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.
Evening Wear
Mindless Self Indulgence Lyrics
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With a little decoration
No need to keep you waitin'
Be intimidated
By what we have created
Kiss underneath the radar
[Chorus]
Dressed up in evening wear
I dress myself in fuckin' lies
I don't care
Make-up won't help me oblige too much
It's not fair
To be compared to you [Repeat x2]
To be compared to
Just call me "Mr. Modest"
I got it and I flaunt it
You can applaud if you wanna
Cock-blockin' non-stoppin'
When this ass is a-rockin'
Do not come a knockin'
[Chorus]
Everybody wants to join the club
Once you join the club, the innocence is gone
Everybody wants to be the bomb
But once you are the bomb, the innocence is gone
Everybody wants a big ol' slice
Of a little pie, the innocence is gone
Everybody wants in [Repeat x2]
Everybody wants
I got myself a fuckin' life
Dressed up in evening wear
I dress myself in fuckin' lies
Guess what?
I don't care
Make-up won't help me oblige too much
It's not fair
Dressed down until I disappear
But I won't do it alone
No I won't do it alone
Oh I won't do it alone
The lyrics of "Evening Wear" by Mindless Self Indulgence speaks of the singer's sense of self-empowerment, confidence, and flaunts of his achievements. The song starts with the singer's declaration of his vindication, stating that he has earned the right to succeed and achieve, and he has no qualms in decorating himself with the fruits of his labor. He also challenges the listener to be intimidated by his accomplishments, as he is proud of what they have created. He then goes on to talk about kissing "underneath the radar," indicating that he prefers to keep his love life away from the public eye.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's confidence in his life, as he dresses himself up in "fuckin' lies" without caring about the opinions of others. He understands that makeup won't help him "oblige too much," but he is not concerned about comparisons with others. The second verse picks up from where the first left off, with the singer addressing himself as "Mr. Modest" and flaunting his achievements without any apologies. He warns off any potential interference with his success and talent and proceeds to challenge anyone to deny his rockstar status.
The concluding sequence is a reflection on how everyone wants to be successful, but once they achieve it, they lose their innocence, and the song ends with the singer's reaffirmation that he wouldn't achieve success alone.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my vindication
This is the moment where I prove myself right
With a little decoration
With some added flair
No need to keep you waitin'
There's no reason to delay
Be intimidated
Be impressed by us
By what we have created
By the things we've accomplished
Kiss underneath the radar
We'll do things quietly, out of the public eye
I got myself a fuckin' life
I've made something of myself
Dressed up in evening wear
Looking classy and refined
I dress myself in fuckin' lies
I present a false image of myself
I don't care
I'm unconcerned by others' opinions
Make-up won't help me oblige too much
Even with artificial enhancements, I don't conform well
It's not fair
This is just how it is
To be compared to you [Repeat x2]
I don't want to be judged by your standards
Just call me 'Mr. Modest'
I'm only being sarcastic here, I'm not really modest
I got it and I flaunt it
I have something worth flaunting, so I will
You can applaud if you wanna
You can admire it if you like
Cock-blockin' non-stoppin'
I'm in control and won't be stopped
When this ass is a-rockin'
When I'm in motion
Do not come a knockin'
Don't disturb me
Everybody wants to join the club
Once you join the club, the innocence is gone
Everybody wants to be the bomb
But once you are the bomb, the innocence is gone
Everybody wants a big ol' slice
Of a little pie, the innocence is gone
Everybody wants in [Repeat x2]
Everybody wants
Everyone wants to be a part of something special, but when they are, the purity and novelty is lost
Dressed down until I disappear
I want to blend in and go unnoticed
But I won't do it alone
No I won't do it alone
Oh I won't do it alone
I want someone with me, I don't want to face things alone
Lyrics © JAMES IS A GIRL MUSIC C/O CITRIN COOPERMAN, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES EURINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind