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
Yellow Brick Road
Jack Off Jill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have a feeling that you're the bad witch
Where are my red shoes, I have my blue dress
I have a feeling we're not in Kansas
Where's my rainbow?
Where's my head?
Where's my yellow brick road?
Where'smy head?
Where's my yellow brick road?
Where is the lion he's half undressed
He's always crying his hair is a mess
Where is the monkey to tear me apart
Where is the tin man as I rip out his heart
Where's my rainbow?
Where's my head?
Where's my yellow brick road?
Where's my rainbow?
Where's my head?
Where's my yellow brick road?
There's no place like home
People often say
Click my heels one more time
and there's no place like home
There's no place like home
People often say
Click my heels one more time
and there's no place like home
Where's my rainbow?
Where's my head?
Where's my yellow brick road?
Where's my rainbow?
Where's my head?
Where's my yellow brick..
My yellow brick road
The lyrics of Jack Off Jill's song Yellow Brick Road invoke imagery from The Wizard of Oz, a classic movie about a young girl, Dorothy, who is transported to a fantastical world by a tornado. In the first verse, the singer has a feeling that they are not in Kansas anymore, which is a reference to where Dorothy originally lived. Then, the singer suggests that they are in the presence of the bad witch, who is a well-known antagonist from the story. They also make reference to Dorothy's iconic red shoes and blue dress.
In the second verse, the singer asks about the whereabouts of the other characters from the movie. The lion is described as half undressed and always crying with messy hair. The monkey is said to be absent, but the singer wonders if it will return to "tear me apart." The tin man, who is known for lacking a heart, is also mentioned, with the singer suggesting they will "rip out his heart."
The chorus repeats the questions of "Where's my rainbow? Where's my head?" and "Where's my yellow brick road?" referencing the journey that Dorothy took in The Wizard of Oz to return home to Kansas. The song ends with the lyrics "There's no place like home. People often say. Click my heels one more time, and there's no place like home," which is another reference to the movie where Dorothy clicks her heels together to return home.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a feeling we're not in Kansas
I believe that we are not in a familiar place or situation.
I have a feeling that you're the bad witch
I suspect that you have evil intentions or are trying to harm me.
Where are my red shoes, I have my blue dress
I am prepared and ready for whatever comes my way.
Where's my rainbow?
I am searching for hope and positivity in my life.
Where's my head?
I feel lost and confused, and I am struggling to make sense of things.
Where's my yellow brick road?
I am searching for a path or direction to follow in my life.
Where is the lion he's half undressed
I am looking for my source of courage but he appears weakened.
He's always crying his hair is a mess
He seems to be in a constant state of sadness and his appearance reflects it.
Where is the monkey to tear me apart
I fear that there are people or forces that seek to harm me and break me down.
Where is the tin man as I rip out his heart
I feel hurt and betrayed by someone I trusted and relied on.
There's no place like home
People often say
Click my heels one more time
and there's no place like home
Although we may face challenges and uncertainty, there is comfort and safety in returning to our roots and finding our way back home.
Where's my yellow brick..My yellow brick road
I am still searching for my path and my place in this world.
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.