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Mindless
Self Indulgence, commonly referred to as MSI or Mindless,
is an American electropunk band. They describe their
music as industrial jungle pussy punk. Though considered
punk, they are heavily influenced by techno, industrial,
electro, and hip-hop. Intentionally iconoclastic, lead
singer James Euringer (who uses the stage name Little
Jimmy Urine) owes sartorial influence to the New York
Dolls, wearing fishnet shirts at concerts, and is occasionally
seen in shorts or pants with the inside cut out similar
to how a skirt looks, and neon stockings. Euringer's
outfits and antics are often the focal point of live
shows.
Another large influence in the band's music comes from
early 1980s culture. Frequently the music contains
samples of early 80's hip-hop or rock, as well as Atari-style
beeps and tones. Indeed, their first album as a band,
1999's Tight, was allegedly mixed on Atari equipment.
Many of Urine's dress styles consist of juxtaposition
of popular 1980s clothing or bastardized versions thereof.
Mindless Self Indulgence is distinct from mainstream
punk, however, in their incorporation of lyrics about
being gay and its related topics into nearly all their
songs - even titling one of their songs as "Faggot." Also,
Euringer and Steve, Righ? possess wide vocal ranges,
stretching from tenor to high falsetto. The band also
has no qualms about using words deemed offensive by
some, such as nigga (Jimmy Urine argues that he doesn't
say the word out of anger, and often it is more or
less used in the sense that it is used in the hip hop
world) and faggot, heavily in many of their songs.
Many critics have used their word choice to dismiss
the band as juvenile.
In keeping with their confrontational posture, Euringer
has been arrested for pulling his penis out of his
pants and attempting to set his pubic hair on fire.
On another occasion, he allegedly succeeded. Other
notable stage antics include drinking his own urine
(along with guitarist Steve, Righ?), inviting audience
members to punch him in the face or throw objects at
him, making out with both genders during the show,
and roaming through the audience after the set blaring
hip-hop from a boombox perched on his shoulder.
The band's energetic live show has gained them much
recognition. The band is known to stay after the show
has finished, signing whatever fans want signed until
not one person is left wanting a signature. They also
take all wanted photographs with all desiring fans.
They have opened for a number of popular modern bands
including Insane Clown Posse, System of a Down, KoRn,
Staind, Sum 41 and Rammstein. They have also played
many large musical festivals including Voodoo Music
Experience in New Orleans on October of 2003, as well
as headlining the Mojave tent at the 2004 Coachella
Festival.
They released a song about Cantinflas called "Whipstickagostop." |
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