"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: punk rock, electropunk, alternative rock, electronica, techno, hip hop, and industrial. But 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 (but not to be confused with) from a solo album that frontman Jimmy Urine self-recorded in the mid-1990s (that being the 1995 album, "Mindless Self-Indulgence").
Biography
The group was formed when Urine was joined by fellow musicians guitarist Steve, bassist Vanessa Y.T. (who was later replaced by Lyn-Z) and drummer Kitty. They have released five 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, System of a Down, Korn, Sum 41, Insane Clown Posse, and Rammstein. Notable bands who have opened for them include My Chemical Romance, 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. The band released a remastered CD/DVD version of the band's first full length album, "Tight", in 2011, called "Tighter. It included bonus tracks and recordings from their early days. On October 25, 2012, the band announced their fifth album via a Kickstarter campaign. "How I Learned to Stop Giving a Shit and Love Mindless Self Indulgence" was released in May 2013, with the single "Fuck Machine" being released in January 2014. On January 20, 2014, Mindless Self Indulgence announced that they would be taking a hiatus from touring after the completion of their 2014 tour.
Members
Current Members
Jimmy Urine
Main article: Jimmy Urine
Jimmy Urine (Real name 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". Urine and Steve, 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'.
Steve, Righ?
Main article: Steve, Righ?
Steve, Righ? (Real name Steven Montano) plays guitar in Mindless Self Indulgence. He was born on February 24th. 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 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" from "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy", 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 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".
Lyn-Z
Main article: Lyn-Z
Lyn-Z (Real name Lindsey Ann Way née Ballato) is the bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence. Born in Dunoon, Scotland on May 21, 1976 , 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 Mindless Self Indulgence. LynZ replaced Mindless Self Indulgence's former bassist, Vanessa YT, after the release of "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy". 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. On March 29, 2011, she also contributed a piece to the South Park 15th Anniversary Art Exhibition at Opera Gallery New York.
Kitty
Main article: Kitty
Kitty (Real name 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 Mindless Self Indulgence, 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.
Former Members
Markus Euringer
Main article: Markus Euringer
Markus Euringer was a former member, Jimmy Urine's brother and guitarist in Mindless Self-Indulgence (or/otherwise Mindless Self Indulgence). He helped Jimmy Urine with "Crappy Little Demo", the 1995 album "Mindless Self-Indulgence (album)" (not to be confused with Mindless Self Indulgence, or Mindless Self Indulgence's discography, this is a solo project - more information on Mindless Self-Indulgence (album)), and a few odd songs, such as the vocals in "Fuck Machine (Coming Soon To A Theater Near You)", from "Fuck Machine", and technical work in "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy". Very little information is known about Markus.
Vanessa Y.T.
Main article: Vanessa YT
Vanessa Y.T. (Real name Vanessa) was the former bassist in Mindless Self Indulgence. She played bass in "Tight" and "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy". Vanessa has since left the band (on good terms) in 2001 - to become an astronaut, and has been replaced by Lyn-Z. Kitty has confirmed that she is now a mother.
Discography
Albums
Year | Title | Label |
---|---|---|
1995 | Mindless Self-Indulgence
(technically doesn't have anything to do with Mindless Self Indulgence, view the album for more information regardless) |
Chip Records |
1999 | Tight | Uppity Cracker |
2000 | Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy | Elektra |
2005 | You'll Rebel to Anything | Metropolis Records |
2008 | If | The End Records |
2011 | Tighter | The End Records |
2013 | How I Learned to Stop Giving a Shit and Love Mindless Self Indulgence | Metropolis Records |
2015 | Pink | Metropolis Records |
EPs
Year | Title | Label |
---|---|---|
2003 | Despierta Los Niños | Uppity Cracker |
2006 | Another Mindless Rip Off | Metropolis Records |
2010 | <3 | The End Records |
Live Albums
Year | Title | Label |
---|---|---|
2002 | Alienating Our Audience | Uppity Cracker |
2007 | Our Pain Your Gain | Metropolis Records |
Demos
Year | Title | Label |
---|---|---|
1997 | Crappy Little Demo | None |
2002 | Thank God | Uppity Cracker |
Singles
Year | Title | Label |
---|---|---|
1995 | Do Undo Others (Part II) / Bed Of Roses | Chip Records |
1999 | Bring The Pain / Tornado | Uppity Cracker |
1999 | Bring The Pain / Panty Shot | Uppity Cracker |
1999 | Bring The Pain / Tight | Uppity Cracker |
1999 | Bitches / Molly | Elektra |
2002 | Planet Of The Apes (Promo) | Uppity Cracker |
2006 | Straight To Video: The Remixes | The End Records |
2006 | Shut Me Up: The Remixes + 3 | Metropolis Records |
2008 | PAY FOR IT | The End Records |
2008 | ON IT | The End Records |
2008 | ISSUES | The End Records |
2008 | Never Wanted To Dance (The Remixes) | The End Records |
2008 | Mark David Chapman/Evening Wear | The End Records |
2008 | 3 S' | Uppity Cracker |
2013 | It Gets Worse | Metropolis Records |
2013 | It Gets Worse/Ala Mode | Metropolis Records |
2014 | Fuck Machine | Metropolis Records |