If we were to start with the bass and drums scenario, we riff about with that for awhile and then lay some of it down. Then we bring in some guitar or some samples and start laying over the top of that and make some sort of arrangements within that. Then we go back and retrack everything with the new arrangements and chord-progressions in mind. At no time is everything set. At any given time we might rearrange or rerecord everything.
The third method, of starting off with a sample, seems to be the most difficult to complete because you are painting yourself into a corner. It may happen that the original sound becomes no longer valid after the song has been fleshed-out. Once we throw the sample out then we really have a lot of fun trying to complete the song because now the original impetus is gone. We don't hesitate to spend ridiculous amounts of time on a song.
I'm sure that you have heard horror stories from bands about spending a month on a song. We have, in fact, done that. We don't know, towards the end of that month, whether we have something good or if we should shoot ourselves because we become such blithering idiots. We do that to ourselves, though; we don't do that to other people.
EO - So you are masochistic but not sadistic.
PB - Yes. It gets ridiculous because after every Ministry record we try to go into the next one with a different overall concept. Usually the concept is that we are going to make it easier on ourselves. The idea of the Mind record, that had a very concrete idea. We would go into the studio and lay down the rythm tracks: Bill and I would lay down as many rythm tracks as we could, and we would sift through those and see which ones we wanted to finish. It did relieve some pressure; it really didn't take all that long to finish that record. But this new record, we decided we were going to write some material with a full band, and go record it, and take it from there. Well, we ended up throwing out all of that fucking material and going back to the old way.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
That was fascinating. I love hearing stuff like this from these guys just outside of the mainstream, especially when they do actually wind up with a small success in it. Unlike many pop stars, they seem to have very level heads about what the whole music industry is really about. And dammit, I love Ministry.
2 - Craig Lyndall
I was fascinated by this interview. I don't know why we don't hear this perspective more often. Are most bands not this aware of their situation, or is it just a rule that most people don't talk about it? Regardless, this is really enlightening for those of us who like to follow the business side of things.
3 - Eric Olsen
thanks guys, he was a lot of fun to speak with
4 - Craig Lyndall
My parents were a little apprehensive when I wanted to buy an album called "The Land of Rape and Honey" but they knew better than to try and stop me from listening to an album that I wanted to hear.
5 - Johno
Eric, you are my hero!!!
Holy crap... just think... here I am in a dorm room in 1992-93, listening to "Hellfudge" and "Jesus Built My Hot Rod" over and over again, and-- lucky you-- there you are talking on the record to Paul! Freaking! Barker! Lard! Ministry! Pailhead!
What an insightful interview, too. Some of the credit of course goes to PB for being on the ball, but a good interviewer makes everything come together.
I found it interesting that they took John Zazula on as their manager. That kind of helps explain their disappearance to me. By reputation, Johnny Z talks a great game, and genuinely loves the artists he works with, but his touch has been career poison since the early 90's.
Like Tom I was impressed by the Paul's levelheadedness about both business and the creative process. How right was he about grunge, jeez?
6 - Eric Olsen
thanks Johno - I was a huge fan too, so it was a lot of fun
7 - jerry
I was fascinated by this interview. I don't know why we don't hear this perspective more often. Are most bands not this aware of their situation, or is it just a rule that most people don't talk about it? Regardless, this is really enlightening for those of us who like to follow the business side of things. Yes, Craig, that's true.
8 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Jerry, glad you found it interesting!
9 - EX NAVY
THERE HAS BEEN FIGHTING IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE FIGHTING WILL EVER STOP,SO LETS MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST FREE OF ALL FUTURE FIGHTING AND NUKE THE ENTIRE REGION OFF THE FACE OF THE PLANET.
10 - Bob A. Booey
I'm about to pass out after a long night, but I definitely will read this later. I'm impressed that you got this interview, Olsen. Keep talking to some of those 90s alternative stars -- I'm sure they have a lot to say about today's industry.
No man with a good car needs to be justified. (And Jesus built my hotrod).
That is all.
11 - Gary H
Paul Barker has a posse.