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.
Blasphemy Squad
Rudimentary Peni Lyrics
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The song "Blasphemy Squad" by Rudimentary Peni is a commentary on those who use religion as a tool for control and hate. The lyrics suggest that there is a group of people who thrive on hate and use it as a weapon in a "warfare state." This group is compared to "piss in a pod," which implies that they are all the same and indistinguishable. The chorus serves as a warning to never forget or forgive these people, and suggests washing out one's mouth with the Pope as a way of purging oneself of their influence.
The second verse introduces two groups, the "Death Love God Squad" and the "Babies of Christ," who are both portrayed as violent and oppressive. They are said to "pin you all down in their burial mound," suggesting that they are burying people alive in their oppressive practices. Again, the chorus repeats the warning to never forget or forgive, and to wash one's mouth out with the Pope.
The final verse offers some hope, suggesting that there is power within ourselves that we can use to resist these oppressive forces. The "hairy white mouse" and the "rubber arch bish" are presumably figures who represent the oppressive religious groups mentioned earlier. Their "immoral barrage" has silenced the singer, but they still have power within themselves. The final line, "washed my mouth out with pope," suggests that even though the singer has been silenced, they are still resisting and rejecting the influence of these religious groups.
Line by Line Meaning
blasphemy squad, thriving on hate, in the warfare state, like piss in a pod.
A group of people who like to blaspheme and hate others thrive in a state of war, just like urine in a pod.
-ch- never forget, never ever forgive, wash your mouth out with pope.
Chorus: Never forget, never forgive, and clean your mouth with pope.
death love god squad + the babies of christ, pin you all down, in their burial mound.
A group of people who love God but also celebrate death and the babies of Christ will bury you in their burial mound.
no need to feed, from corpus christi, no need to cower, inside you's the power.
There's no need to rely on the Eucharist, as the power lies inside oneself and there's no need to be afraid.
-ch-never forget, never ever forgive, wash your mouth out with pope.
Chorus: Never forget, never forgive, and clean your mouth with pope.
hairy white mouse + the rubber arch bish, the crazed entourage, their immoral barrage, they censored this line with a brick through my head, washed my mouth out with pope.
A group of people led by a hairy white mouse and rubber archbishop and their crazy followers, who have an immoral attitude and censor the truth by physically attacking the singer with a brick, then washing his mouth out with pope.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hilliary Lucido
Interestingly, one can find through interviews with Nick, that his insanity and lack of awareness of the world around him proves true in more than just his outlandish artwork. He had little knowledge of other punk bands of his time, such as the Germs etc. He had little interest in writing Anarcho songs, rather writing songs that depicted the macabre world in which he lives. He's genius and sublime in the purest form.
worm Whittington
Best album EVER!!!!
DroogMonkey
wow, some one finally posted this song.Thanks. this is my favorite rp song off this album. best punk band ever
EzekielWhateley
@kickouttheyuppies Nick always has done most of the art. Right now he is the band's only artist. But their first LP (this one here) is covered in a big fold-out paper sleeve. Each band member got a panel of that sleeve to put their own personal messages on when it was printed. Their drummer (?) of the time used his portion to scrawl a bunch of anarchist slogans and symbols, something which the other two members cared nothing for, but gave the guy his freedom to express.
thejedipunk
@EzekielWhateley Out of the three people in the band, Grant (bass) was the only one who held the anarchist views. The lyrics to songs like Cosmetic Plague and Rotten to the Core were penned by Grant and he is credited with the band having released the Farce EP on Crass Records. Any anarchist associations that RP has is due to him. Jon (drums) has gone on record to state that he eats meat, which is something that most anarcho punks don't do.
farangis g. and tschördy yegane arani
excellent song
DroogMonkey
Yeah the singer Nick Blinko does all the artwork. he ha s a very strange style of artwork, but it is so great.
Max Graham
Have you read his book yet mate? its brilliant, sums up just what you said and even more :-)
Matias Lerda Lazo
Okoooñ o porproo
Matias Lerda Lazo
Po