For decades, Ministry‘s Al Jourgensen refused to acknowledge, let alone perform, songs from ’80s beginnings playing synthpop and industrial before they steered into metal. The Squirrelly Years tour — and new album of the same name — though, has them not embracing, exactly, but finding a way to come to terms with part of their past that a lot of people love. They’re exclusively playing songs from those early years — With Sympathy, Twitch, and early 12″ singles — and seem to be having a blast doing it, by letting the cheese pour over them. The crowd at Brooklyn Paramount on Friday night were also having a very good time.
Jourgensen has updated the songs a little for 2025 but Ministry are keeping the danceability of “Work for Love,” “Revenge,” and more, and playing into the whole vibe with the band decked out in glittery, glammy outfits, backup singers, flowers right out of With Sympathy‘s cover art and visuals that would’ve been at home in an ’80s goth club. Ministry’s main set ended with their classic single “(Everyday Is) Halloween” and then they returned for a couple of covers: Fad Gadget’s minimal wave creep-out “Ricky’s Hand” and Rod Stewart’s disco hit “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” which Al’s other band, Revolting Cocks, used to to slaughter back in the day.
Warming up for Ministry at Brooklyn Paramount were old chicago friends My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, who have exuded glam and sleaze since the ’80s, and German industrial/EBM Die Krupps, making for a terrific night all-around. Check out photos by Edwina Hay and Ministry’s setlist, below.
SETLIST: Ministry @ Brooklyn Paramount 5/16/2025
Work for Love
Here We Go
All Day
I’ll Do Anything for You
Same Old Madness
Just Like You
Over the Shoulder
We Believe
I’m Falling
Effigy (I’m Not An)
Revenge
(Everyday Is) Halloween
Encore:
Ricky’s Hand (Fad Gadget cover)
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (Rod Stewart cover)