| Mindless Self Indulgence | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, New York |
| Genres | Synthpunk, electropunk, digital hardcore, industrial rock |
| Years active | 1997–Present |
| Labels | Chip, Uppity Cracker, Elektra, Metropolis, The End |
| Associated acts | The Left Rights, Tub Ring, The O |
| Website | www.mindlessselfindulgence.com |
| Members | |
| Jimmy Urine Steve, Righ? LynZ Kitty |
|
| Past members | |
| Vanessa Y.T. Markus J. Euringer Rob Kleiner Benny Normal |
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Mindless Self Indulgence (often identified using the abbreviation MSI) is an American musical group formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno and industrial. Due to the style of their music lacking a definite genre, they coined the term 'Industrial Jungle Pussy Punk' to describe their music, but later, they denounced the term. Their group name is derived from a solo album that frontman Jimmy Urine and his brother self-recorded in 1995.
The group was formed when Urine was joined by fellow musicians guitarist Steve, second guitarist and brother Markus Euringer (soon to be replaced by bassist Vanessa Y.T, who was later replaced by LynZ), and drummer Kitty in 1997. They have released four albums, two EPs, one live album, and one live DVD. Rather than signing traditional record contracts, the band has licensed most of their albums to record labels, retaining ownership of the music.
The group maintains a devout fanbase, and has opened for many well-known acts such as Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, System of a Down, Korn, Sum 41, Insane Clown Posse and Rammstein. Notable bands who have opened for them include The Dresden Dolls, Rasputina, mc chris, The Birthday Massacre, Tub Ring and Dog Fashion Disco.
In January 2009 the band headlined the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Drink tour.
In December 2010, they released a comic entitled 'Adventures Into Mindless Self Indulgence' about various tour stories and significant moments of the band's career.
In an interview, frontman Jimmy Urine stated that there would be "an MSI surprise" for fans in 2011 which turned out to be a release of a remastered CD/DVD version of the band's first full length album Tight , called "Tighter", with several bonus tracks and recordings from their early days.
On October 30, 2011, they announced they would tour the United States starting late February 2012.
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Jimmy Urine (James Euringer) is the vocalist and programmer for Mindless Self Indulgence. He was born on September 7, 1969, in New York City. Prior to the band's start, Urine released a mostly industrial solo album called Mindless Self-Indulgence, in which he played the drums. Steve, Righ? co-wrote and played on the song "Bed of Roses". Urine and Righ? have also released two albums as their side-project The Left Rights as of November, 2010. Urine married Chantal Claret, lead singer of the band Morningwood, on January 18, 2008. Together they run a clothing company called 'Tour Crush', named after a pet name the couple have for each other due to meeting on tour.
Steve, Righ? (Steven Montano) plays guitar in Mindless Self Indulgence. He began using the name "Steve, Righ?" after someone approached him at a show and said "You're Steve, right?...".
Rob Kleiner of the band Tub Ring filled in for Steve briefly while he was hospitalized from late 2004 to early 2005 due to a hip injury. He has had two surgeries on his hip, the first one unsuccessful.
Steve has also co-written a handful of songs with Jimmy Urine, such as "Dicks Are for My Friends" and "Seven-Eleven", among others. With Mindless Self Indulgence, he wrote the last two songs on the album Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy: "Whipstickagostop" and "Z", both of which he performs the lead vocals on, and the bonus track "JX-47" from the album Tight, in which he performs lead vocals (albeit nonsensical) and plays guitar.
In May, 2009 Steve's wife Lucinda, a make-up artist and beautician from Wolverhampton (UK), gave birth to their daughter Violet Montano.
Steve, Righ? also performed vocals to the tracks "Look Alive, Sunshine", "Jet-Star and the Kobra Kid/Traffic Report" and "Goodnite, Dr. Death" on My Chemical Romance's fourth album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, under the persona "Dr. Death Defying"
LynZ (Lindsey Ann Way, nee Ballato) is the bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence. Born in Dunoon, Scotland[1] on May 21, 1979 , she moved to Ledyard, Connecticut at the age of 5. She left home at age 17 and moved to Brooklyn, New York where she attended the Pratt Institute to study Fine Art & Illustration. She then worked as a window display artist and assisted painter Ron English in New York City. Her artwork has since been featured in CBGB's 32nd Anniversary Art Show entitled 'Hung', and 'Draw': a travelling group show. She was in a punk Dolly Parton cover band entitled "Beg Yer Parton" before joining MSI. LynZ successfully auditioned to replace Vanessa YT in late 2001, after the release of Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy and just before Alienating Our Audience.
On September 3, 2007 after a concert in Colorado, she married Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. The pair were married backstage following the final date of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour. A member of Live Nation's touring staff who happened to be an ordained minister, performed the low-key ceremony. LynZ and her husband currently live in Los Angeles, California. Their daughter, Bandit Lee Way, was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 27, 2009.
On November 13, 2010, she presented her artwork collectively entitled 'HUSH' at the Dark Dark Science Gallery in a joint exhibit called 'Smile Even If It Hurts' with friend and fellow artist Jessicka.[2] On December 11, 2010, her website LindseyWay.com launched featuring a gallery of her artwork.[3] She also recently contributed a piece to the South Park 15th Anniversary Art Exhibition at Opera Gallery New York.[4]
Kitty (Jennifer Dunn) is the drummer in Mindless Self Indulgence. She plays an acoustic drum kit (In 'Evening Wear' the steel drums) which is augmented by backing tracks consisting of sampled "loops" for the live show. Originally brought on as a temporary member, she was later promoted to permanent member. According to an interview in July 2008, Kitty dropped playing drums for years because of a misunderstanding in middle school that resulted in the purchase of her drum kit; unbeknownst to her. It wasn't until years later, when offered a chance to play with MSI, that she picked up the sticks again and played with a borrowed drum kit; when returning the borrowed kit the owner let her keep it.
Vanessa YT was the original bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence before LynZ. She joined in late 1997 after Jimmy Urine's brother, Markus, left the band and remained until 2001. Originally, Urine claimed that Vanessa left to become an astronaut, but later stated that she had decided to settle down and start a family. During her MSI career, YT contributed to two studio albums--Tight and Frankenstein Girls, three singles--Bring The Pain, Bitches, and Planet Of The Apes, and one bonus release--Igor's Secret Stash. Vanessa also may have contributed to the mysterious, unreleased, possibly nonexistent Pink Demos.
Markus Euringer was the second guitarist for Mindless Self Indulgence before Vanessa YT joined and is the brother of frontman Jimmy Urine. Markus recorded their self-titled album with his younger brother in 1995, and contributed to some of the early songs by the band. A few of those songs made it onto Crappy Little Demo. He left in 1997 to write horror novels. During his career, Markus contributed to two demo albums--Mindless Self-Indulgence and Crappy Little Demo, along with, though not physically, two singles--Bring The Pain and Bitches, and two studio albums--Tight and Frankenstien Girls. Markus also may have contributed to the mysterious, unreleased, possibly nonexistent Pink Demos.
Markus can be seen in a video clip from Tighter, where the band performs "Grab The Mic" at The Frying Pan on March 21, 1997. He is to the left of Jimmy (the right of the audience) and can be seen for a short moment as a light shines on him.
Although not considered an official member, Chauncey (AKA "Stage Dog"/"Good Dog") is a taxiderm-stuffed dog that belongs to Little Jimmy Urine. Jimmy often brings Chauncey to shows, dancing with him, singing with him, and using him to spice up the live performance. Chauncey even has an official myspace site, which has been deleted once by PETA, but was re-uploaded soon after. Jimmy mostly uses Chauncey's help during live performances of "Wack!", and often asks "What's the name of my dog!?", in which the audience screams, "Chauncey!".
Uppity Cracker is an independent record label created by Jimmy Urine and James Galus, which the band has used to distribute numerous promos, after their former label refused to distribute releases that featured controversial song lyrics (such as the song 'Panty Shot'). The label has been used for the releases Tight, The Left Rights, Alienating Our Audience, and Despierta Los Niños. Albums that have been released on other labels also carry the Uppity Cracker imprint. The label's only release not related to Mindless Self Indulgence is by New York pop-rap group The O.
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