William Tucker

Who was William Tucker?

William Tucker was a guitarist whose credits included work with Ministry, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Pigface, Chemlab, and Chris Connelly. He grew up in New Jersey where he formed Regressive Aid with Andrew Weiss and Sim Cain. He also taught guitar lessons to locals, one of whom was Mickey "Dean Ween" Melchiondo of the popular alternative band Ween.

After the release of the single " I Love the Sound of Machines" with the Swinging Pistons in 1986, he came to the attention of Ministry's Al Jourgensen, who invited him to join his band for their "The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste" tour in 1989. After a year of touring with Ministry, Tucker became a much sought-after musician.

On May 14, 1999, 38-year-old Tucker was found dead in his apartment, of an apparent suicide after taking a load of prescription pills and slitting his own throat. This was to escape the pain of a yearlong terminal illness.