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Stand up for yourself ; we ’ re not snowflakes .”

Last fall , Ministry went out on tour for the first time since Scaccia ’ s death with the experimental hip-hop band Death Grips . According to Jourgensen , the tour was an excellent excuse to play some new tunes . “ There was a holdup with the fucking album ,” he complains . “ We had the album done , and we were chomping at the bit to go play this stuff , and there are all these fucking lawyers , and money is involved , and it just sits on the shelf for a few months . So I said let ' s go out and try a couple of the new songs and see if we like playing them . And we did because Death Grips was awesome .”

Ministry ’ s upcoming five-week North American tour is sure to be a crowd-pleaser as well . “ This tour we have Chelsea Wolfe opening for us , which is going to be

Jourgensen ponders , "... what do I miss most ? Everything - except the weather ! That ’ s no fault of the city of Chicago . That ’ s just the proximity of lake-effect winds and lake-effect snow and Arctic fucking blasts from Canada . It ’ s the most vibrant city and my favorite city in the United States . But I ’ m 60 years old , and my bones get creaky and cranky when it gets below 32 degrees . I ' ve got to stay here ( in L . A .) for now . I do come up for a shitload of hockey games every year , so I ’ m in Chicago at least six times a year anyway .”

Speaking of hockey , Jourgensen is one of the Chicago Blackhawks ' biggest fans . Ever since attending a Hawks game at the old Chicago Stadium when he was six years old he ' s been hooked . Jourgensen now attends Hawks games in L . A . when they come to town to play the Kings . “ This year I have no prediction on whether they fucking awesome ,” Jourgensen declares . “ She ’ s amazing ! She puts you in a hypnotic trance with her dirge and her conviction . And there ’ s a woman leading the band - whoa , empowerment ! How cool is that ?”

Plus , there are Ministry ’ s new stage props ; the infamous Trump chickens with painted , crossed-out swastikas on their bellies — which adorned each side of Ministry ’ s stage set on their recent tour — which will once again be making an appearance . “ Of course the Trump chickens are with us , we bought them !” Jourgensen exclaims . “ Dammit , those Trump chickens follow us everywhere , man . We ’ ve restructured our visuals , too . There are also different people in the band ; there ’ s a lot of DJ action , there ’ s some cello action , and it ’ s a little bit of a different format . And , of course , the music is a little bit different for us than you ’ ve seen over the past ten years .”

A hometown Ministry show is always one big party , and area fans can witness the craziness on April 7 at the historic Riviera Theatre . “ I can ’ t wait to play the Riv , man ,” Jourgensen beamed . “ It ’ s been years since we ’ ve played The Riv and this should be a really great show ." When asked what he misses most about living in Chicago , make the playoffs or not ,” he said . “ I certainly don ’ t think they ’ re a Stanley Cup favorite . I think they ’ re in a transition period . I think that the farm system they have ( in Rockford ) is working . To me , it ’ s not a total rebuild yet , but I do think they have some talent coming up through the minors that are going to make this team sustainable for years . I talk to Danny Wirtz every single game ; we text back and forth like school girls ! I ’ m pretty happy with the Hawks right now , even though it seems dismal . But there are better days coming .

And speaking of better days , 2018 is shaping up to be a busy year for Jourgensen , and he can ’ t wait to get out on the road . “ I ’ m literally on the road for the entire year ,” Jourgensen concludes . “ The road is its own adventure . I don ’ t mean to sound like Jack Kerouac or anything , but the road is a pretty trippy place to be , and that ’ s where we ’ re going to be for all of next year . So check back with me in about a year and keep tabs on old Uncle Al . Hey Chicago ! Hey Illinois Entertainer ! Glad to talk to you .”

26 illinoisentertainer . com february 2018