Al Jourgensen in “The History of Industrial Music: The Chicago Way”
Hot on the heels of the well-received Wax Trax! Records documentary comes a broader look at Chicago’s role in the development of industrial music in the 1980s and ’90s, a film that backers are hoping fans of the genre can help get completed via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
Below, you can watch a nearly 3-minute trailer for “The History of Industrial Music: The Chicago Way,” a documentary featuring interviews with Al Jourgensen of Ministry, Revolting Cocks and so many other acts, as well as members of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Die Warzau, Pigface and more.
The film’s producers write on Kickstarter:
“This movie is based in Chicago, but the story is global. Chicago was the epicenter of this style of music that rose from the dirty dancefloors to airwaves of MTV via the groundbreaking show ‘120 Minutes.’ Soon clubs from LA to Berlin were spinning these artists — but how did it start? What was the engine that made it go? What caused this beautiful marriage of dance, rock, disco, synths, aggression and attitude? Why was there a chicken needed in the recording studio for inspiration? (what?!) … It’s a story, with many wild, true, tales that needs to be told.”
After raising their first round of funding privately, the producers say they’re turning now to crowdfunding to cover final costs such as music licensing, legal fees, physical production of a Blu-ray release, film festival submissions and more. As is common with these types of campaigns, there area a variety of reward bundles available to donors. Head over to Kickstarter to see the options.
Now, here’s the trailer:
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Watch: Ministry delivers late-’80s, early-’90s ‘Wax Trax!-era’ set on Record Store Day
- Listen to an unreleased Revolting Cocks track off the Wax Trax! documentary soundtrack
- Watch: Trailer for ‘Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records’ documentary
Maravilhoso, acho bacana pq continua underground e fazendo sucesso , sou muito fã da música industrial, ainda é muito mais criativa e relevante do que o Hip Hop por exemplo e merece muito mais destaque também!
I had a great conversation with a famous rock drummer who actually worked with and is friends with Al. I mentioned how much I love the album ‘Twitch’. He was so shocked and spent an hour trying to convince me why he and everyone he knows hates the album and why years after were better. It was fun. Of course I had to add that I like With Sympathy too.
LOL Al is still losing his shit that With Sympathy (and Everyday is Halloween) were the only great releases he ever made… fake accent and all. Psalm 69 was good, and the rest of his career was comprised of unlistenable noise. Get over it Al – just own it already !!!!
growing up in chicago, used to see all those bands, hang at all those clubs, was an important scene, glad its being remembered!
Can someone hurry up and make a doc about Medusa’s??
I recently wrote this song about it:
https://youtu.be/FJY97ysDoPs
I worked at medusas I drank at the smartbar I played guitar in ministry
I was there ❗❗ I’m 53.
I moved to Chicago from New York City in 83 where my parents were from. I left in 93 AND to this fucking day I tell everybody how great the music scene was in Chicago and nightclub scene was , and NO ONE fucking party like we did.. Mark Grant
Yes this all true… But Skinny Puppy started AND innovated a lot of the sounds,
Medusa’s still exists. The owner opened one in Elgin!
To me, Land of Rape and Honey is a masterpiece head and shoulders above the rest of the catalog. Twitch is tacky or just pop at best (All Day) other than We Believe I don’t bother w it. W sympathy is a laugh. After the mind album its just metal bullshit and I detest psalm 69 for catering to the popular kids jumping on the grunge bandwagon. Then he lost his mind completely and I stopped listening. But every track on LoR&H is wonderful and a must. Guess w that varied a career we all have opinions about the direction.
yes, Chicago had Wax Trax and Ministry, but Vancouver was just as important with Netwerk and Skinny Puppy. The real action or beginnings of industrial music was in Europe, particularly in England, Belgium and Germany.