Mindless Self Indulgence

Mindless Self Indulgence (commonly referred to as MSI) is a New York-based Industrial rock band with elements of EDM, Punk, and Hip Hop in their music. The band originated when the original four members, Kitty, Vanessa Y.T., Steve Righ?, and Jimmy Urine met and decided they wanted to started a band. Heavily influenced by the likes of 80's Industrial and Punk rock, the band created their first album, a self-titled album which Urine would later describe as "soulless Nine Inch Nails copies". They are currently signed to The End Records, and have released five albums, two EPs, and one live album including their upcoming album if. They are known for their extremely intense and antagonistic live performances, as well as their spastic albums. They have gained a bit of notoriety for their inclusion of lots of obscenities and vulgarities in their music, yet the band maintains a devout fanbase, and has opened for many famous bands such as System of a Down, Korn, Staind, Sum 41, Insane Clown Posse, Dir en grey, and Rammstein. They have also participated in the Voodoo Music Experience.
Biography

The actual full band formed in 1997. They have released five full-length albums and a number of EPs and remixes. Their music is influenced by early 1980s culture and it frequently contains samples of early 80's rock, as well as chiptune-style beeps and tones. Their first studio album as a full band, 1999's "Tight", was mixed on Atari-style equipment.

They have opened for a number of mainstream acts, including System of a Down, Korn, Staind, Sum 41, Mushroomhead, Insane Clown Posse, and Rammstein. They have also had many well known bands open for them early in the respective careers such as My Chemical Romance, Fake Shark - Real Zombie! and Tub Ring.They have also played many large musical festivals including The Australian Soundwave Festivals of 2008, Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans in October of 2003 (which was actually held in Memphis that year due to Hurricane Katrina), as well as headlining the Mojave tent at the 2004 Coachella Festival. They also recently headlined the "Revolution Stage" for The Projekt Revolution Tour and were part of 2007 "Give it a Name" Festival.

Members

Jimmy Urine
Little Jimmy Urine in December of 2005.
Little Jimmy Urine in December of 2005.

Jimmy Urine formerly Little Jimmy Urine (born James Euringer), does Vocals and Programming for Mindless Self Indulgence. He was born on September 7, 1969(1969-09-07), in New York, New York. He grew up with his older brother Markus J. Euringer. The first album he released as "Mindless Self-Indulgence" was a Self-titled, which differed from most of Mindless Self Indulgence's later work, focusing mainly on an Industrial music style. He made most of this album by himself except for guitar by Steve, Righ? on one track. He and guitar player Steve, Righ? have a side project called "The Left Rights", a 39 track album that was self produced.

In an interview with Shoutweb he claims to have been arrested in Detroit on charges of indecent exposure while on tour with the Insane Clown Posse. He has ingested his own urine during performances.[3]

He is married to Chantal Claret, lead singer of the band Morningwood.

Steve, Righ?
Steve, Righ? in Dec of 2003.
Steve, Righ? in Dec of 2003.

Steve, Righ? (Born Steven Montano) plays guitar in Mindless Self Indulgence. He first contributed guitar to "Bed of Roses" on Mindless Self Indulgence's self-titled (see above). He got the name "Steve, Righ?" from someone approaching him at a show saying, "You're Steve, righ?...". He was replaced by Rob Kleiner of the band Tub Ring for a brief time while he was hospitalized in late 2004 to early 2005 due to a hip injury. This still hasn't stopped him from performing in later shows. The hip injury was sustained at the show at which My Chemical Romance opened for them. He has had two surgeries on his hip - the first one unsuccessful, but the second one worked.

Besides contributing to "Bed Of Roses," Steve has also co-written a handful of songs with Jimmy Urine, which include (but are not limited to) Dicks Are For My Friends, Golden I, and Seven-Eleven. With Mindless Self Indulgence, he has written 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.

He has ingested Jimmy's urine during performances.[3]

Lyn-Z
Lyn-z at the Avalon Club in NYC on May 12, 2006
Lyn-z at the Avalon Club in NYC on May 12, 2006

Lyn-Z (born Lindsey Ballato on May 22nd 1979) plays bass in Mindless Self Indulgence. She moved to New York to study art, before she was in Mindless Self Indulgence she played in a punk rock Dolly Parton cover band. She joined the band in 2001 after the former bass player Vanessa YT left the band. She is currently working with HUNG, a traveling art exhibit based on various visual artists. She along with Jorden Haley contributed to the art for You'll Rebel to Anything. She is married to My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, as of September 3rd, 2007.

Kitty


Kitty plays drums in Mindless Self Indulgence; she joined the band in 1997 as a permanent member. She usually plays a small drum kit. She usually wears thick pink make-up and pigtails. Her outfit normally has a big white letter K("Kitty") painted in front. Kitty also designed and ran the official website back when Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy came out.

Former members

Vanessa YT played bass in Mindless Self Indulgence. She joined the band in 1998 and played bass during the "Tight" era up to 2001. When first asked about why she left, Jimmy said that she was becoming an astronaut, but it was later said that she left to start a family.

Markus J. Euringer is Jimmy Urine's older brother. He contributed to a few songs on their earlier albums on electronics until he retired to write horror novels.

Past live guests

* Rob Kleiner (Tub Ring)- Guitars, filling in for Steve, Righ? while he was hospitalized.

Side projects

Both Urine and Steve, Righ? are involved in a side project by the name of The Left Rights.

Selected discography

Main article: Mindless Self Indulgence discography

Studio albums

* Mindless Self-Indulgence (January 1, 1995)
* Tight (April 6, 1999)
* Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy (February 22, 2000)
* You'll Rebel to Anything (April 12, 2005)
* If (April 29, 2008)