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.
Love is Not
Rudimentary Peni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The song "Love is Not" by Rudimentary Peni is a scathing criticism of the way parents often manipulate their children to conform to their beliefs and ideals about love. The lyrics point out how parents often attempt to control their children through guilt and duty instead of allowing them to express their true emotions and desires. The song suggests that love is not something that can be forced or imposed upon someone else but rather something that is freely given and received.
The lyrics of "Love is Not" are particularly poignant in the way they challenge the conventional notions of love and family. For many people, the idea of love is tied to their family and upbringing, and the song highlights how these ideas can be used to perpetuate harmful and limiting beliefs about what love should be like. By questioning the authenticity of parental love, the song challenges listeners to think critically about their own experiences and beliefs about love.
The song is also notable for its clear and powerful message about individuality and self-expression. By urging listeners to "smash the myth of unquestioned love" and reject the roles that their parents have laid out for them, the song celebrates the power of individuality and encourages listeners to embrace their true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
love is not your parents lies, it's a myth that they create,
Love isn't the image that your parents have created through their falsehoods, it's just a story they've made up.
true expression you're denied, in their "love" it has no place,
Your parents have conditioned you to suppress your real feelings, which can't exist in their warped version of love.
love is not your parents lies, do they really care for you?
Your parents don't actually care about you, so their version of love just masks their true intentions.
why then must they hide behind, duty + guilt that smothers you.
Your parents use their so-called responsibility and your feelings of guilt to control you.
love is not your parents lies, strung up by hostility,
Your parents have created an environment where hostility reigns, which isn't true love.
never doubt that they're so kind, it's a sordid parody,
Your parents put up a facade of kindness but it's actually a sad imitation of true love.
love is not your parents lies, blackmail keeps you in your place,
Your parents use blackmail to keep you under their control, which isn't a genuine way to show love.
you can struggle you can try, but they won't see your real face.
Even if you try to break free from your parents' version of love, they won't accept who you really are.
love is not your parents lies, but you dare not face this fact,
You know that your parents' version of love is false, but you're too scared to admit it.
their pretence at paradise, keeps you down + holds you back,
Your parents make you believe that their version of love is perfect, but it actually stops you from growing.
love is not your parents lies, smash the myth of unquestioned love,
It's time to destroy the myth of your parents' love that you've been told to blindly accept.
it's a role they hide behind, dumb pretence is not enough.
Your parents use their roles as your caretakers to justify their false love, but that act alone isn't enough.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GnomeChomsky9999
"Love Is Not"
love is not your parents lies,
it's a myth that they create,
true expression you're denied,
in their "love" it has no place,
love is not your parents lies,
do they really care for you?
why then must they hide behind,
duty + guilt that smothers you.
love is not your parents lies,
strung up by hostility,
never doubt that they're so kind,
it's a sordid parody,
love is not your parents lies,
blackmail keeps you in your place,
you can struggle you can try,
but they won't see your real face.
love is not your parents lies,
but you dare not face this fact,
their pretence at paradise,
keeps you down + holds you back,
love is not your parents lies,
smash the myth of unquestioned love,
it's a role they hide behind,
dumb pretence is not enough.
@114184
thumbs up if you'll never get tired of this song!!!!!
@ITALJUTE
Wow, only 15 thumbs up?
@howlongwasIoutfor
Thanks for posting. RP best band in the universe - ever
@SoBayK80
This and The Tower were themes in a book about narcissistic parents I found years ago, but I leant it out, lost it and forgot the name! Both examples were dream analysis of how bad parenting fucks the subconscious as emotional incest.
Thanks for the upload, love the thumbnail pic 🏆
@madameponk8
Y un día cómo hoy el amor punk llegó a mi dimensión y todo por Nick Blinko... Jaja. Amo Rudimentary Peni, siempre en mis mejores historias.
@PolishRatEuropean
This one goes out to my dad.
@elfenlied9331
to both
@PolishRatEuropean
Maya Sss Nah, not my mum. My mum truly loves me and I love her. But my dad only wants my respect, not my love. So fuck your fake love, dad.
@arisebeats1851
I feel. Too. The same . Yes. Hate. Yes FUCK!
@ericisdead95
Beautiful artwork