As a matter of fact, we did on the end of this new album. We have this trance thing going on. We’ll dabble in that but I don’t really care what my fucking fans think. I know my fans and I don’t trust ’em. [Laughs]
You also recently said that you have “a lot of fans and a lot of psychos ready to pounce.
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During the Psalm 69 tour I had a stalker that threatened to kill me every night so I had to go up onstage in a bulletproof vest and that kinda sucked. I finally just got tired of wear- ing it because I would sweat right through it, it was so heavy and bulky. I finally took it off and bought a T-shirt to wear – actually at Target in Dallas, Texas – which had a target on its chest. If you’re going to do it, get it over with tonight because I’m sick of this. For twelve states I had to check in under fake names, stay at a differ- ent hotel than the band. ... It was pretty creepy, man.
The full title of 1992’s Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs is a direct reference to Aleister Crowley. What’s your interest in him? I’ve read all of his books. I’ve read all of [Aldous] Huxley’s books. I’ve read all of Timothy Leary’s books. I’ve read all of [William S.] Burroughs’ books. I’ve read all of [Charles] Bukowski’s books. I kind of have a fascination with authors. I lived with Leary for two years. I’ve worked with Bur- roughs. I’ve met Bukowski. I met [Allen] Ginsberg before he died. It’s kind of like the grass is greener on the other side. I understand how to do my stuff so I’m bored with it. I’m not a big music fan, per se, but I’m a big groupie of authors. I don’t understand how they put together a book. I’m still trying to figure it out, which probably sets me apart from most metal guys, who don’t even know how to read.
Is your interest in the occult just for art and fun or is there a more serious side to it? Nah, there’s no serious side to it. Yeah, I read about it but I don’t go out and slaughter goats and babies on my front lawn or any- thing.
In the past, you’ve sampled snip- pets of dialogue from horror films, including Hellraiser, Day of the Dead, The Devils, Aliens, Suspiria – are you a big horror fan? Mikey’s more the horror movie afi- cionado but yeah, of course, over the years. I even did a soundtrack for a movie called Wicked Lake that was
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came out, I had five handlers and everyone watching my every move. And so I rebelled. I went into my own little cocoon, into my own head, and started shooting up like a maniac by that point. It’s just really oppressive, dude. You have to know what it’s like to have people sniffing up your ass every damn second of the day. There’s somebody that’s with you and you just want to escape. So, I es- caped through drugs.
But you’re doing better now and you’re sober again. I congratulate you for tha– Woah, wait, wait… you’re kind of wrong there. I said I’m clean, I didn’t say I was sober. We were up all night last night in the studio drinking red wine and beer, and I’m literally shit- faced now as I speak to you. [Laughs]
You’re functioning very well. Yeah, we get around…
What is it about Relapse that makes it “the best Ministry album and one of the 50 best records of all-time?” Wow, that’s a good question. Well, I know this much: even after The Last Sucker, which I really liked a lot, I know I stopped listening to it after about a week. After I’m done, I never want to hear this shit again. And now it’s going on about a month of listen- ing to Buck Satan and [Relapse] and I’m still not sick of them.
But all that material is still a big part of your legacy. That’s great. I’m happy for it. But I haven’t listened to “Every Day is Hal- loween” for years.
about lesbian vampires. ... It’s funny because I get all these calls from horror movie di- rectors and producers and video game companies wanting my music for games that are really violent, and I’ve never played a video game in my life. I don’t go to the theatres to see horror movies. You know, I don’t wait for the release of Underworld 7 or whatever it is now. But I’m affiliated through proxy just because my music is kind of violent and seems to fit within the constraints of the genre.
Your vocals do often sound like someone communicating from the other side. Well, I’ve been to the other side so that’s where that comes from.
Speaking of movies, I assume you’ve seen FIX? Yeah, I saw it a couple times. I’m not really into it but I guess [the producers] are working things out with the contract so I can get paid and they can release the
movie, and good luck to ’em. I never want to watch it again. I’ve been clean for ten years now so it’s pretty weird for me to [watch myself] shooting up through a whole movie. It’s like, god, really? It’s kind of sad. It’s like watching a slow train wreck.
To what do you attribute your ability to thrive in that chaotic, self-abusive lifestyle? I had to escape. I hated it. We got so big so fast after “Jesus Built My Hotrod.” I mean, we were starting to get used to success with Land and Mind, but by the time Psalm 69
Do you still feel like you’re trying to break new ground musically? No, I don’t feel I have to. I feel I do ac- cidentally sometimes because we go in with a blank canvas when we start a new record. I don’t have a pro- jected game plan for it or anything. That’s why this new Ministry record is so diverse. I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone.
You’ve experimented with many gen- res in the past through your various side projects. Are there any other mu- sical experiments you’d like to try? Yeah, we’re doing a blues album… serious blues, like Albert King-type stuff. Distorted blues. It’ll probably be hated but then probably liked in five years. [Laughs] And me and Mikey want to do one more Buck Satan record because I’ve already got seven songs written for it – music, lyrics, everything. So I think I’ve got a couple of records left in me.
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