Mindless Self Indulgence

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Mindless Self Indulgence (commonly referred to as MSI or as Mindless) is an American band formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including punk rock, electronica, hip-hop, and industrial. Their name comes from the CD Mindless Self-Indulgence, a solo album by Jimmy Urine recorded in the mid-1990s.^{[citation needed]}

The band was formed two years later when the other three original members (Steve, Righ?; Vanessa Y.T. and Kitty) joined. They have released four albums, two EPs, one live album, and one live DVD. Rather than signing traditional record contracts, the band has licensed most of their albums to record labels, retaining ownership of the music.

The band maintains a devout fanbase, and has opened for many well-known acts such as Linkin Park, System of a Down, Korn, Sum 41, My Chemical Romance and Rammstein. Notable bands who have opened for them include My Chemical Romance, The Dresden Dolls, Rasputina, The Birthday Massacre, Tub Ring and Dog Fashion Disco.

In January 2009 the band headlined the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Drink tour, supported by Bring Me The Horizon, Dir en grey, Black Tide and In Case of Fire, though Lyn-Z did not participate due to her pregnancy.^[3]

Members

Little Jimmy Urine performing at Club Bijou in Toledo, Ohio.

Jimmy Urine

Jimmy Urine (James Euringer) is the vocalist and programmer for Mindless Self Indulgence. He was born on September 7, 1969(1969-09-07),^{[citation needed]} in New York City. Prior to the band's start, Urine released a mostly industrial solo album called Mindless Self-Indulgence. Steve, Righ? co-wrote and played on the song "Bed of Roses". Urine and Righ? also released an album as The Left Rights.

Urine married Chantal Claret, lead singer of the band Morningwood, on January 18, 2008.

Steve, Righ? in October of 08.

Steve, Righ?

Steve, Righ? (Steven Montano) plays guitar in Mindless Self Indulgence. He began using the name "Steve, Righ?" after someone approached him at a show asking, "You're Steve, righ?...".^{[citation needed]}

Rob Kleiner of the band Tub Ring filled in for Steve briefly while he was hospitalized from late 2004 to early 2005 due to a hip injury. He has had two surgeries on his hip, the first one unsuccessful. According to an interview with Jimmy for Kerrang! magazine, Steve claims to frequently get stopped by the metal detectors at airports due to his metal hip.

Steve has also co-written a handful of songs with Jimmy Urine, such as "Dicks Are for My Friends" and "Seven-Eleven", among others. With Mindless Self Indulgence, he wrote the last two songs on the album Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy: "Whipstickagostop" and "Z", both of which he performs the lead vocals on, and the bonus track "JX-47" from the album Tight, in which he performs lead vocals and plays guitar.

Lyn-Z performing at Club Bijou in Toledo, Ohio, 10/31/08.

In May, 2009 Steve's partner Lucinda gave birth to their baby daughter Violet.

Lyn-Z

Lyn-Z (Lindsey Ann Ballato, b. May 21, 1976) is the bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence. Born in Dunoon Scotland, Lindsey moved to Ledyard, Connecticut at the age of 5. Lindsey was in a punk Dolly Parton cover band entitled "Beg Yer Parton" before joining MSI. She replaced MSI's original bassist, Vanessa YT, who left following the release of Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy. Realizing she could not get into MSI on bass talent alone, for her audition, LynZ focused on the performing aspect of being a musician by blowing fire, all across the room. On September 3, 2007 after a concert in Colorado, Lyn-Z married Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. The pair were married backstage following the final date of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour. A member of Live Nation's touring staff who happened to be an ordained minister, performed the low-key ceremony.

Kitty at the Avalon Club in NYC on May 12, 2006

Ballato and Way currently live in Los Angeles, California. On November 24, 2008 a representative for Gerard Way confirmed that he and Lindsey were expecting their first child together. Their daughter, Bandit Lee Way, was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 27, 2009 at 2:57 pm and weighed in at 6 pounds 4.6 ounces.

Kitty

Kitty (Jennifer Dunn) is the drummer in Mindless Self Indulgence. Originally brought on as a temporary member, she was later promoted to permanent member. Kitty designed and ran the official website for Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy.^{[citation needed]}

Uppity Cracker

Uppity Cracker is an independent record label created by Jimmy Urine and James Galus, which the band has used to distribute numerous promos, as well as Tight, The Left Rights, Alienating Our Audience, and Despierta Los Niños. Albums that have been released on other labels also carry the Uppity Cracker imprint. The label's only release not related to Mindless Self Indulgence is by New York pop-rap group The O.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1999: Tight
• 2000: Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy
• 2005: You'll Rebel to Anything
• 2008: If

References

External links

• Official website
• Mindless Self Indulgence at MySpace
• Mindless Self Indulgence at YouTube
• Mindless Self Indulgence at Last.fm