Special Affect

Before they went on to form Ministry, My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult, and Concrete Blonde, guitarist Al Jourgensen, frontman Frankie Nardiello, and drummer Harry Rushakoff - along with bassist Martin Sorenson - were the Chicago post-punk outfit Special Affect. Their one LP, The Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture "Too Much Soft Living" was self-released in 1981. [As far as anyone knows, no such movie was ever made.] Thanks to the wonder of YouTube [and Nardiello uploading some old tapes,] we can now get a little taste for what those early days were like.


Special Affect - Out of Order live [1980]

Wax Trax! opened their store on North Lincoln two years before this show was taped, and Wax Trax! Records was established in 1981. I distinctly remember my first blustery 300 mile pilgrimage there in February of 1991. Wax Trax! was the Mecca of the music scene that changed my life, and is still my benchmark for independent electronic music today.

Also see Too Much Soft Living live and The Chicago Punk Database.