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.
Only Human
Rudimentary Peni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the only human eveyone's an alien
Save you, save you
We're malevolent malignant tumours sucking on your body
Preying on your mind never mind, never mind
Preying on your mind never mind, never mind
Dissecting your soul, spirit being or whatever
We've your whole life videoed
Your womb, sub-life, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age
The lyrics to Rudimentary Peni's song Only Human convey a sense of alienation and vulnerability. The song begins with the singer addressing the listener directly, telling them that they are the only human while everyone else is an alien. This could be interpreted in several ways, from a sense of personal alienation to a broader sense of societal alienation. The next lines suggest that the aliens are malevolent and malignant, preying on the listener's body and mind. The repetition of "never mind" suggests that the listener is resigned to their fate or has given up hope.
The next lines suggest a sense of invasion or violation, with the aliens dissecting the listener's soul, spirit, or being. The line "Put your brain ???", while unclear, could suggest that the aliens are attempting to control or manipulate the listener's thoughts. The final line suggests that the aliens have been observing the listener's entire life, from their time in the womb to old age. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of powerlessness and vulnerability in the face of forces beyond the listener's control.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you! Yeah you!
Hello, you! The one reading/listening to this message.
You're the only human eveyone's an alien
You are the only one who is truly human, while everyone else seems to be an alien in comparison.
Save you, save you
We are calling for help to save you from the malevolent forces at work.
We're malevolent malignant tumours sucking on your body
We are like harmful cancers, feeding off and destroying your physical being.
Preying on your mind never mind, never mind
We are also preying on your thoughts and emotions, without regard for your overall wellbeing.
Dissecting your soul, spirit being or whatever
We are closely examining the essence of your being, whether it be soul, spirit, or something else entirely.
Put your brain ???
We are manipulating and controlling your brain, possibly through mind control or other means.
We've your whole life videoed
We have recorded every aspect of your life, from birth to old age, for our own purposes.
Your womb, sub-life, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age
We have recorded your life events, including your time in the womb, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Meadhbh Mc Guinness
Drumming in this is fucking epic!!!
toasty138
i was 18 when it came to the states in 1990... it came to be known from the comp a-sides...from there it went on.... but before that ive never heard of them..
thirty2ncountin
Man, I haven't heard these guys in a loooooooooooooooooong ass time lol *takes shot*
THECHURCHOFPUNK1
TAKES ME BACK TO MY SQUATTING DAYS =:-))
aaroknow
Fuckin Bad Ass man! Back in the days Used to skate With Peni, XD
John Mansberger Jr.
Anyonw know if Nick Blinko's Original Artwork/Drawings are still available? I heard years ago that he was selling some of his works....id dot ANYTHING for a Nick Blinko Original! Any ideas on where to find it? Or even a hard copy of his books???
Nylon Nerves
I don't know if anyone else thought about this but the song has a riff with a rhythm that's kinda the same with Smells Like Teen Spirit and the song repeats the word "Nevermind" many times.
Nirvana is stealing fron Peni!
(This is a joke of course)
Hank Clock
Well... actually I've heard some layering similarities with Nirvana too. The loud quiet loud thing and the strict riff-rock. But Cobain never seems to have heard of them. And of course the content of the music is quite different. I am actually a fanboy of Blinko, but also Nirvana, like hard.
Jed Hampson
brings back those Trinity Hall days
Juninho Bender
best british punk band