Lard is an American industrial rock band founded in 1988 as a side project by Jello Biafra (vocals; formerly of Dead Kennedys), Al Jourgensen (guitar; of Ministry), Paul Barker (bass; also of Ministry), and Jeff Ward (drums; once a Ministry touring member). Over the years, several other members of Ministry played with Lard, namely Bill Rieflin, Mike Scaccia, and Rey Washam.
Like most of Biafra's work, Lard's songs are angrily political (the war on drugs is a particularly common theme) but often have a tinge of humor.
Lard has not officially toured and has only performed live a handful of times, mostly around the San Francisco area (where Jello lives and operates his Alternative Tentacles record label). The band played during Ministry's 1988 tour and throughout their 1989–1990 dates, once in Chicago after wrapping the recording of The Last Temptation of Reid, once at the conclusion of a Ministry concert in Los Angeles (March 24, 2003), and at the San Francisco (September 26, 2004), Portland (September 28, 2004) and Seattle (September 29, 2004) dates of Ministry's Evil Doer tour. Because its key members are active with other projects, it is unlikely that the band will tour.
According to a March 2009 interview with Jourgensen, he and Biafra are working on a new Lard album, which was to be recorded in Jourgensen's El Paso studio.. However, according to a January 2010 interview with Jello Biafra, he indicated that a new Lard album was unlikely, saying "Me and Al have talked about it for years, but we've never been able to nail down a time to try and put it together."..
According to a 2020 interview, Jourgensen said that he and Biafra plan to make a brand new Lard album soon with them emailing songs back and forth.
Discography Albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS UK The Last Temptation of Reid Released: 1990 Label: Alternative Tentacles Format: CD, LP, cassette — 69 Pure Chewing Satisfaction Released: 1997 Label: Alternative Tentacles Format: CD 77 —
Extended plays + List of EPs, with selected details Title DetailsThe Power of Lard Released: 1989 Label: Alternative Tentacles Format: CD, LP, cassette70's Rock Must Die Released: February 2000 Label: Alternative Tentacles Format: CD, LP
Singles + List of singles Title Year Label Note "I Am Your Clock" 1990 Alternative Tentacles Also included on certain versions of the album The Last Temptation of Reid
Compilation appearances +Lard tracks on compilation albumsRelease dateSongTitleLabel 1992 "Drug Raid at 4am" The Bat Is Back - An Alternative Tentacles Records Sampler Alternative Tentacles 1994 "Forkboy" Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack for an Oliver Stone Film Nothing Records Selections From Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack for an Oliver Stone Film Nothing Records/Interscope Records The Futility of a Well Ordered Life Alternative Tentacles 1996 Music from and Inspired by Natural Born Killers, an Oliver Stone Film Nothing Records/Interscope Records 1997 "I Wanna Be a Drug-Sniffing Dog" Mind the Gap Volume 14 Gonzo Circus The Virus That Would Not Die! Alternative Tentacles "Generation Execute" Rock Sound Volume 9 Rock Sound 1998 "The Power of Lard" The New, the Classic & the Unexplored Visions Magazine The Record Shop - 30 Years of Rough Trade Shops V2 Records, Inc. 2000 "Ballad of Marshall Ledbetter" Movie Madness Riffage Records
References