This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Ministry are Industrial pioneers. At it’s core the band has always centered around Al Jourgensen, vocalist, guitarist, keyboards, programing, really a bit of everything. The earliest version was a synth pop / new wave thing and evolved into the more industrial rock/metal by the third album. That also was the point when writing began to be more collaborative. Long time bassist Paul Barker joined and started contributing on that album.

Members credited as writers:
Al Jourgensen: Lead Vocals, guitar, keyboards, programing, and other random things
Paul Barker: Bassist, keyboards, programing, vocals (1986-2003)
Bill Rieflin: Drums, keyboards, guitar (1986-1994)
Mike Scaccia: Guitars (1989-1995, 2003-2006, 2011-2012)
Rey Washam: Drums (1994-1999, and 2003)
Louis Svitek: Guitars (1992-1999, and 2003) Played on Psalm 69 and Filthpig, writing only on the latter
Zlatko Hukic: Guitar (1996-1999)
Max Brody: Drums, Sax (1999-2004)
Tommy Victor: Guitars (2005-2008 and 2011-2012) (as he is best known for the lead man of Prong, I will eventually put his influences in a Prong family try… eventually. For now his influences will not be listed here.)
Paul Raven: bass, keyboards (2005-2007)
Sin Quirin: guitars, bass, and keyboards (2007-2008 and 2012-2021)

Anyone not listed here have not be credited as contributing to writing.

Ministry has also a ton of guest and studio musicians who have contributed to songs here and there, but they’re influences will not be included.

Robert Johnson

Muddy Waters

Les Paul

Elmore James

Bill Haley and his Comets

Bill Haley is one of the most iconic and earliest Rock ‘n’ rollers. Mike said seeing him play in an old 50’s movie was another reason he wanted to play guitar.

Chet Atkins

Scotty Moore

Chuck Berry

Hank Garland

Jerry Reed

David Bowie was a art rock icon. Bill was a big fan of Bowie and drummer Aynsley Dunbar.

The 13th Floor Elevators was a psychedelic rock band formed by Roky Erickson. Al named them as an influence.

Jimi Hendrix was revolutionary and one of the most influential guitarists of all time. Mike named him as an influence. Sin named him as possibly his favorite guitarist.

Pink Floyd are one of the best known progressive rock band. Al named them as an early influence.

Deep Purple are an influential hard rock and early heavy metal band. Mike named him as an influence.

Led Zeppelin are one of the earliest and biggest hard rock bands. All named them as an earlier influence.

Yes are an influential progressive rock band. Barker named them as an influence.

King Crimson are another influential progressive rock band. Barker named them as an influence. Bill named them as an influence and would later join them.

Humble Pie was a hard/blues rock band. MIike named them as an influence.

Black Sabbath are the fathers of metal. Mike named them as an influence.

UFO are an influential hard rock band best known during their time with Michael Schenker on guitar. Mike named Schenker as an influence.

ZZ Top are a hard / blues rock band. Al is a fan and regards them as the fathers of industrial. Mike named Billy Gibbons as an influence.

Frank Marino is a blues rock / hard rock guitarist/vocalists known for leading Mahogany Rush. Mike named him as an influence.

Lynyrd Skynyrd are Southern rock legends. Al named them as an earlier influence.

New York Dolls were a hard glam rock / proto punk band. Barker named them as an influence.

Robin Trower played started out in progressive rock band Procol Harum before going solo in a more blues/blues rock band. Mike named him as an influence.

Kiss are one of the biggest hard rock bands. Sin named them as the band that got him into playing and named Ace as a huge influence.

Wire are an early punk band that evolved through several styles into eventually alternative rock. Al named them as an influence.

Throbbing Gristle are industrial pioneers. Al named them as an influence.

Crass were leaders in the anarcho punk movement. Al named them as an influence.

UK Subs are an early punk / hardcore punk band. Al named them as an influence.

Joy Division are post punk pioneers. Al named them as an influence.

Siouxsie and the Banshees are an influential post-punk band. Bill is a big fan of their drummer Budgie.

The Pop Group

A Certain Ratio

Yep, Ministry managed to last long enough to have members that were influenced by them when they were younger. In this case, Sin named them as an influence.

Al said he was playing guitar in a heavy metal cover band in 1978 called Slayer. He doesn’t name any stuff they were playing. He has said he is tired of being called industrial or metal. When asked about an early memorable musical memory, he said he remembered the noise of race cars at a Indianapolis 500 his dad took him to. He has said that ZZ Top are the fathers of industrial because they incorporated everyday sounds into blues riffs. He says he is just doing it with more modern sounds. Al had a “heavy western” side project and named country influences as: Buck Owens, George Jones, Hanks Williams, Patsy Cline, Ferlin Husky, Roger Miller, and many more.

Bill said he grew up with showtune his parents listened to like Lerner & Lowe, Rogers & Hammerstein as well as pop radio stuff like The Doors and Creedence Clearwater Revival. He says what he had to play in Ministry was very specific. Later he took more influences from jazz players, but I think this is after his time in Ministry.

Mike said he was a big fan of other instruments like harmonica, Harp, B3 (Organ), and horns with examples Miles Davis and Glenn Miller. He says giving his list of influences he probably left out 20-30.

I’m unsure of Ray’s influences.

I’m unsure of Louis’s influences.

I’m unsure of Zlatko’s influences, he’s a rapper by the name of Marz now.

I’m unsure of Max’s influences

I’m unsure of influences of Paul (one time Killing Joke bassist), but he stated he hated The Beatles and Rolling Stones and his life started when punk did.

Sin says he grew up with 70’s music and was later into early thrash bands but didn’t name any specific bands other than saying his a big Kiss fan. He more recently had a side project with influences from Judas Priest, Dio, Iron Maiden, Warrior, and Malice.

Bands influenced by Ministry!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

A modern metal mix

Sources:

https://www.revolvermag.com/music/ministrys-al-jourgensen-looks-back-industrial-pioneers-classic-albums
https://www.laweekly.com/ministrys-al-jourgensen-is-a-national-treasure/
https://www.loudersound.com/features/my-life-story-ministry-s-al-jourgensen
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brick-brick/202009/the-universal-fundamentals-al-jourgensen
http://vol1brooklyn.com/2013/08/01/the-education-and-redemption-of-an-iconoclast-uncovering-al-jourgensens-lost-gospels/
https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/al-jourgensen-of-ministry
http://www.sfbayareaconcerts.com/2015/11/an-interview-with-paul-barker-112015.html
https://www.moderndrummer.com/2011/10/back-through-the-stack-bill-rieflin/
https://drummagazine.com/bill-rieflin-steering-r-e-m-into-harder-waters/
https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2011/09/29/140921003/talking-shop-with-bill-rieflin-journeyman-musician
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aDONoVF1l4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjeleesHTm8
https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2006/06/21/qa_paul_raven_of_ministry/
https://www.nocleansinging.com/2017/05/30/interview-sin-quirin-ministry-revolting-cocks/
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/sin_quirin_i_dont_play_the_same_thing_twice.html
https://www.govenuemagazine.com/sin-quirin/
https://www.therockpit.net/2014/interview-sin-quirin-ministry/
https://metalanarchy.com/2018/10/17/interview-ministrys-sin-quirin-talks-new-project-3-headed-snake/