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.
Nightmare
Rudimentary Peni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of "Nothing but a Nightmare" by Rudimentary Peni seem to be an attack on those living their lives without thinking and instead following blindly whatever they're told to do. The repetition of the question "what's the point?" implies that the singer sees no point in living a mindless life or dying a mindless death. The line "pathetic fool trapped inside your skull" is a direct insult to the addressee, suggesting that they have not even had the thought of thinking for themselves. The pile of shit inside their brain is not their own but rather a product of the lies they're given to believe. The use of "dreamworld" implies that living in a world without thought is a form of dreams, but in reality, it's a nightmare.
The song seems to be a call to action for individuals to start thinking for themselves, as living without it is simply nothing but a nightmare. The lyrics suggest that one could be missing out on so much in life by living without thought and blindly following whatever they're told to do. The repetition of the line "what's the point?" implies that the singer believes that living without thought diminishes the value of one's life, making it meaningless.
Overall, the song serves as a commentary on the importance of thinking for oneself and the danger of living a mindless life. It is a reminder that living in a dreamworld can quickly turn into a nightmare.
Line by Line Meaning
what's the point of living in your mindless life?
What is the purpose of existing in a state of complete thoughtlessness?
what's the point of dying in your mindless death?
What is the point of passing away without ever having truly lived?
what's the point of living in your lifeless mind?
Why bother living if you're just going to be a hollow, empty shell?
have you ever even had the thought of thinking?
Have you ever truly pondered your own existence or are you just going through the motions of life?
or is it you're just ignorant + ignorant?
Or perhaps you're just choosing to remain ignorant and are willfully closing yourself off to anything resembling self-discovery.
have you ever even had the thought of thinking?
Have you ever truly pondered your own existence or are you just going through the motions of life?
pathetic fool trapped inside your skull.
You are a pitiable creature, completely trapped inside your own mind and unable to escape your own limitations.
the pile of shit inside your brain in which you live- is not your own, you live out all the lies you're given-
You are not truly in control of your own thoughts, but rather are living out the falsehoods that have been fed to you by others.
you're too scared to face yourself, you're too scared to face yourself-
You are too afraid to truly confront who you are as a person and grapple with the harsh realities of existence.
so you're too scared to please yourself, living in your dreamworld is nothing but a- nightmare- nothing but a nightmare.
As a result, you are incapable of achieving any real pleasure in life and the world you inhabit is little more than a terrifying, hellish nightmare.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nancykat2427
I’ve been obsessed with this song lately been hearing it throughout different days I don’t get bored of it
@deejaaywalker2314
I remember scoring this LP as a new release. The anticipation after the first two e.p.s was palpable. The stylus hit the wax, and the masterpiece unfolded (both the music and the sleeve artwork). This is a stand out track on a truly epic release.
@bivouac1858
been listening to this song for whole day now.. just plain simplistic genius punk hit
@invaderhate
This song goes out too my depression.
@danielrose3447
Same
@gallowshumor1784
I'm gonna go out to my depression :P
@hottnickles1
🤘🏻💚
@isaisisx
nah cuz I would play this song in the mental hospital, residential, and even now because I relate to it so much. I just relate to nick blinko on legit another level. mental illness fucking sucks and this is exactly how I felt, I chose to be numb and dissociated instead of feeling all the stupid shit that was happening to me
@derekcoe9633
The artwork is amazing, didn't realise it when I was 16 but looking at now, stunning 💀💀💀
@dubska777
Excellent Rudimentary peni is so gloomy, powerfull,Strong they are one of the best band i've ever eard so real just Brilliant :')