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
Cherry Scented
Jack Off Jill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I paint them lavender, turn a tattoo into bruise
She says I'm mediocre and I guess that's very true
She wants to chastise me for things I did not do
Help me, I'm burning,
Help me, I'm turning,
Help me, I'm burning up!
These lips are cherry scented, but they stick like superglue,
I paint them cherry red, turn a tattoo into bruise
You go girl!
Help me, I'm burning,
Help me, I'm turning,
Help me, I'm burning up!
Cream corn, cream corn in my ear
The slum of hatred I can't hear
Please look at me I'm so twisted
And burn me with that skeleton breath
Cream corn, cream corn, man made freak
Sew my lips so I can't speak
Tell me that I cannot hate
Hate pretty baby I cannot relate
The lyrics of "Cherry Scented" by Jack Off Jill are about someone who is struggling and looking for help. The singer describes their lips as being cherry-scented but sticking like superglue, indicating that they are having trouble communicating or expressing themselves. They are also painted lavender or cherry red and have turned a tattoo into a bruise, which could represent self-harm or physical violence.
The singer mentions someone who is chastising them for things they did not do, indicating that they are feeling unfairly judged. The repetition of "help me, I'm burning" and "turning" suggests that they are in emotional turmoil and looking for a way out.
The middle section of the song includes lines about cream corn, a slum of hatred that the singer cannot hear, and being twisted and burned with skeleton breath. These lyrics suggest a sense of disillusionment and despair, as though the singer is surrounded by negativity and struggling to find a way out. The last lines reference being told not to hate, but the singer cannot relate to that sentiment, indicating that they are struggling with intense feelings of anger or resentment.
Overall, the lyrics of "Cherry Scented" paint a picture of someone who is struggling with internal turmoil and searching for help and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
These lips are cherry scented, but they stick like superglue,
My lips are tempting, but once someone engages in a kiss with me, they're stuck with me for good.
I paint them lavender, turn a tattoo into bruise
I present myself as delicate and feminine, but in reality, I'm rough and agitated.
She says I'm mediocre and I guess that's very true
The people around me judge me harshly and think that I'm unremarkable.
She wants to chastise me for things I did not do
Someone close to me is trying to blame me for mistakes that I didn't make.
You go girl!
Good for you for living life on your terms and taking control.
Help me, I'm burning,
I'm overwhelmed with emotions and need someone to save me from myself.
Help me, I'm turning,
I'm changing and evolving, and it's making me feel lost and confused.
Help me, I'm burning up!
The intensity of my feelings is too much for me to handle on my own, and I need help.
Cream corn, cream corn in my ear
I'm trying to block out the negativity and hate in the world.
The slum of hatred I can't hear
I refuse to listen to the hateful comments and judgments of others.
Please look at me I'm so twisted
I'm not who I appear to be on the outside - I'm struggling with inner turmoil and pain.
And burn me with that skeleton breath
The criticism and judgment of others is suffocating and overwhelming me.
Cream corn, cream corn, man made freak
I feel like an outcast and rejected by society.
Sew my lips so I can't speak
I'm tired of trying to defend myself and just want to be silent.
Tell me that I cannot hate
I'm being told that I should love and accept everything, even if it's harmful or negative towards me.
Hate pretty baby I cannot relate
I can't pretend to love everything and everyone - sometimes hate is the only realistic response.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind