After the Mind record we were finishing a Cocks record, and then we were touring with the Cocks, and we had done a Lard record, and the work never stopped. We love that, but we didn't really have any time for the administrative angles that came with the work. We also realized that there was a lot more money out there than we were seeing, and some new bands were, frankly, getting more than we were, and we didn't have any clout to get this money. We didn't have anyone inside the machine who was willing and able to work it for us. We were totally outside of it; which is where we wanted to be because our aesthetics demanded that if someone was a slimy scumbag, then we didn't deal with him. But that's a quick way to get into a dead-end. So, we wanted to shop around and see what, if anything, management could do for us.
We talked to a few people. For some reason, I guess it was the Mind record, these metal bands like Metalica and Megadeth got really into us. That's cool, and we can see why, but, um, we don't reciprocate. Not that I hate them or anything. Those bands just don't really turn me on. If we are in the metal world, we certainly came in the backdoor. Anyway, the managerial aspect of the metal world became interested in Ministry. We were approached by various metal managers, if you will, and some seemed to have more going for them than others. So we talked to some of the bands that these guys had worked with before, and tried to find out why they had split, and whatever we could about them to help us make a decision. That whole process wasn't very interesting.
EO - I was told that you talked to [NIN] John Malm.
PB - Yes, we did talk to John. We kind of realized that John had his hands full with NIN; we really like him, and there was never any question of similar aesthetics and things like that, but we felt that Nails was on a roll - on a high - and we probably wouldn't have gotten the attention that we wanted. Who's to say, but that was our thinking at the time. Here was a guy who was doing it his way, Trent's way, and our way is pretty much the same, but that didn't happen. So we chose Jonny [Z], and it's kind of a marriage, you know?
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.