Mindless Self Indulgence
Encyclopedia
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.
for Mindless Self Indulgence. He was born on September 07, 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.
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"
Ballato) is the bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence. Born in Dunoon
, Scotland 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
.
On December 11, 2010, her website LindseyWay.com launched featuring a gallery of her artwork. She also recently contributed a piece to the South Park
15th Anniversary Art Exhibition at Opera Gallery New York.
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.
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.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
and industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
. 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
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
, System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
, Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
, Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
and Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
. Notable bands who have opened for them include The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione...
, Rasputina, mc chris
Mc chris
mc chris is an American rapper, voice actor, writer and improvisational comedian....
, The Birthday Massacre
The Birthday Massacre
The Birthday Massacre is a synthrock band, based in Toronto, Canada. The band formed in 1999, known then as Imagica...
, Tub Ring
Tub Ring
-Biography:Tub Ring formed in 1992 as a high school punk band.The band really took form with addition of keyboard player Rob Kleiner, who spent his teenage years following around the band Mr. Bungle. With Kleiner added to the band, Tub Ring adopted the similar sounds of Mr. Bungle. Mr...
and Dog Fashion Disco
Dog Fashion Disco
Dog Fashion Disco was an experimental metal band, from Rockville, Maryland, that was active from 1996 to 2007.- Biography :Combining many different music styles Dog Fashion Disco was primarily considered an avant-garde metal band...
.
In January 2009 the band headlined the Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
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
Tight (album)
Tight is the debut album by the American rock band Mindless Self Indulgence. The album was originally released on April 6, 1999 through Uppity Cracker Recording Group. After having been out of print for many years, the album was reissued as Tighter on April 26, 2011 through The End Records...
, 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.
Jimmy Urine
Jimmy Urine (James Euringer) is the vocalist and programmerSynthesizer programmer
In video game music, a synthesizer programmer - or a manipulator - helps a composer by choosing the right instruments to play the music inside the video game....
for Mindless Self Indulgence. He was born on September 07, 1969, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Prior to the band's start, Urine released a mostly industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
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
Chantal Claret
Chantal Claret is an American singer/songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer for the rock and power pop band Morningwood.- Early life :...
, lead singer of the band Morningwood
Morningwood
Morningwood is an alternative rock band from New York City, USA, founded in 2001 by Pedro Yanowitz and Chantal Claret. Morningwood was signed to Capitol Records.-Career:...
, 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?
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, righ?...".Rob Kleiner of the band Tub Ring
Tub Ring
-Biography:Tub Ring formed in 1992 as a high school punk band.The band really took form with addition of keyboard player Rob Kleiner, who spent his teenage years following around the band Mr. Bungle. With Kleiner added to the band, Tub Ring adopted the similar sounds of Mr. Bungle. Mr...
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
Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy
Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy is the second album by New York City band Mindless Self Indulgence released in 2000. The album is the follow-up to the album Tight...
: "Whipstickagostop" and "Z", both of which he performs the lead vocals on, and the bonus track "JX-47" from the album Tight
Tight (album)
Tight is the debut album by the American rock band Mindless Self Indulgence. The album was originally released on April 6, 1999 through Uppity Cracker Recording Group. After having been out of print for many years, the album was reissued as Tighter on April 26, 2011 through The End Records...
, 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
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
's fourth album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band My Chemical Romance. The album was produced by Rob Cavallo and was released by Warner Music and Reprise Records on 19 November 2010...
, under the persona "Dr. Death Defying"
LynZ
LynZ (Lindsey Ann Way, neeNEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Ballato) is the bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence. Born in Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
, Scotland 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
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
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
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
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
Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy
Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy is the second album by New York City band Mindless Self Indulgence released in 2000. The album is the follow-up to the album Tight...
and just before Alienating Our Audience
Alienating Our Audience
Alienating Our Audience is a live album by the band Mindless Self Indulgence, released on October 8, 2002 . The album contains many fan favorites from the "Tight" era, as well as six previously unreleased tracks...
.
On September 3, 2007 after a concert in Colorado, she married Gerard Way
Gerard Way
Gerard Arthur Way is an American musician and comic book writer who has served as lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance since its formation in 2001...
of My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
. The pair were married backstage following the final date of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution is a music festival hosted by Linkin Park, bringing artists of various genres of music together. Linkin Park started Projekt Revolution in the year 2002 with just one stage...
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
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern 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
Jessicka
Jessicka Addams is an American singer and artist. Best known by her stage name Jessicka, she was the front woman of Florida based band Jack Off Jill and current front for the Los Angeles based band Scarling.-Early life:Jessicka grew up in the town of Sunrise, Florida...
.
On December 11, 2010, her website LindseyWay.com launched featuring a gallery of her artwork. She also recently contributed a piece to the South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
15th Anniversary Art Exhibition at Opera Gallery New York.
Kitty
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
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
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.
Chauncey
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
Uppity Cracker is an independent record labelIndependent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
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.
Studio albums
- TightTight (album)Tight is the debut album by the American rock band Mindless Self Indulgence. The album was originally released on April 6, 1999 through Uppity Cracker Recording Group. After having been out of print for many years, the album was reissued as Tighter on April 26, 2011 through The End Records...
(1999) - Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely SexyFrankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely SexyFrankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy is the second album by New York City band Mindless Self Indulgence released in 2000. The album is the follow-up to the album Tight...
(2000) - You'll Rebel to AnythingYou'll Rebel to AnythingYou'll Rebel to Anything is the third studio album by New York City band Mindless Self Indulgence released on April 12, 2005. The album was released outside of the US on November 5, 2007 in an "Expanded and Remastered" edition. On January 22, 2008 the Expanded & Remastered version was released in...
(2005) - IfIf (Mindless Self Indulgence album)if is the fourth studio album by Mindless Self Indulgence. It was released through The End Records on April 28, 2008 in the UK and on April 29, 2008 in the US.-Listing for standard and deluxe editions:# "Never Wanted to Dance" – 3:09...
(2008)