That time Ministry's Al Jourgensen recorded a Shasta soda jingle


In the early 1980s, Ministry's Al Jourgensen made ends meet by recording advertising jingles. Above is a TV commercial he soundtracked for Shasta soda that aired in 1983, the same year Ministry released their debut album "With Sympathy" (featuring Jourgensen's faux English accent). From his autobiography Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen:


"Before Sire picked up Ministry I was writing TV and radio jingles to help support our drug habits, pay the rent, and feed the baby. I did a commercial for Shasta and some stuff for Huffy, and every time I left the studio I wanted to kill myself. It really put into perspective what my dad had to go through, cutting off his lifelong dream to support a family. That's what I was doing, and it was horrific, but it toughened me up. If you cut me up right now and put me on a plate, I'd be some tough meat. You couldn't eat it; it would be toxic, tough, and chewy. No, there's no cannibalism with me. The deal with Huffy came to an end when I gave them this song for a bike called the Panther, and at the end of this cheesy tune they wanted me to purr loudly into the mike. I said, "Fuck you. Get someone else to purr. I quit."


(via r/ObscureMedia)