single went nowhere and the band signed to Sanctuary Records later in the year. While recording new material, they released the Sphinctour album and DVD in the spring of 2002 to satisfy rabid fans who were disappointed by the Ipecac situation. The next spring Animositisomina was released, advertised as a return to the Psalm 69 style of songwriting and featuring a cover of Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me." Houses of the Molé followed in June 2004.


In September 2005 Ministry celebrated their 25th anniversary with Rantology. Jourgensen remixed such past hits as "Jesus Built My Hotrod" and "N.W.O. for the set; it also included live material, rarities, and the new track "Great Satan." An extensive tour with Revolting Cocks in tow followed. The band then released Rio Grande Blood in May 2006, the second installment in what Jourgensen promised to be a George W. Bush-hating trilogy (which began with Houses of the Molé); the album earned Ministry another Grammy nomination (Best Metal Performance) for "Lies, Lies, Lies." In 2007 the band members announced they would be releasing their "final" album, The Last Sucker, by the end of the year. The 2008 compilation Cover Up examined Ministry's long history of destroying other artists' tunes.


Ministry is still alive and Rockin till today and if you care to see & hear what they're up to , you can visit them here : ( as they are one of the BADDEST BANDS to have ever Rocked the Masses ! )






Mia Zoe










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Ode to an " Idol "






" A Rebel Idol "


Billy Idol has got to be one the most unforgettable Rock Stars of the 80's . Along with Duran Duran, Billy Idol was one the first pop/rock artists to achieve massive success in the early '80s due to a then brand-new U.S. television network, MTV. Mixing his bad-boy good looks with an appealing blend of pop hooks, punk attitude, and a dance beats, Idol quickly rocketed to stardom, before hard living derailed his career and almost proved fatal. Born William Michael Albert Broad on November 30, 1955, in Middlesex, England, the young William relocated with his family for a brief spell to New York, before returning back to England. After a stint at Sussex University only to last a year, Broad found himself as part of a group of teen punk rockers who befriended and followed the Sex Pistols, known as "the Bromley Contingent" (a member of this colorful group of characters was Siouxsie Sioux, eventual leader of Siouxsie & the Banshees).






It wasn't long before Broad realized that he too could be the frontman of a punk band, and assumed the name Billy Idol shortly thereafter. After a stint playing guitar in a group called Chelsea didn't pan out (interestingly, the group featured future Clash guitarist Mick Jones and future Damned guitarist Brian James), Idol put down the guitar and picked up the mic, and recruited bassist Tony James, drummer John Towe, and guitarist Bob Andrews, forming Generation X in 1976. Named after a 1960s paperback book, the band signed a recording contract with Chrysalis shortly thereafter (Towe was replaced with new skinsman Mark Laff) -- resulting in such releases as 1978's self-titled debut, 1979's Valley of the Dolls, and 1981's Kiss Me Deadly -- before splitting up.

Disappointed with Generation X's demise, Idol relocated to New York City, where he pursued a career as a solo artist. Hooking up with Kiss manager Bill Aucoin, Idol issued the 1981 EP Don't Stop (comprised of a cover of Tommy James' '60s hit "Mony Mony" and a pair of remixed Generation X tracks), which helped the singer score another record deal with his former band's label, Chrysalis. Idol found the perfect collaborator and partner in guitarist/Johnny Thunders look-alike Steve Stevens, and issued a self-titled debut in July of 1982. A pair of eye-catching videos for the tracks "White Wedding" and "Dancing With Myself" (the latter a remake of a Generation X composition) scored major air time on MTV, with both clips focusing in on Idol's spiky, peroxide blonde hair and Elvis-like sneer. The debut eventually obtained gold certification, and set the stage perfectly for Idol's big commercial breakthrough, 1984's Rebel Yell.

Rebel Yell became the singer's best-selling album of his career (eventually going double platinum), spawning such big-time MTV/radio hits as the album's anthemic title track, "Eyes Without a Face," and "Flesh for Fantasy," establishing Idol as an arena headliner stateside. But with massive success came its many distractions, which prevented Idol from issuing a new studio album until three years after Rebel Yell. 1987's Whiplash Smile was another sizeable hit on the strength of such hits as "To Be a Lover" and "Sweet Sixteen," but failed to live up to the lofty expectations set by his previous releases. Stevens jumped ship shortly thereafter to launch his own band, Steve Stevens' Atomic Playboys (and eventually was a member of Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil's solo band), leaving Idol to fend for himself.

An eight-track best-of set, Vital Idol, was issued later the same year, spawning one of the year's most heavily played MTV videos -- a live version of the previously recorded cover of "Mony Mony" -- which helped keep Idol in the spotlight. Idol spent the next few years working on his fourth studio release, but reappeared in the summer of 1989 as part of an all-star rendition of the Who's Tommy, with Idol playing the role of the sadistic character Cousin Kevin. Around the time of Idol's next release, 1990's Charmed Life, the singer was involved in a serious motorcycle accident (in which he almost lost his leg), forcing the singer to walk with a cane for a period of time; the video for the album's lead-off single, "Cradle of Love," featured the singer filmed from the waist up. The ploy worked, as the single (which was also used as the theme song in the failed Andrew "Dice" Clay movie, Ford Fairlane) was another smash hit, making Charmed Life the fourth Idol album in a row to achieve at least reach platinum sales.

Expectedly, several years passed before the release of Idol's next album, during which time he tried his hand at acting with a bit part in Oliver Stone's motion picture " The Doors ". By the time 1993's Cyberpunk surfaced, Idol had dropped his spiky peroxide hairstyle in place of dreadlocks, and experimented with techno beats. The move proved to be an unwise one, as the album tanked and sank from the charts. At the same time, Idol was knee deep in drug addiction, resulting in another close brush with death when he overdosed and had to be treated in a Los Angeles hospital in 1994. Not much was heard from Idol until 1998, when he made a cameo appearance (as himself) in the hit Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore comedy " The Wedding Singer ", which resulted in renewed interest. Idol teamed up once again with Steve Stevens, and was the subject of a VH1: Behind the Music special (as well as a Storytellers episode for the channel, which was ultimately issued as a CD), and issued a more extensive Greatest Hits set in 2001; the latter of which sold 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone. Next up was his first studio album since Cyberpunk, Devil's Playground, released on Sanctuary in 2005.

Regardless of all the trials and all the drama which Billy & every other rock n roller endures , he holds a very special place within all of our hearts and our record ( mp3 ) collection . His unforgettable hits , such as : Rebel Yell , White Wedding , Eyes Without a Face , Catch my Fall and numerous others will always remain at the top of my song charts , as I am certain they will for many . We love you Billy , you will always be : The Vital Idol !

You can find Billy still Rockin the Roof off the house right here :







Mia Zoe








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Welcome to the Loudest Blog on the www !



If you've never heard of Andy Laplegua , known to his millions of fans as the penultimate ' CombiChrist ' , then you have obviously missed the bus, train & plane to Clarksville ! Combichrist has literally 'Exploded ' unto the Industrial Tech scene within the last 9 years , however , his notoriety hasn't fully surfaced until late last year when he decided to break from his band :Icon of Coil & go ' solo '. Good decision on Andy's part [ if I do say so myself ] .

Combichrist" is an aggro-tech music group, formed in Norway and currently situated in the United States.

In 2003 Andy LaPlegua of "Icon of Coil" wrote a few power noise/techno cross over tracks under the name of "Drive". This was changed to "Combichrist"when the debut album, "The Joy of Gunz" was set to be released on Out Of Line. The name Combichrist originates from a hardcore fanzine LaPlegua made during the late 90s, with "JR Ewing" guitarist HÃ¥kon Mella.



The follow up EPs, and the clamor for live shows, sent Combichrist out on the road where they would become known for their strong and energetic performances.

Their second EP, "Sex, Drogen und Industrial", spent 7 weeks at number one in the DAC charts.

In March of 2007 they released their third album "What The Fuck Is Wrong With You People?".

Their latest album, "Today We Are All Demons", was released on January 20th, 2009.

Andy wanted something different from the typical dance electronica and created Combichrist in early 2000. The group is pretty much the 'shizznizzle' at the moment in goth and regular dance clubs; I’m a music lover& my taste is vast & diverse ; what drew me to Combichrist was the darkness and noise their albums created. But … LaPlegua’s vision of the group has changed from ultra-angry to a more danceable style. It’s not the Chemical Brothers or Paul Oakenfold, but the anger is gone with a good half of " Today We Are All Demons ". The single that came before the album " Sent to Destroy " is the trademark Combichrist and the latter portion of the album brings some of that anger back in. Overall, the album has become a big success within the goth /cybergoth & industrial electro /tech fanbase . What I personally love about Andy is the fact that he manages to implement a much deeper meaning into all of his songs [ if one stops and listens without being judgemental based on his external persona ehemmm ! ] . True , he may seem rather ' frightening ' / intimidating behind the make-up , the mohawk & his angry front - but this type of prejudiced / biased disposition applies only to those same ' pseudo - devout - religious - establishment freaks ' [ yes ...the same ones who tried to crucify Marilyn Manson a decade and some yrs. ago ]



Combichrist has recognized much more success than many of the other acts emerging from the electronic underground and the band have become one of the dark electro scene's most popular live acts.


The roster of live members is currently Joe Letz (ex "Genitorturers"), Mr Petersen,Z_Marr (ex "Hell Trash"), Kourtney Klein (who also played drums for the reformed "Nitzer Ebb") and Trevor Friedrich who was the drummer for "Eighteen Visions" and "Imperative Reaction". Past live members include HÃ¥kon Mella, Bjoern Petersen, Syn M, Shaun Frandsen & Jon H.


One cannot listen to music based on prejudice & narrow mindedness . Music is supposed to be one of the truest art forms of ' global human unification ' , and not meant to separate & divide . As the Beatles said : " Come Together ..right Now " !


When man discovered fire , he emerged out of the darkness -

When he discovered language , he learned to communicate his thoughts -

When he discovered music , he enabled his soul w/ wings ,

To fly and soar towards new-found heights . [ MiaZoe ]

Keep flying & soaring !





MiaZoe | Devils Child Hell Bound



Mia Zoe








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Whoever said ' Cancer ' was bad for You ?


If you think Cancer is all that bad , apparently you have not heard about the hardcore Southern Metal , grunge , Punk Rock band out of Toronto and their lethal sound ! Well , let's not delay the introductions much longer than necessary : Introducing , the ' Cancer Bats ' ! The 4 piece band is comprised of lead singer Liam Cormier , guitarist Scott Middleton , Mike Peters on drums & the hellacious Jaye R. Schwarzer on bass ( this guy rox my sox ! ) Liam and Scott formed the band in late May of 2004 ( yeah these guys have been around for a while now , but have come into the Rock spotlight recently ) ; but Liam and Scott wanted to formulate a sound equal and to rival that of some of their predecessors such as : Refused, Black Flag, Led Zeppelin and Down, to name but a few . Incorporating the tenacious Andrew McCracken on bass & the incendiary Mike Peters on drums - the birth of a new sound was borne. The four-piece band wasted no time writing and recording songs for a self-released demo that saw light in January of 2005 (later reissued on Oct 31 2005 on vinyl by Tragicomedy Records). These boys are determined and hellbent on spreading the gospel of rage and getting their music heard. The Cancer Bats spent the following year touring extensively all over North America with bands such as Every Time I Die, Nora, Alexisonfire, Haste the Day, It Dies Today, Comeback Kid, A Life Once Lost, The Bled, Misery Signals and This Is Hell.




Show after show, from coast to coast, the Cancer Bats,with their own brand of explosive live shows inspire floor punching, windmills, and arm spinning, had begun to establish their own devoted legion of fans. With the buzz about the cancer bats spreading like the disease itself across North America , the band released their highly anticipated album titled " Birthing the Giant " on one of the most ' Evil days of the year ' on Distort Label( Inc) - ( get this ) : 6 -6-06 ! [ talk about perfect timing there boy & girls ] The album was produced by the award winning Gavin Brown , who has also the man behind the scenes with the likes of bands such as " 3 Days Grace " & " Billy Talent " fame. The album was an infectious blend of rippin' riffs that spread like wildfire across the globe and resonated critical acclaim on all sides of the planet inciting the Cancer Bats to the Top of the Hardcore Punk Scene & taking home the Favourite Hardcore/Metal Group of the year at the 2007 Indie Awards and Best Independent Video at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards, the world had started to take notice of the Canadian quartet of flying mammals.[sic. bats]


The bands new release of their blazin' " Hail Destroyer " album , has now awarded them the success which they finally deserve . The album , Co-produced by Eric Ratz (Big Sugar, Theory Of A Dead Man, Billy Talent), Kenny Luong (Billy Talent), and Greg Below (Alexisonfire) and recorded at Vespa Studios, features a much edgier, much heavier, and finely tuned collection of songs. From the punchy opening riff of the title track “Hail Destroyer” right to the melodic outro of “Zed’s Dead, Baby,” the Cancer Bats will not leave any one out there disappointed. Integrating more Punk, Stoner Rock, Metal, and Hardcore into the mix and taking a much more introspective approach than its predecessor, ‘Hail Destroyer’ sees the Cancer Bats taking their musicianship to a whole new level. Lead singer Liam Cormier’s heated vocals and heavily personal lyrics keep the energy high throughout the album, while axe-wielding Scott Middleton’s electrifying solos and shredding riffs make you want to rock out like never before. Throw in Mike Peter’s rhythmic ferocity and you have an album that will leave you salivating for more ! Now go and get your album and Rock out !
Cancer Bats Official Website Visit Cancer Bats on:

Official Website

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MiaZoe | Devils Child Hell Bound






Mia Zoe








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