Lead singer/guitarist Nick Blinko is notorious for his witty macabre lyrics and dark pen-and-ink artwork, prominently featured on all of Rudimentary Peni's albums. Blinko is also rumored to have written the band's Pope Adrian 37th Psychristiatric album whilst resident in a psychiatric hospital, having suffered from mental illness most of his life, as such, the subject matter of the album relates to the delusions Nick was experiencing at the time, particularly the idea that he was said Pope. Nick's subject matter has been influenced by the work of H.P. Lovecraft who he had studied after having delusions of the macabre element of life and hereafter. Bassist Grant Matthews has also written a number of songs for the band, though his lyrics primarily focus on sociopolitical themes. The band also features drummer Jon Greville.
Very few photos exist of the band, as their albums feature Blinko's drawings, but artist and record label owner Pushead published a few photos of the band in an early edition of his magazine.
The band had early connections with Crass, and released their Farce EP on Crass Records. Though they stopped performing in the 1980s after bassist Grant Matthews was diagnosed with cancer, they continue to record and release material today, though they rarely give interviews. Nick Blinko has also become increasingly popular in the Outsider Art scene, and wrote an autobiographical novel entitled "The Primal Screamer", revered amongst his fans to be a literary masterpiece.
Musicians of a variety of genres (from thrashcore to death metal to apocalyptic folk) have taken influence from the work of Rudimentary Peni. There is even an all-girl high school cover band that does all Rudimentary Peni. The legend created by Rudimentary Peni is part in thanks to their evasion of media coverage and the spread of misinformation.
A new album, No More Pain EP was released on May 5th 2008. Nick Blinko has also finished a new untitled novel, due out sometime in the near future.
A Handful of Dust
Rudimentary Peni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a handful of dust
The lyrics "I will show you fear in a handful of dust" are taken from T.S. Eliot's poem "The Waste Land." The line is a reflection on the emptiness and futility of life, highlighting the fragility of human existence.
Rudimentary Peni's use of these lyrics amplifies the sense of despair and hopelessness that runs throughout the song. The phrase "fear in a handful of dust" suggests that even the smallest things can be sources of terror and apprehension.
In the broader context of the song, "A Handful of Dust" explores themes of isolation and mental breakdown. The singer seems trapped in a cycle of anxiety and depression, unable to escape the darkness that encircles them.
Overall, the lyrics to "A Handful of Dust" are haunting and powerful, capturing the essence of the human condition in a way that is both dark and deeply moving.
Line by Line Meaning
I will show you fear
I have the ability to make you experience intense feelings of terror and anxiety
In a handful of dust
Something as simple as a small amount of dirt can evoke these emotions in you
Contributed by Jasmine C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AssassinJ2
so awesome yet so underground.
no fx
the problem of punkrock: its sounds to fuckin good. after listen this song i want to hit something.
Janus Keeners
And no comments