Jack Off Jill

Jack Off Jill

Original album artwork by Mark Ryden
Background information
Origin Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Genres Alternative rock, alternative metal, punk rock, riot grrrl, gothic rock,[1] hardcore punk[1]
Years active 1992–2000
2015
Labels Rectum, Risk, Sympathy for the Record Industry
Associated acts Scarling., TCR, Set to Zero, Mrs. Scabtree, Thee Heavenly Music Association, Marilyn Manson
Website www.jackoffjill.com
Members Jessicka Addams, Tenni Arslanyan, Michelle Inhell, Helen Storer
Past members See "Personnel"

Jack Off Jill are an American rock band from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, founded in 1992 by singer Jessicka, Tenni Arslanyan, Robin Moulder, and Michelle Oliver (Inhell). Though these four young women were the initial founders, twelve members rotated through the group in its lifespan, including Scott Putesky, guitarist and co-founder of Marilyn Manson. The band lasted eight years, with only Moulder and Jessicka remaining through all its lineups. In April 2015, they announced that they will be reuniting for one show. In an April 2015 interview with LadyGunn Magazine Jessicka stated a new album is "not something that we have decided on either way".[2]

History

A 1993 flyer for a Marilyn Manson & Jack Off Jill show, with artwork by Marilyn Manson.

Tenni Arslanyan met Jessicka while attending Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida. They had begun writing songs, but had not yet formed a band when Moulder and Inhell joined them to create the band that would become Jack Off Jill.

Jack Off Jill's first show was opening for fellow Floridian and long time friend Marilyn Manson and his shock-rock outfit, Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids, at a Davie, Florida night club called The Plus Five Lounge. Manson went on to take the band under his wing. He mentored them, produced their early demos and had them open most of his shows.[3]

During this time the band served as the opening act for many female fronted national acts such as Joan Jett, L7, Silverfish, Tribe 8, Fetchin' Bones and the Lunachicks. Singer Jessicka's on-stage antics included stripping young men on stage while the band and crowd taunted the exposed fans, as well as covering the audience with spit and real blood and candy.[4][5] In early 1993, Jessicka performed with Manson's ephemeral side project, Mrs. Scabtree.[6]

On December 27, 1994, Jack Off Jill joined Marilyn Manson on dates through Florida. While playing Club 5 in Jacksonville, Florida, Manson was arrested for violating the town's adult entertainment codes by removing his pants and exposing himself, although witnesses at the show never actually spoke about seeing his penis. Jessicka was arrested for solicitation of a minor and offering to engage in lewdness with two minors. Both singers were charged with misdemeanors.[7]

Jack Off Jill released several independent records: Children 5 and Up (produced by Marilyn Manson),[4] The Boygrinder Sessions, Cannibal Song Book, (produced by JOJ and Manson at Studio 13 in Deerfield Beach, Florida)[6] Cockroach Waltz, and several 7" singles. It was not until April 8, 1994, when JOJ played a benefit show for Rock Against Domestic Violence with Babes in Toyland and 7 Year Bitch at the Cameo Theatre on Miami Beach that Jack Off Jill caught the eye of record labels.[8] Los Angeles-based Risk Records later signed them in January 1997. The band replaced both Ah Cha Cha and Inhell with new members because the two were not ready to leave Florida. The band released their first national 7" "Girl Scout"/"American Made" in March 1997. On September 9, 1997, their first full-length Sexless Demons And Scars (produced by Gumball's leader Don Fleming, who co-produced Hole's Pretty on the Inside) was released.

After moderate underground success, touring with Lords of Acid, and playing to sold-out crowds in 1997 , Jack Off Jill headed to Los Angeles in order to complete 1998's Covetous Creature, a remix EP of songs from Sexless Demons and Scars with the help of SMP (Scott Putesky), a founding member of Marilyn Manson and new drummer Claudia Rossi.[9] The new manifestation of Jack Off Jill hit the road on a national tour with Psychotica, joined along the way by Switchblade Symphony.

The band road-tested new songs in March 1999 when JOJ played four dates on the Marilyn Manson Rock Is Dead Tour after Hole departed.[10] With Putesky no longer in the guitar position, JOJ enlisted the help of Jessicka's then-boyfriend guitarist Clint Walsh, original JOJ guitarist Michelle Inhell (Oliver), and drummer Norm Block (formerly of Plexi) for the tour. On July 17, 2000, JOJ released their second full-length CD, Clear Hearts Grey Flowers on Risk Records, that featured a cover by artist Mark Ryden and was produced by Chris Vrenna of Tweaker and Nine Inch Nails.

Jack Off Jill played its last show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in April 2000. They were joined onstage by guitarist Helen Storer of the UK all-girl band Fluffy (and later of Thee Heavenly Music Association) and producer Chris Vrenna on drums.[11]

Breakup and aftermath

Jack Off Jill officially disbanded in the year 2000. Jessicka founded noise-pop band Scarling.. Moulder began her studio project TCR. Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha and Michelle Inhell's founded Set to Zero. In 2010 Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha began playing with Zombie Queen out of Asheville, NC. Claudia Rossi's founded a group called One Of The Loudest Tragedies Ever Heard. Hellen Storer's new project is Thee Heavenly Music Association. Putesky is currently working on his solo project, Three Ton Gate.

Post-breakup, critics have touted JOJ as "riot-goth legends"[12] and refer to Jack Off Jill's final album as," excellent, yet under-appreciated".[13]

Former band member Jeff Tucci (Ho Ho Spade) died in November 2014.[14]

Reunion

On April 7th, 2015 Bust.com announced a Jack Off Jill reunion show at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on July 18th as well as a Pledgemusic campaign offering "Golden Tickets" and other Jack Off Jill rarities related to the show. The 2015 lineup consists of Jessicka, Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha, Michelle Inhell & Helen Storer. [15]

Personnel

Original lineup
Former members
Live members

Discography

Albums

Year Album
1997 Sexless Demons and Scars
  • Released: September 9, 1997
  • Label: Ichiban
  • Format: CD
2000 Clear Hearts Grey Flowers
  • Released: June 27, 2000
  • Label: Risk
  • Format: CD

Singles and EPs

Compilation

Year Album
2006 Humid Teenage Mediocrity 1992–1996

Cassette demos

1 indicates the demos were never released.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 MacKenzie Wilson (2000-10-12). "Jack Off Jill". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  2. ↑ "YOUR FAVORITE RIOT GOTH BAND JACK OFF JILL IS REUNITING.". Ladygunn.com. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Ted B. Kissell (1999-01-21). "Manson: The Early Years - Page 1 - News - Miami". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Todd Anthony (1993-07-07). "Distaff of Life - Page 1 - News - Miami". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  5. ↑ Pelletier, George."Paying The Rant" Miami New Times feature, November 27, 1997.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Greg Baker (23 October 2006). "Program Notes 48". Miaminewtimes.com. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Baker, Greg. " Miami New Times, January 05, 1995.
  8. ↑ Greg Baker (1994-04-06). "The Hits Just Keep on Coming - Page 3 - Music - Miami". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  9. ↑ "MTV news April 20, 1998". Mtv.com. 1998-04-20. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  10. ↑ MTV.com: "/ MTV news March 22, 1999". URL accessed June 18, 2007.
  11. ↑ Johnson, Tina (2000-04-07). "MTV news March 04, 2000". Mtv.com. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  12. ↑ Price, Simon (September 4, 2005), "Scarling. So Long, Scarecrow", The Independent, The (London, UK), Independent: 16
  13. ↑ "Untitled Page". Scarling.com. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2014 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  15. ↑ ""EXCLUSIVE: Seminal 90s Riot-Goth band Jack Off Jill Reunite For One Weekend Only!". bust.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015."

External links