| A Brief History of Cocks... |
| The Revolting Cocks formed sometime in 1985 or 1986. Featuring the beloved Al Jourgensen, Luc Van Acker (The self proclaimed "Belgian Megastar"), Bill Rieflin and Richard 23 (Front 242). The debut album "Big Sexyland", was an underground dance hitin many clubs in Chicago or otherwise. With Front 242 gaining momentum, coupled with an argument over the single "You Often Forget", Richard 23 left the group. He would be replaced by Paul Barker and Chris Connelly. After the new lineup was cemented, the band took to the road and in 1988 released "You Goddamned Son of a Bitch" which featured the new song "In the Neck" (which resurfaced on "Beers, Steers, and Queers") and rocked up versions of songs from "Big Sexyland". In between the live album and their next opus, the band worked on a number of side projects. Al and Paul worked on Pailhead, with Fugazi/Minor Threat vocalist Ian Mackaye. The team of Al, Paul, and Chris had a one off called Programming the Psychodrill (better known as PTP), and yet another project with Cabaret Voltaire called Acid Horse. But it didn't stop there...1000 Homo DJs included Al, Paul, Bill, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, and the irresistable Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys. Paul also had his own project called Lead Into Gold with little to no input by anyone else in the Ministry camp. Most of these projects are now difficult to find, and are long since out of print. You can find a song or two from each on the Wax Trax! Black Box Compilation, although with the demise of Wax Trax! Records, this too may be out of print. The next album out of the gate was "Beers, Steers, and Queers" released in 1990. The now legendary album featured a cover of Olivia Newton John's "Physical". The cover was intended to be released as a single, but when they were threatened with a lawsuit from Olivia's lawyers, the song had to be heavily altered to avoid legal action. They changed the lyrical content and the beat just enough to not get sued. Only recently has the original version resurfaced. The album also featured Ogre (Skinny Puppy as if you didn't already know...) with uncredited vocals on "Get Down", a near 14 minute rock and dance groove. In 1991, the group still going strong released a "remix" EP with two remixes, and two live tracks. In actuality, there is one remix of "Beers, Steers, and Queers", a completely new version of the song in a thrash/rockabilly style, and live versions of "Stainless Steel Providers" and a cover of Public Image Ltd's "Public Image". By this time the RevCo tour had become a revolving circus sideshow with many members joining the party: Micheal Balch (Frontline Assembly), Jeff Ward (NIN, Lard), Mark Durante (KMFDM, Waco Brothers), MIke Scaccia (Rigor Mortis), Martins Atkins (Pigface, Killing Joke, Public Image Ltd), William Tucker (Foetus, Chris Connelly Band), Phildo Owen (Skatenigs) and many, many others. Between albums this time, Chris Connelly was the most prolific member. He released two solo albums ("Whiplash Boychild" and "Phenobarb Bambalam") which saw him distancing himself from the media dubbed "Industrial" scene, but not entirely. Chris did vocals on a project called Murder Inc, which for all intents and purposes was Killing Joke without their vocalist. When it was realized by connelly that the rest of the band wanted a rehashed Killing Joke he parted with the band. Eventually Killing Joke would reunite with Jaz Coleman. Chris Connelly also did some more work with Pigface, and a one off project called The Love Interest, which was comprised of outtakes from some Pigface sessions. Meanwhile, Ministry released it's biggest selling album to date: "Psalm 69: the Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs" and embarked on a huge tour. In 1993, RevCo released "Linger Ficken' Good...and other Barnyard Oddities". Featuring it's usual cast of culprits, with some added wisdom by 60's drug guru Timothy Leary, the album was the epitome of a white trash holiday. For the writing of lyrics for this album Chris moved into a trailer park, and basically wrote what he saw. The album featured a cover of Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy?", which was originally intended to be a B Side to the "Physical" single. The video for the single was a hilarious freaky sexual romp which featured most of the original cast from the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". After the tour, RevCo, didn't split...Officially. Al and Paul moved to Texas, into a "Branch Davidian" style compound, dubbed "RevCo World", complete with a recordeing studio and all the comforts of home. However, the locals didn't take to Al's leather clad cowboy look. If that weren't enough, RevCo world was raided and subject to a full scale FBI investigation. Ministry moved back to Chicago, and released "Filth Pig" and "Dark Side of the Spoon". Luc Van Acker played on Lords of Acid's "Voodoo U" record, in addition to re-releasing two solo albums originally recorded in the 1980s ("Taking Snapshots Volumes One and Two"), and started a new project called Spinegrinder, featuring members of Lords of Acid. Chris Connelly contributed vocals to KMFDM's album "Xtort" but did not officially join the band. Connelly also released a solo album entitled "Shipwreck". Starting a new band with Bill Rieflin called the Bells they released "The Ultimate Seaside Companion" and "Blonde Exodus". Most recently he worked with the Damage Manual. A project featuring Jah Wobble, Martin Atkins, and Geordie Walker, his old Murder Inc alumni. He also just released an album with Bill Rieflin called "Largo". Bill Rieflin has since recorded on a number of KMFDM albums, and with ruby (featuring Leslie Rankine of Silverfish and Pigface, and Mark Walk of Skinny Puppy and OHGR), and the Minus FIve. Bill has also released the aforementioned albums with Chris Connelly and his own solo album titled "Birth of a Giant." After being plagued for years by chronic depression, Jeff Ward committed suicide in 1994. William Tucker contributed for a few years to Foetus and Chemlab beore committing suicide in May of 1999. In 2000, Al told Alternative Press Magazine that there was a very real possibility of a "final" RevCo album. He also described his wish list to include Lady Miss Keir of Deee-Lite and the infamous Axl Rose. However if this ever does come to light , it will not likely include Chris Connelly, Bill Rieflin or Luc Van Acker. |