Ministry to Release Pro-Occupy Protest Song ’99 Percenters’, ‘Relapse’ Cover Art Revealed

Al Jourgensen and the rest of Ministry are the next in a long line of musicians to share their support for the nationwide “Occupy” movement. Ministry’s upcoming 2012 album, ‘Relapse,’ will be spearheaded by the modern-day protest song, ’99 Percenters.’

“Putting out this song is the least I could do,” Jourgensen told Revolver. “We wanted to fly to New York and protest and get arrested and pepper sprayed. But we can’t do it because I got a Christmas deadline on this album.” Jourgensen continued, “But I’m with’em in spirit so the least I could do is give them a chant-along song. I’m going, Hey man, here’s your song. All you gotta do is chant the chorus.”

The chorus for ’99 Percenters,’ ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 99 percent,’ was inspired by Country Joe and the Fish’s 1967 Vietnam protest song ‘I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag.’ ‘Relapse’ will also feature the track, ‘Get Up, Get Out and Vote,’ a campaign song for citizens to keep President Obama in the White House and put more Democrats into the Senate and the House of Representatives – especially in Jourgensen’s home state of Texas.

“This is going to be a brutal political season,” claimed Jourgensen. “The Republicans are gearing up for a fight because they got nothing. What do they got? Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney?” Jourgensen continued to lament, “It’s like a f—in’ circus of clowns, but they have money behind them and money talks. So Obama’s gotta settle down the one percenters and get his money. I don’t fault him for that.”

Continuing his support for Obama, he said, “I really feel strongly in my heart that the guy is for the people. But it’s gonna be like a war, dude. Football doesn’t even compare to the violence that’s gonna be coming up this next election.”

’99 Percenters’ will be released via iTunes on Dec. 23, with the track becoming available for streaming on Ministry’s Facebook page starting Christmas day. ‘Relapse’ will be Ministry’s first album since their 2007 full-length, ‘The Last Sucker’ and is set for a March 23 release. The band debuted the artwork for ‘Relapse’ today, seen above.