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Al Jourgensen
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Al Jourgensen (born October 9, 1958 in Havana, Cuba) is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa (his alias as a music producer), Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan. He is a member and/or founder of several industrial bands, working as a singer, guitarist or keyboard player.
gensen was born in Havana to a Cuban mother and father in 1958.
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Encyclopedia
Al Jourgensen (born October 9, 1958 in Havana, Cuba) is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa (his alias as a music producer), Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan. He is a member and/or founder of several industrial bands, working as a singer, guitarist or keyboard player.
Biography
Jourgensen was born in Havana to a Cuban mother and father in 1958. Soon after, he came to the US to live with his mother and his Norwegian stepfather, who changed his name to Jourgensen. His stepfather was a stock car driver, also known as a mechanic for Formula One driver Dan Gurney. Jourgensen was raised in Chicago, Illinois and Breckenridge, Colorado, eventually attending the University of Illinois - Chicago and University of Colorado. He worked as a radio DJ out of college, until becoming a professional musician by joining the band Special Affect. He formed Ministry in 1981.
Jourgensen was married to Patty Marsh from 1984-1993. He has a daughter from the marriage, Adrienne, born April 13, 1985.He remarried in September 2002 to Angelina Lukacin at Graceland mansion.
His lyrics reveal many aspects of his life, such as his heroin and cocaine addiction, alcoholism, and his political opinions. These were greatly influenced by the beat generation (William S. Burroughs collaborated on some of his tracks).
Jourgensen has had a life-long affinity for drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, which culminated in the 1995 police raid of Ministry's Texas headquarters and Jourgensen's arrest for possession. He received a five year probation sentence, a time that he recalls as the darkest in his life. As of 2003, he maintains that he has been drug-free, ever since a bite from a venomous spider almost caused him to lose an arm. Jourgensen currently lives and records in El Paso, Texas.
Professional life
Jourgensen formed Ministry in 1981 after he left the band Special Affect, which was a new wave/synth pop band (notably including Frankie Nardiello, founder of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and drummer Harry Rushakoff of Concrete Blonde). Early singles by Ministry and Jourgensen's other projects were released on Wax Trax! Records. He was also featured as guest on some Skinny Puppy albums as well as producing their Rabies album. During that time, it is said that Jourgensen befriended Nivek Ogre, who later joined Ministry.
Ministry's newest albums, Rio Grande Blood and The Last Sucker, as well as the 2006 Revolting Cocks album Cocked and Loaded were released on Jourgensen's new record label, 13th Planet Records. He formed this label after falling out with the mainstream agendas of major industry labels.
Jourgensen appeared as a fictional musician in the film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, and has had a number of songs appear in other films, including the 2008 Wicked Lake, produced by Fever Dreams, for which he composed the entire sound track. He also makes a small appearance in the film as an art school teacher.
He also holds a large collection of religious altars from which he frequently performs during his concerts.
In a November 2008 issue of Hustler Magazine, Al Jourgensen announced that the end of Ministry was official. The reasons behind this were Ministry "takes up so much time" as well as the hassle of getting out new albums. He also said he was responsible for six other bands and can get seven albums done a year when he is not working on new Ministry material.
Political views
Jourgensen is one of many outspoken musicians in the industry today, frequently offering scathing criticism of the Bush family. Beginning with Ministry's 1992 album Psalm 69, continuing with the 2004 album Houses of the Molé, 2006's Rio Grande Blood, and 2007's The Last Sucker. His favorite targets have been former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Ministry also contributed a song to the first Rock Against Bush album. The theme continues on Ministry's 2007 offering and in Jourgensen's various side projects.
Projects
Trivia
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