Street Sounds: Mindless Self Indulgence

Mindless Self Indulgence is no longer just a band, but a brand name.

The industrial/rock/techno/rap foursome, also known as MSI, has a musical styling and high-energy live performance that is all their own. The novelty of their sound is evident in the fact that MSI has toured with artists across the world, as diverse as the Birthday Massacre, Linkin Park and the German metal band, Rammenstein.

The New York City-based band’s individual talents have also been featured in comic books, soundtracks, video games, art galleries, clothing lines and side projects. However, the 10-year project of MSI has been the longest running creation of all. The band consists of lead singer Jimmy Urine, guitarist Steve Righ?, bassist LynZ and drummer, Kitty. After a brief hiatus, MSI is preparing for an upcoming tour with Morningwood.

The Temple News: For the first time in three years, MSI is doing a nationwide tour in the U.S. What can fans expect?

Jimmy Urine: Fans can expect the same stupid [stuff] they have always expected. We’re going to do the Mindless show, man. We’re going to hopefully do some more dates abroad if we can finangle all that, and hopefully have a new record out by the end of the year. But right now we’re going to get in your face and spit on you.

TTN: Will you be playing any new music on the tour?

JU: No, there’s not going to be any major new music right now. I’ve been doing some side projects and I’ve had to put a possible Mindless album on the back-burner.

TTN: I’ve read on the MSI message boards that you said there’s a new album coming out named “God’s Son,” but it doesn’t seem to be confirmed anywhere else. Is there any truth to that?

JU: That’s what I love about our kids – not only are they hackers and really cool and smart but they’re also gossipy and silly in that sense. I have said I want to do a new record but I haven’t said anything about it, but there’s supposedly a title and it’s going to come out on this date and that date. All the [stuff] on the Internet isn’t official and is definitely not from my mouth. Well now I’ve got my name. I’m going to let the board write the album for me – it’s much easier than me writing it.

TTN: MSI is known for high-energy live performances. Are people surprised that you’re not the same people in real life as you are on stage?

JU: Not really – you keep it real 24 hours a day and you’ll be in prison. We’ve been around for 10 years because we do the Daffy Duck [stuff] and then we go home and count our money and decide what we’re going to do next. Most bands are more worried about their mortgage than when their heroin hits going to come.

TTN: In the 10 years since MSI began, some of you have gotten married and had kids. Is MSI’s sound going to mature as well?

JU: We’re the same crazy band. We started evolving slowly anyway before we got married and had kids. But you can do anything on stage, because people paid to see you do something. You can get up there and talk or make a sacrifice to Satan, it doesn’t matter. But, at the same point, I don’t want to do this forever. I wouldn’t want to see the Sex Pistols now, and I don’t want to see MSI play when I’m 50. I want to remember the Sex Pistols as the Sex Pistols. I don’t want to remember Johnny Lydon walking around like a fat-ss.

TTN: You’re playing at the Trocadero March 7. What are you looking forward to most about coming back to Philly?

JU: We like the Troc and we’ve been there a bunch of times. That stage is so high it’s ridiculous. If you jump off that stage, have someone to help you with a step ladder or something because getting back on that stage is a pain in the [butt]. Every paper is like, ‘Where are you psyched to go next?’ What I’m most psyched to do is go to the U.K. My number one thing to beat down the U.S. is that you don’t have bangers and mash. Although, I must say the cheesesteaks are pretty damn good.

Danielle Miess can be reached at danielle.miess@temple.edu.