Fireball Ministry bills themselves as the "first church of rock 'n' roll." The Los Angeles-based band, which has shared the stage with Slayer, Andrew W.K., Motorhead and Lamb of God and recorded their most recent album, "Their Rock Is Not Our Rock" at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in the City of Angels, melds heavy religious imagery with visceral metal rock in their music. Fireball Ministry brings this loud, crunchy, classic sound to Jaxx in Springfield at a Halloween performance with Artemis Pyledriver, Vains of Jenna and other bands Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. Guitarist and vocalist James A. Rota recently answered a few questions about the upcoming performance.
How did you form the band? I walked into Wal-Mart one day to get some snow chains for my tires and saw that they were having a 50 percent sale on bands. There was some assembly required, so when I got home I went into the basement and put it together. When it was done, we called it Fireball Ministry. With the batteries I think the whole thing cost about $23.46. There's nothing you can't find at Wal-Mart.
Describe your sound: Judas Priest and Black Sabbath crashing a barbecue at Grand Funk Railroad's house.
Biggest musical influences: Sabbath, ZZ Top, Grand Funk, Priest, etc.
Other influences: Yuengling lager.
Where have you toured? All over the U.S. and Europe.
Anything special about the upcoming show? We love Virginia and, hey, it's Halloween.
Describe a typical Fireball Ministry Halloween. Usually spent in some dingy dive bar playing music and drinking beer.
Future plans: To make it to tomorrow.
— Lea Mae Rice