MINISTRY : THE SQUIRRELY YEARS TOUR IN LAS VEGAS with SPECIAL GUESTS DIE KRUPPS & MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT

Photos Harold Mountain, Words Jo Anna Jackson/Harold Mounatin
Jun 10
4 min read

Updated: Jun 18

This is an interesting concept for MINISTRY after decades of industrial play, as they are revisiting their early years with a tour and a new record. The band released The Squirrely Years Revisited, a new recording with choice cuts from their first two records With Sympathy And Twitch, that featured a more power pop synth sound that later morphed into the industrial giant's later far heavier darker sound, as well as a rerecorded "Every Day Is Halloween" and some rarities. Al Jourgensen had said for years he hated the early band sound, but decided to "take ownership and do it right", remaking the records into a new version with a accompanying tour.

And Ministry fans absolutely LOVED it. The House of Blues in Las Vegas was packed from floor to the third level, so much so that dancing became a challenge in the crowded spaces, but the fans made it happen. But before we get the Ministry, they brought along two legendary bands as well, to make the night truly spectacular.

Opening the evening's festivities was DIE KRUPPS, a bucket list band for me to not only see live but also photograph. It’s hard to believe that this band has been around for 45 years and this is their very first time playing in Las Vegas! The German industrial band delivered a fantastic show, opening their set with “Nazis Auf Speed”, and immediately I got the chills and said 'fuck yeah!' - this is the type of sound I live for. They followed that up with their hardened cover of the Visage song “Der Amboss”, and my favorite of the show, “Fatherland”, a very patriotic song about their homeland Germany.

Die Krupps' set went by way too fast and before I knew it they were playing their final number, “Bloodsuckers”, to screams and cheers from the crowd. It took half a century but Vegas got their DK fix, and it was glorious. Find out more about this incredible industrial band HERE.

I really, really was excited to see MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT, another band that goes all the way back to the late 80’s with their OG electro industrial dance sound and fun sex kitchy shows. TKK opened up their show with “Shock Point 6” and then straight into my favorite “A Daisy Chain For Satan”.

The band did not let us down as we were treated to all the TKK classics including the classic dance floor hit “Sex On Wheelz" and "Do You Fear (For Your Child)". Groovie Mann has the sex appeal and charisma flowing across the stage, with co-founder and lyricist Buzz McCoy pumping the dance riffs, and the driving yet simple bass sound of Mimi Star really the backbone of this sound. TKK still brings the dance party, and a set that spanned their near 40 year history as well. More on TKK HERE.

This was the one of the biggest crowd I have seen at HOBLV, with fans all the way to the top of the third level dance bar. MINISTRY started their retro revisited set with “Work For Love” off With Sympathy, that set the tone for the show with a pop synth dance vibe. They followed that up with “Here We Go” that included a tracked horn section that really got the crowd moving.

The band looked the part, with Al (Jourgensen) and all wearing sequined jackets, and included two female dancer and backup singers who wore white wigs and tight dark bodysuits for a real disco feel. It looked like Al was having a blast, with a band filled with top musicians John Bechdel, Cesar Soto, Paul D'Amour, Monte Pittman and Pepe Clarke Magana.

The band played rare cuts, and a few I totally forgot were Ministry songs like “Effigy (I’m Not An)", but kept to the theme with no post pop on the setlist. They finished with "Every Day is Halloween", and walked off to a thunderous response with fans screaming and yelling for more, but Uncle Al returned to the stage after a few minutes, telling the crowd, “thank you for that brief cannabis break”, and did a two song encore with a cover of Fad Gadget's “Rickys Hand”, and their version of Rod Stewart's, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”.

It was crazy hearing Ministry sing this genre again but I LOVED their show, filled with songs you probably have never heard live, and may not again. A really true revisited tour, taking everyone back to the early goth days, and I will never forget the enthusiasm from the fans that loved these old classic pop industrial songs and danced their ass off. Ministry also have an album release planned for 2026, a collaboration with Al and Paul Barker, and will do with one more full tour with this record hopefully sometime in 2026 as well. You can catch everything about Ministry HERE.