Before starting the band Mindless Self Indulgence, James Euringer launched a solo album in 1995, called Mindless Self-Indulgence, which he had produced by himself and was limited to 500 copies. Contrary to popular belief, this was not an album by the band Mindless Self Indulgence, however, Steve Righ? played guitar for the track "Bed of Roses".
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. Their second album as a band, 1999's Tight, was even allegedly mixed on Atari equipment. Many of Urine's dress styles consist of the juxtaposition of popular 1980s clothing or bastardized versions thereof.
Later in February 2000, MSI launched the album Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy, featuring 30 tracks that were sorted alphabetically. Kitty (Drummer) designed and ran the official site of MSI when the album came out.
After Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy , Vanessa YT (Bass player) decided to leave MSI to start a family. Her replacement in the band was Lyn-Z (Bass player).
Mindless Self Indulgence is distinguished from mainstream punk, however, by their incorporating lyrics about being gay and related topics into nearly all of their songs - even titling one of their songs Faggot. Also, Euringer and Steve, Righ? (Guitarist) 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.
And although this may be the case, with some songs being of a 'juvenile' subject and tone, they also use clever lyrics and stance to give meaning to songs, such as You'll rebel to anything, which is a song that talks about how punk culture is being exploited by misdirected youths as a way to be unique or get noticed.
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, allegedly succeeding on one such occasion. Other notable stage antics include him drinking his own urine, inviting audience members to punch him in the face and/or throw objects at him, making out with both genders during the show, and roaming through the audience after the set blaring hip-hop music from a boom box perched on his shoulder.
The band's energetic live shows have gained them much recognition. The band is known to stay after the show has finished, signing whatever fans want until not one person is left wanting an autograph. They also take photographs with all desiring fans. They have opened for a number of popular bands, including System of a Down, KoRn, Staind, Sum 41, Mushroomhead, Insane Clown Posse, My Chemical Romance, and Rammstein. They have also played many large musical festivals including Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans in October of 2003 (and in Memphis, TN after Hurricane Katrina in 2006), as well as headlining the Mojave tent at the 2004 Coachella Festival, and the main stage of 2007's Give It A Name. They also headlined the second stage of the Projekt Revolution tour in Summer 2007.
Their DVD, called Our Pain, Your Gain, was released on September 11, 2007, featuring one of their concerts in New York.
On 29th April 2008, their 4th studio album, If, was released. The standard edition contains 15 tracks, the deluxe edition has the same tracklist and a bonus DVD. The Clean version has 16 tracks, Uncle being the additional track. The International edition (UK version) has 21 tracks; 3S as bonus track and four Never Wanted To Dance remixes.
On 25th October 2012, they began a Kickstarter to crowdfund their next studio album, which reached its goal by December 24th of that year. Digital downloads for their fifth studio album, How I Learned To Stop Giving A Shit And Love Mindless Self Indulgence, were released on 13 March 2013. There are three different versions of the album, with each including the standard 13-song tracklist as well as bonus tracks. The Kickstarter exclusive downloads include the bonus tracks Angel, I Am Not Here to Make Any Friends, and Last Gay Song. The Kickstarter exclusive digipak CD includes the bonus track Sex for Homework. The tour edition CD includes the bonus track Seven Minutes in Heaven. The Metropolis Records released CD includes the bonus cover, The Logical Song (originally by Supertramp).
After the 2014 tour concluded, Mindless Self Indulgence began a hiatus from touring to spend time with their families. On 18 September 2015, the band released the supposed "lost" album Pink, a 19-song album of remastered versions of the "Pink Demos" from 1990-1997, including covers Personal Jesus (originally by Depeche Mode and Girls On Film (originally by Duran Duran). The album includes redone versions of tracks from the self-titled EP from 1995. It’s also known that there are 31 “lost” tracks from 1990-1997 (“Pink Demos” era), and that 15 of those tracks were added onto Pink, then also implying that there are another 16 “lost” tracks that could be released in future, however chances are slim due to recent events.
1989
Mindless Self Indulgence Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rock my white shoes bolo tie
The next big thing for five years running
It's not your turn
It's not your turn....yet
Back off you little shits
Gnawing at my fists
I see they breed you by the boatload
Get em all on board
And let me beat you to the fucking punch. oh!
My body's not even cold
My act is just getting old
By 1989 I want to be the one in control
Rock my white shoes bolo tie
The next big thing for 5 years running
It's not your turn
It's not your turn, yet
Back off you little shits
Gnawing at my fists
I see they breed you by the boatload
Back off you little whores
Get em all onboard
And let me beat you to the fucking punch
My body's not even cold
My act is just getting old
Some want to get down like this
We hate what we like
Some want to get down like this
We hate what we like
Back off you little shits
Gnawing at my fists
I see they breed you by the boatload
Back off you little whores
Get em all onboard
And let me beat you to the fucking punch
My body's not even cold
My act is just getting old
The lyrics of "1989" by Mindless Self Indulgence can be interpreted as an expression of frustration about the music industry and a desire to be the one in control. The singer declares his intentions to be the next big thing, to rock white shoes and a bolo tie, and to stay on top for five years running. But he is also aware of the competition and the industry's tendency to chew up and spit out artists when they become "old news." The singer urges his competitors to "back off" and let him have his turn, and he sneers at those who are willing to sell out and join the industry machine.
The lyrics also contain a sense of violence and aggression, as the singer threatens to beat his competitors to the punch and refers to them as "little shits" and "little whores." He seems to see the industry as a battle to be won, where only the strongest survive.
Overall, the song can be seen as a commentary on the cutthroat nature of the music industry in the late 80s and early 90s, and the pressure that artists face to stay on top and maintain their relevance.
Line by Line Meaning
By 1989 I want to be the one in control
I aspire to have power, influence and control by the year 1989.
Rock my white shoes bolo tie
I will dress in style, wearing white shoes, a bolo tie - a symbol of power and leadership.
The next big thing for five years running
I will be the trendsetter, leading the latest cultural fads for the following 5 years.
It's not your turn
You don't have the right or opportunity to be in control or power yet.
It's not your turn....yet
Although you are not currently in control or power, you may have the chance at some point in the future.
Back off you little shits
Stay away from me, you small, insignificant and annoying people.
Gnawing at my fists
You are provoking me and making me angry.
I see they breed you by the boatload
You are of low quality and have been produced in large quantities.
Back off you little whores
Stay away from me, you low-class and immoral people.
Get em all on board
Gather all the people who support me and let's work together.
And let me beat you to the fucking punch. oh!
I will take charge and take the lead before you can even think of it.
My body's not even cold
I am not even dead or gone yet.
My act is just getting old
My behavior and conduct is becoming repetitive and boring.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James M Euringer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind