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
Media C-Section
Jack Off Jill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch me with your retail eye, it gives you someone to spy on
Stab me with your double-blade knife, it gives you something to cry about
Drive me with your chemical high, it gives you something to ride on
I may be an evil girl, with my colgate smile,
And if I am an evil girl, you put me on trial
I want to kill on video, I want to go real far
Let me kill celebrities, and be your next media superstar!
Eating all your roaches and flies, in my mouth like bubble gum
Scar me with your venomous lies, you always have to remember,
Feed you with them razorblades, cause nothing lasts forever!
I may be an evil girl, with my colgate smile,
And if I am an evil girl, you put me on trial
I want to kill on video, I want to go real far
Let me kill celebrities, and be your next media superstar!
Buy me, kill me, fuck me!
Buy me, hurt me, watch me, you destroy me
(I can't take this shit)
The lyrics of Jack Off Jill's song Media C-Section express a critique of the media industry that thrives on sensationalism and violence. The first part of the song accuses the media of creating lies and voyeurism, implying that the media is responsible for shaping reality according to its own interests. The second part turns the perspective around and portrays the singer as a willing participant in this game of violence and attention-seeking. She claims to be an evil girl, ready to kill and be killed for the sake of becoming a media superstar. The chorus repeats the desire for violent fame, the willingness to become a product to be bought, sold and consumed.
The song suggests that there is a vicious circle of violence and exploitation at work in the media industry, where individuals are encouraged to become either victims or perpetrators of violent acts in exchange for temporary fame and attention. The song also points at the hypocrisy of a society that condemns and blames individuals for their violent behaviors, while at the same time consuming media products that glorify and celebrate violence.
Overall, Media C-Section is a powerful and disturbing critique of the media industry, its effects on individuals and society at large, and the ethics of violence and exploitation present in contemporary culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught me with your video lies, it gives you something to lie about
You caught me with fake news and doctored videos, which gives you material to deceive and manipulate people.
Watch me with your retail eye, it gives you someone to spy on
You are keeping track of my every move and exploiting it for profit, treating me like a commodity to be watched and sold.
Stab me with your double-blade knife, it gives you something to cry about
Your backstabbing and hypocrisy make you feel justified to play the victim and garner sympathy from others.
Drive me with your chemical high, it gives you something to ride on
Your addiction to sensation-seeking and drugs leads you to manipulate and control me in order to fulfill your own desires.
I may be an evil girl, with my colgate smile,
I may be seen as evil or dangerous, even though I appear harmless and polished on the surface.
And if I am an evil girl, you put me on trial
You are quick to judge and condemn me for my thoughts and actions, especially if they challenge your own beliefs and assumptions.
I want to kill on video, I want to go real far
I am fed up and disillusioned with the world, and I want to express my anger and disgust by creating shocking and violent media content.
Let me kill celebrities, and be your next media superstar!
You are obsessed with fame and celebrity culture, and you don't care how destructive and harmful it is to glorify violence and death for entertainment purposes.
Scare me with your little disguise, it gives me someone to hide from,
You use your power and influence to intimidate and scare me, so that I feel like I have to hide or cover up my true feelings and thoughts.
Eating all your roaches and flies, in my mouth like bubble gum
I am disgusted and sickened by the pervasiveness of corruption and filth in this world, and I feel like I'm being forced to swallow it up and accept it as normal.
Scar me with your venomous lies, you always have to remember,
Your deception and lies leave a lasting impact on me, and you can't erase the harm that you've caused with your words and actions.
Feed you with them razorblades, cause nothing lasts forever!
You will eventually face the consequences of your actions, and I won't hesitate to expose your lies and reveal the truth to others.
Buy me, kill me, fuck me!
You treat me like a disposable object, without any regard for my dignity, emotions, or autonomy.
Buy me, hurt me, watch me, you destroy me
Your lust for power and control makes you willing to hurt me and use me for your own selfish reasons, without any regard for the consequences of your actions.
(I can't take this shit)
I am fed up and disgusted with this abusive and corrupt system, and I refuse to accept it or perpetuate it any longer.
Contributed by Caleb O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.