Al Jourgensen, the band’s producer, vocalist, and instrumentalist, created Ministry in Chicago, Illinois in 1981. Ministry began as a synth-pop band and grew into one of the forefathers of industrial rock and metal in the late 1980s. Jourgensen is the only original member of the band, although the lineup has changed repeatedly. Vocalists Nivek Ogre, Chris Connelly, Gibby Haynes, Burton C. Bell, and Jello Biafra have all contributed to the band’s studio or live activities, as have guitarists Mike Scaccia and Tommy Victor, guitarist Cesar Soto, bassists Paul Barker, Paul Raven, Jason Christopher, Tony Campos, and Paul D’Amour, drummers Jimmy DeGrasso, Bill Rieflin, Martin Atkins, Rey Wash