The Squirrely Years Tour: Ministry, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, and Die Krupps - Winnipeg, MB
- Samuel Stevens
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Industrial music royalty descended on Winnipeg as The Squirrely Years Tour brought Ministry, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, and Die Krupps to the Burton Cummings Theatre on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The venue—normally known for its historic acoustics and velvet-draped elegance—was transformed into a throbbing time capsule of synths, sequencers, and snarling rebellion, serving up a night soaked in nostalgia, grit, and pure electronic aggression.
Die Krupps. Photos by Samuel Stevens.
Opening the night with a ferocious intensity, German industrial pioneers Die Krupps wasted no time plunging the crowd into their gritty blend of industrial metal. Kicking off with the machine-gun rhythm of "Nazis auf Speed," their set immediately had fists pumping and bodies vibrating. The crowd, though still filing in, responded with fervour to "Fatherland" and the pounding "To the Hilt." Their cover of Visage’s "Der Amboss" was a metallic reinvention, grounding the synth-pop song in growling bass and chrome-plated drums. Closing with "Bloodsuckers," Die Krupps made it clear: they weren’t just a nostalgic opening act—they were a wrecking ball of relevance.
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult. Photos by Samuel Stevens.
If Die Krupps was the mechanical rage, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult brought the depraved disco. With frontman Groovie Mann channelling occult cabaret energy, the set was a neon-lit descent into synth-funk seduction. "Shock of Point 6" and "A Daisy Chain 4 Satan" ignited the floor with tribal beats and breathy decadence. By the time "Sex on Wheelz" rolled in, the room was transformed into a gothic nightclub circa 1991. Backed by slinky female vocals and pulsing basslines by bassist Mimi Star, the band balanced camp and menace, climaxing with the devilish sermon "And This Is What the Devil Does." Their set felt like a possessed fever dream, and the crowd loved every wicked second.
Finally came the time for Ministry to hit the Winnipeg stage. Not the bone-crushing industrial-metal titans of Psalm 69 fame, but the synth-driven incarnation of their earliest days—performing tracks off With Sympathy, Twitch, and their compilation, Twelve Inch Singles (1981–1984)—a treat for die-hards who’ve been begging for Al Jourgensen to revisit the band’s electro-pop/new wave roots. Clad in vintage yet sparkly threads and with a mischievous glint in his eye, Jourgensen delivered a career-redefining performance that was part reinvention, part resurrection.
Ministry. Photos by Samuel Stevens.
Opening with "Work for Love" and "Here We Go," Ministry’s set was full-on new wave theatre: bouncy synths, catchy hooks, and just enough sneer. "All Day" and "Just Like You" reminded the audience of Ministry’s early ability to straddle melody and melancholy. The rarely performed "Same Old Madness" and "I'm Falling" were especially poignant, drawing cheers from long-time fans who never thought they’d hear those tracks live. The crowd erupted for the beloved "(Everyday Is) Halloween," which still rings true as an anthem for outcasts everywhere.
Then came the encore—a double shot of unexpected delight. Ministry launched into a pounding cover of Fad Gadget’s "Ricky’s Hand," followed by an ironic, synth-heavy rendition of Rod Stewart’s "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" that had the crowd dancing and laughing in equal measure.
The Squirrely Years Tour was a revelation—not just a retro exercise, but a full-circle moment for industrial music. Ministry’s willingness to embrace their softer, synth-laced beginnings was both bold and refreshing, while Die Krupps and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult proved that their legacies are still evolving.
For a night that could’ve easily been about mere nostalgia, The Squirrely Years Tour instead offered something much rarer: resurrection, relevance, and a reminder that the machines still have a heart—and a hell of a backbeat.