MINISTRY Keeping The Charts On Check! Band Nominated for Golden Gods Award

MINISTRY's thirteenth album properly named 'Relapse', has been going to war with sales and radio numbers since its worldwide release via frontman Al Jourgensen's own Thirteenth Planet Records and AFM Records on March 26th. Having landed at #154 on the US Billboard's Top 200, #32 on Billboard's Independent Record Chart and #19 on Billboard's Top Hard Music Chart, Relapse currently stands at #6 on CMJ's Loud Rock Charts.

MINISTRY are also in the running for the Comeback Of The Year award at Revolver's annual Golden Gods Awards, being presented tonight in Los Angeles. Fans can actually watch the awards show live this year via Xbox Live or via Revolver's Facebook page.

In support of Relapse, MINISTRY will perform five major North American concerts this June -- Denver, Los Angeles, New York and two shows in Chicago -- as part of the DeFibRiLlaTouR 2012 World Tour. The band's touring lineup includes Al Jourgensen (Frontman/vox/guitars), Mike Scaccia (Ministry/Rigor Mortis) guitars, Casey Orr (Rigor Mortis) bass, John Bechdel (Ministry/Killing Joke/Fear Factory) keyboards, Aaron Rossi (Ministry/RevCo) drums and Sin Quirin (Ministry/RevCo) guitars. Soulfly bassist Tony Campos will not performing due to scheduling conflicts. Tickets for these first five shows are on sale now; check out the official MINISTRY  Facebook for more info on tickets and VIP packages HERE.

MINISTRY 2012 DeFibRilLaTouR US Dates:

6/17/2012 Ogden Theatre - Denver, CO [tickets]

6/21/2012 Club Nokia - Los Angeles, CA [tickets]

6/23/2012 Best Buy Theater - New York, NY [tickets]

6/28/2012 The Vic Theatre - Chicago, IL [tickets]

6/29/2012 The Vic Theatre - Chicago, IL [tickets]

Related Links:

Ministry on Facebook

Ministry On Thirteenth Planet Records

A Virus Beyond Heavy

Many of you may know Andre Michel Karkos (A.K.A. Virus) as the lead guitarist from the the American Industrial Heavy Metal/Rock band Dope. While Dope is on hiatus, awaiting for the right time to comeback with a solid record and a world tour. Virus has kept busy taking his career to new levels as musician, as a producer, and as a mentor. We recently had the chance to meet with him and chat about his current endeavors.

In the past few years Virus has stayed busy working as a producer, and was recently involved with the band Prong when he remixed the song "Looking For Them". He is also part of the band that performs on stage on the Broadway hit show Rock Of Ages and will soon join Spiderman, also on Broadway.
Additionally, Virus is a mentor for young kids who are aspiring to become professional musicians, and is heavily involved in various "Schools of Rock" in the Pennsylvania area. In the past he has arranged field trips with the kids, in which they got to meet Zakk Wylde from Black Label society and learn about what it's like to be on the road on a touring band.

At present time, Virus is getting ready to hit the road as guest guitarist for Belgium's own Lords Of Acid on their upcoming US tour. In case you didn't know, Lords of Acid is a post-Industrial/Acid House/Techno band formed by Praga Khan, who is one of the pioneers of the Rave sounds that lead to the creation of New Beat and Acid House.

Here is an exclusive interview we recently did with Virus, in which he discusses his past, his present, and his future as a professional musician. We want to thank Virus, Tim Martinez (DJ Tim No 37) and Evil Steve! \m/



Related links:
Dope's Official Site
Lords Of Acid Official Site