Ministry Performs “Scarecrow” for First Time in Two Decades, Joined by Paul Barker

Ministry reached into a less-traveled part of its catalog on September 15, performing “Scarecrow” live for the first time in more than twenty years. Former bassist Paul Barker joined the band for the performance, reconnecting the current lineup with one of its most familiar past members.

The moment carries weight beyond a typical setlist change. Barker’s tenure covered a defining stretch of Ministry’s industrial metal history, and his presence onstage turns a rare song revival into something closer to a brief archival statement.

Restoring “Scarecrow” to a live setting also signals a willingness to revisit material that has mostly existed as a recorded artifact. For a band with decades of music to draw from, the decision to bring back a deep cut with a former member suggests intent rather than convenience.

The performance documents a specific point of connection between Ministry’s present and its past, without turning that connection into a permanent reunion.