EO - What's he good at?
PB - He's good at negotiating deals with labels. Certainly we made more money last year than we ever have before, but let's just say that right now we are having some problems, like a marriage. Maybe I ought to let it come to the surface: what Jonny wants to do is to let everybody know much money he's made. Everything is money. Who gives a fuck about money, you know? And then he's always coming off like: "I don't care about money"; whereas it seems to be the only thing that has any weight in his world. Back to the positive, though. They have really done a lot for us, and we appreciate that; but after two years, we are still trying to explain to them our aesthetics.
EO - Can you explain to me what you have been trying to explain to them?
PB - We don't look at the short-term - we only look at the long-term. We've been doing this for years. I've been working with Al since 1986. We don't want overnight success; we'd much rather do it our way, slowly. The fans are going to be with us. We are always going to sell records. No one is going to turn us into idiots: we are always going to have our talent, and we're always going to be able to do it slower. We don't have to be totally fucking exploited. We want to do that stuff in a more-or-less cool manner.
The irony of the whole grunge scene is that it is so uncool how they are being exploited. The whole aesthetic is being undermined because it is going major label. It's the same thing that happened to the post-punk bands of ten years ago. They will become a joke.
EO - The thing that irritates me about the grunge scene is this reverse snobbery. I do like a lot of the bands.
PB - I do too, absolutely.
EO - The populist aspect of it strikes me as a bit disingenuous. "We are grungier, dirtier, smellier, less well-educated, and on more drugs than you. Therefore, we are cooler." I link it almost to the Roseanne appeal: where she is appealing to the lowest common denominator. The actress is a very intelligent woman; but her persona is this slothful, unkempt troll with hideous grammer. She doesn't need anymore of "them doughnuts."
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.