Al Jourgensen, founder and frontman of the iconic metal band Ministry, announced via Facebook this weekend that he’s checking himself into rehab, for alcohol abuse.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
This announcement comes less than a year after the release of Jourgensen’s tell-all, Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen, which chronicles decades of drugs and alcohol use the singer invested himself in. In 2011, Jourgensen had announced a burst ulcer nearly killed him, and that it had changed his ways. Such a brush with death, even though he’d been nine years drug-free, encouraged him to quit smoking, drinking and eating meat. It appears now the metal frontman has gone back to his ways.
On Saturday, Jourgensen posted the following on his Facebook:
I appreciate the support from my brother and family… kicked dope and crack by myself… but I need help on this one.
The musician continued, asking for support from his fans:
My sobriety will not and I repeat not knock off my sarcasm…if anything….it will intensify. All your thoughts and prayers are more than welcome.
Ministry’s label, 13th Planet Records, said this through the band’s Facebook yesterday:
Dear Ministry Fans! Uncle Al has made the decision to go to rehab to address his alcohol issues. We were really trying to keep this a private family affair and not a media frenzy; however, your crazy Uncle Al posted about it yesterday on his FB page, so now it’s out. Of course we always want to let Ministry fans be the first to know about things, but this got away from us. We hope that you will join us and the entire 13th Planet family in wishing Al the very best and giving him your full support in his journey towards sobriety. We are all very, very proud of him.
Following Ministry’s return to form with their release in September of From Beer To Eternity, and the video for their single “PermaWar”, this will hopefully not deter them much from touring and such. Mxdwnm wishes Jourgensen the best in his recovery.
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