Lead into Gold is a

side project In popular music, a side project is a project undertaken by one or more people already known for their involvement in another band. It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style. Usually these projects emphasize ...

of American industrial musician

Paul Barker Paul Gordon Barker (born February 8, 1959), also referred to as Hermes Pan, is the former bass guitarist, producer and engineer of the industrial metal band Ministry from 1986 to 2003. Prior to Ministry, Barker provided bass for the Seattle ...

, best known as the former bassist for Ministry and the Hermes Pan half of the Luxa/Pan production team. Primarily a solo project by Barker, Lead into Gold featured occasional guest performances by his Ministry bandmates

Al Jourgensen Alain David Jourgensen (born Alejandro Ramírez Casas; October 9, 1958) is a Cuban-American singer, musician and music producer. Closely related with the independent record label Wax Trax! Records, his musical career spans four decades. He is b ...

and

Bill Rieflin William Frederick Rieflin (September 30, 1960 – March 24, 2020) was an American musician. Rieflin came to prominence in the 1990s mainly for his work as a drummer with groups (particularly in the industrial rock and industrial metal scene ...

as well as Stuart Zechman of Stabbing Westward.

History

In its first incarnation, Lead into Gold only released two 12 inch singles and one full-length studio LP. ''Idiot'' was the first release in 1988, followed by the ''Chicks & Speed: Futurism'' single and ''Age of Reason'' album, both released in 1990. The CD release of ''Chicks & Speed'' included the ''Idiot'' single in its entirety. Alternative Press characterized Lead Into Gold as a departure from the "all-encompassing industrial dance cloud" of Barker's other projects that delivers a more intellectual music whose lyrics and message makes up for what it lacks in danceability. In the video for "Faster Than Light", Nine Inch Nails' vocalist

Trent Reznor Michael Trent Reznor (born May 17, 1965) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer. He serves as the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and principal songwriter of the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, wh ...

can be seen playing the guitar. He was rumored to have been in the area for the "

Head Like a Hole "Head Like a Hole" is a song by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released as the second single from the group's debut album, '' Pretty Hate Machine''. Although one of the more rock-oriented tracks on the album, many elements ...

" video shoot when he made his cameo.

Revival (2015-present)

A limited edition 12” EP titled ''Low and Slow'' was released in 2015, roughly 25 years after its recording, on Wax Trax! Records. The tracks are "The Sweetest Kiss", "Cry Baby", "Low & Slow", and a remix of the track "Lunatic/Genius" with additional percussion by Bill Rieflin. In November 2017, Barker announced that he would be releasing new music under the Lead into Gold name for the first time in 25 years. A 12" single, "A Savage Gift" / "Inside a Golden Sun", was released in February 2018. A full length album, ''The Sun Behind the Sun'', followed in July 2018.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Age of Reason'' (1990) * ''The Sun Behind the Sun'' (2018) * ''The Eternal Present'' (2023)

Singles & EPs

* ''Idiot'' (1988) * ''Chicks & Speed: Futurism'' (1990) * ''Faster Than Light'' (12" promo) (1990) * ''Low & Slow'' (2015) * ''A Savage Gift'' (2018)

References

External links

Lead into Gold
at discogs.com
Faster than Light videoLow & Slow EP
at bandcamp.com {{Authority control American industrial music groups American rock music groups Wax Trax! Records artists