Tenni 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. The female foursome quickly became one of the most exciting and controversial underground bands during their heyday. Surname-free singer, Jessicka delivered gut-wrenching lyrics in an angelic to banshee-like voice and performed shocking on-stage antics that 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. Jessicka even spent a night in jail when she and Manson were arrested after a 1994 concert in Jacksonville, Florida, after being accused by the town's Christian Coalition for breaking the town's adult entertainment codes. [4] Though the members of Jack Off Jill never claimed to be shock rockers, they were often labeled as such. In fact, Jack Off Jill had more in common musically with riot grrrl acts such as Bikini Kill and Babes in Toyland than they did with Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids, with whom Jack Off Jill would later be constantly compared. It did not help that after a four year relationship, then boyfriend Twiggy Ramirez, began to mimic Jessicka's dress and appearance, making critics' comparisons draw even closer.[5]
Jack Off Jill released several independent records: "Children 5 and Up", "The Boygrinder Sessions", "Cannibal Song Book", (produced by JOJ and Manson) "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, the same day lead-singer of American grunge rock band Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, was found dead in his Seattle home, that Jack Off Jill caught the eye of record labels. Drummer Lori Barbero from Babes wanted to sign them to her now defunct Minneapolis label Spanish Fly, but it was not to be. Jack Off Jill then caught the eyes and ears of Los Angeles based Risk Records, who signed them in January 1997. They 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 of 1997. On September 9 1997, their first full-length Sexless Demons And Scars (produced by Gumball's leader Don Fleming, who 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.[6] 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 of 1999 when JOJ were asked to take the opening slot on the Marilyn Manson / Monster Magnet / Hole tour after Hole departed.[3] 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. The new album was different from the first having a more Gothic rock sound and a cover of the Cure's "Lovesong" was added as a hidden track. Due to pressure, poor publicity for C.H.G.F, several line up changes, tension between founding members Jessicka and Robin, and management problems, Jack Off Jill played its last show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in April of 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. [7] JOJ officially called it quits in late 2000.
Years after their break-up, Jack Off Jill still manage to have a growing online cult following. Reviews for Jessicka's current band Scarling. begin with critics touting JOJ as "riot-goth legends" [8] and refer to Jack Off Jill's final album as," excellent, yet under- appreciated". [9]
In 2015, they reunited for some shows. One was in Ashville, North Carolina on July 18, 2015. They performed their last show was on October 23, 2015 (Jessicka's birthday) in London.
Original Line-up
* Jessicka (Jessicka Fodera) vocals
* Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha (Tenni Arslynian) drums
* Agent Moulder (Robin Moulder) bass, piano
* Michelle Inhell (Michelle Oliver) guitar
Former members
* Lauracet Simpson (Laura Simpson) – drums 1996-1997
* Ho Ho Spade (Jeff Tucci) – guitar 1996-1997
* SMP (Daisy Berkowitz / Scott Putesky) – guitar 1997-1998
* Claudia (Claudia Rossi) – drums 1997-1999
* Clint Walsh – guitar 1999-2000
* Norm Block – live drums 1999-2000
* Hellen Storer (Helen Storer) – live guitar 2000
* Chris Vrenna – live drums 2000
Jessicka is now singing with Scarling
Robin is now writing, recording and creating with TCR
The current musical status of the other members can be found by going to www.jackoffjill.com
Author Unknown
Jack Off Jill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Search your memory
Create your history
Still not true
Write your novel
Pick and shovel
You will need them when I bury you
Sell yourself
Make it true
Check your grammar
your bad nature
Exaggerations still not true
Ask your question and listen closely
Here's your answer
It's still fuck you
[Chorus:]
No forgiveness you're no martyr
Sell yourself
Make it true
There's no price tag on my conscience
Here's your answer it's still
Fuck you
I met a man who was gone in a day
He grabbed my hands
Memories flashed away
I met a man who was once on my side
He wrote a book
And now everyone lies
No
[Chorus]
No forgiveness you're no martyr
Sell yourself
Make it true
There's no price tag on my conscience
Here's your answer it's still
Fuck you
The lyrics of "Author Unknown" by Jack Off Jill are very introspective, discussing the ideas of memory, history, and truth. The first verse talks about checking diction and memory, creating history, and still not being true. The idea here is that memories and history can be easily manipulated and altered to suit one's own purposes or agenda, often creating a false narrative. The next line "write your novel, pick and shovel, you will need them when I bury you" is a threat, suggesting that the singer knows the truth and will reveal it, burying the liar with it.
The second verse talks about checking grammar, bad nature, and exaggerations, suggesting that even the most basic details and personality traits can be (and often are) altered to suit one's own narrative. The line "no forgiveness, you're no martyr" suggests that the singer is not impressed or moved by the person's attempts at martyrdom or victimization. The chorus repeats "no forgiveness, you're no martyr, sell yourself, make it true," which reinforces the idea that the truth must come out, and that there is no forgiveness for liars.
The bridge introduces two seemingly unrelated characters: a man who was once on the singer's side and a man who was gone in a day. The former wrote a book, which now everyone lies about, suggesting that he too created a false narrative to protect himself. The latter did not have the chance to create his own legacy, as he was gone too soon. The bridge serves to reinforce the idea that memories and legacies can be manipulated or lost entirely, and it is up to us to distinguish truth from fiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Check your diction
Pay attention to the way you speak and the words you choose.
Search your memory
Reflect on your past experiences and search for any relevant information.
Create your history
Make up a story to fit your needs and desires even if it is not true.
Still not true
Despite your attempts to create your own narrative, the truth remains unchanged.
Write your novel
Create a fiction story that justifies your actions.
Pick and shovel
Get ready to dig a grave for yourself.
You will need them when I bury you
You will need your tools to help yourself when you face the consequences of your actions.
No forgiveness you're no martyr
You do not deserve forgiveness nor are you a hero for what you have done.
Sell yourself
Make an effort to convince others of your innocent intentions.
Make it true
Make your lies come across as truth in order to sway other people's opinions.
Check your grammar
Be mindful of the correctness of the language used in your deceitful claims.
Your bad nature
Your true character indicates that you are incapable of doing the right thing.
Exaggerations still not true
Even if you exaggerate or inflate the facts, they still do not justify your actions.
Ask your question and listen closely
Pay close attention to the response you receive and make sure it aligns with your desired outcome.
Here's your answer
Even if you receive an answer, know that it is irrelevant and does not justify your behavior.
It's still fuck you
Regardless of what you may say or do, I still hold you accountable for your actions and condemn them.
There's no price tag on my conscience
I cannot be bought nor swayed by any price; my moral compass is immovable.
I met a man who was gone in a day
I knew someone who was fleeting and short-lived.
He grabbed my hands
This person made an impact on me during their brief existence.
Memories flashed away
As quickly as this individual came into my life, they left and their impact became a distant memory.
I met a man who was once on my side
There was someone who used to support me.
He wrote a book
This individual created their own narrative and story that was not representative of the truth.
And now everyone lies
This person's actions had a ripple effect and caused others to also be dishonest.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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