29 Facts About Al Jourgensen

Alain David Jourgensen was born on Alejandro Ramirez Casas; October 9,1958 and is a Cuban-American singer, musician and music producer.

Al Jourgensen is the frontman and lyricist of the industrial metal band Ministry, which he founded in 1981 and of which he remains the only constant member.

Al Jourgensen was the primary musician of several Ministry-related projects, such as Revolting Cocks, Lard, and Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters.

Al Jourgensen is a prominent figure in industrial music, influencing numerous other groups and musicians, both in alternative and industrial-associated acts.

Al Jourgensen developed an interest in music at a young age, and was involved in several short-lived bands, as well as briefly performing in the backing band of drag performer Divine.

Al Jourgensen formed Ministry in 1981 in Chicago and received significant attention from music press regarding the band's 1983 debut studio album, With Sympathy.

In 2005, Al Jourgensen established his own record label, 13th Planet Records, through which several Ministry records, among others, were released until the early 2010s.

Al Jourgensen, who is of Dutch and Spanish heritage, says he does not remember anything about his real father.

Al Jourgensen adopted his surname, which is Norwegian, for herself and her son.

Al Jourgensen was raised in Chicago, Illinois, and Breckenridge, Colorado, attending Greeley High School and Summit County High School in Frisco, Colorado, in 1976.

Al Jourgensen was a fan of a wide range of artists including the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Led Zeppelin, Hank Williams and George Jones.

Al Jourgensen eventually attended the University of Illinois Chicago, after briefly enrolling at both the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Colorado.

Al Jourgensen related his conversation with Kubrick in an interview:.

Al Jourgensen's secretary was calling and I was like, 'Yeah, right.

Al Jourgensen explained that he was responsible for six other bands and could complete seven albums within a year when he was not working on new Ministry material.

In 2016 March, Al Jourgensen noted he had a project with Arabian Prince; this collaboration was later confirmed for a new Ministry album.

In February 2024, Al Jourgensen announced that he would like to make one last Ministry album.

In 2015, Al Jourgensen announced that he started "a speed metal project" named Surgical Meth Machine with engineer and longtime collaborator Sam D'Ambruoso.

Al Jourgensen produced music for Reverend Horton Heat, Skinny Puppy, Dessau, Skrew, Rigor Mortis, The Blackouts, and DethRok.

Al Jourgensen's recording complex for the 13th Planet label was located at his former home in El Paso, Texas.

Al Jourgensen has played a multitude of instruments throughout his career, including guitars, bass, violin, banjo, keyboards, piano, pedal steel guitar, trumpets and drums to name a few.

In 2006, starting with Rio Grande Blood, Al Jourgensen switched to a more thrash metal approach.

Al Jourgensen was married to Patty Marsh from 1984 to 1995 and the relationship produced one daughter.

Jourgensen's autobiography, Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen, was released in July 2013.

In 1995, police raided Ministry's Texas headquarters and Al Jourgensen was arrested for possession of heroin.

Al Jourgensen kicked his heavy drug habit, and as of 2019, he has limited his intake to beer, marijuana, and psilocybin mushrooms.

Al Jourgensen almost lost his arm and foot in two separate incidents, the first due to a spider bite, the second the result of a hypodermic needle wound.

In 2012, he underwent facial piercings after a bet with his daughter; she called him a "pussy" for not having any piercings, while Al Jourgensen called her the same thing for not having any tattoos.

Al Jourgensen had 16 facial piercings done in one sitting.