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Jack Off Jill

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Jack Off Jill
Jessicka performing with Jack Off Jill at the Orange Peel in 2015
Jessicka performing with Jack Off Jill at the Orange Peel in 2015
Background information
OriginFort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1992–2000
  • 2015
Labels
Past membersSee list of members
Websitejessicka.com

Jack Off Jill was an American alternative rock band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, founded in 1992 by vocalist Jessicka, drummer Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha, bassist/keyboardist Agent Moulder, and guitarist Michelle Inhell. Though these four women were the initial founders, nine members rotated through the group in its life-span, including Scott Putesky, guitarist and co-founder of Marilyn Manson. The band lasted nine years, with only Jessicka and Moulder remaining throughout the initial run. The band reunited in 2015 for a number of shows, with Jessicka, Tenni, Inhell, and bassist Helen Storer.[6]

History

[edit]

Tenni Arslanyan met Jessicka while attending Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida. They began writing songs, and were joined by Moulder and Inhell to create the band that would become Jack Off Jill.

Jack Off Jill's first show was a club called Ironworks in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Their second show was opening for Marilyn Manson and his shock-rock outfit, Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids, at a Davie, Florida night club called The Plus Five Lounge. Manson went on to produce their early demos and had them open most of his shows.[7]

During this time the band served as the opening act for many female-fronted national acts such as Joan Jett, L7, Silverfish, Tribe 8, Fetchin' Bones and the Lunachicks. Singer Jessicka's on-stage antics included covering the audience with fake blood and throwing candy.[8][9] In early 1993, Jessicka performed with Manson's ephemeral side project, Mrs. Scabtree.[10]

They took inspiration from the riot grrrl movement, with songs addressing serious issues such as rape, domestic abuse, self harm, depression, patriarchy, and female empowerment. In 1993, Jack Off Jill's front woman Jessicka coined the term "riot goth" to describe their music and aesthetic.[11][12][4]

On December 27, 1994, Jack Off Jill joined Marilyn Manson on venues through Florida. While playing Club 5 in Jacksonville, Florida, Manson and Jessicka were arrested for violating the town's adult entertainment codes. Neither singer was charged.[13]

Jack Off Jill released several independent records: Children 5 and Up (produced by Marilyn Manson),[8] The Boygrinder Sessions, Cannibal Song Book (produced by Jeremy Staska, JOJ and Manson),[10] Cockroach Waltz, and several 7" singles. On April 8, 1994, while playing a benefit show for Rock Against Domestic Violence with Babes in Toyland and 7 Year Bitch at the Cameo Theatre on Miami Beach, the band caught the eye of record labels.[14] Los Angeles-based Risk Records later signed them in January 1997. The band replaced both Ah Cha Cha and Inhell with new members because the two were not ready to leave Florida. They released their first national 7" record, "Girl Scout"/"American Made", in March 1997. On September 9, 1997, their first full-length album, Sexless Demons and Scars (produced by Gumball's leader Don Fleming, who co-produced Hole's Pretty on the Inside), was released.

After touring with Lords of Acid[citation needed], Jack Off Jill headed to Los Angeles to complete 1998's Covetous Creature, a remix EP of songs from Sexless Demons and Scars, with the help of Scott Putesky (a founding member of Marilyn Manson) and new drummer Claudia Rossi.[15] Jack Off Jill hit the road on a national tour with Psychotica, joined along the way by Switchblade Symphony.

The band road-tested new songs in March 1999 when JOJ played four dates on the Marilyn Manson Rock Is Dead Tour, after Hole departed.[16] With Putesky no longer in the guitar position, JOJ enlisted the help of Jessicka's then-boyfriend guitarist Clint Walsh, original JOJ guitarist Michelle Inhell (née Oliver), and drummer Norm Block (formerly of Plexi) for the tour. On July 17, 2000, JOJ released their second full-length CD, Clear Hearts Grey Flowers on Risk Records, that featured a cover by artist Mark Ryden and was produced by Chris Vrenna of Tweaker and Nine Inch Nails.

Jack Off Jill played its last show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in April 2000. They were joined onstage by guitarist Helen Storer of the UK all-female band Fluffy (and later of Thee Heavenly Music Association) and producer Chris Vrenna on drums.[17]

Breakup and aftermath

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Jack Off Jill officially disbanded in the year 2000. Jessicka founded noise-pop band Scarling. in 2001. Moulder began her studio project TCR. Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha and Michelle Inhell's (née Oliver) founded Set to Zero. In 2010 Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha began playing with Zombie Queen out of Asheville, NC. Claudia Rossi founded a group called One Of The Loudest Tragedies Ever Heard. Putesky worked on his solo project, Three Ton Gate.

Post-breakup, critics have touted JOJ as "riot-goth legends"[18] and refer to Jack Off Jill's final album as "excellent, yet under-appreciated".[19]

Former band member Jeff Tucci (Ho Ho Spade) died on November 27, 2014, of a drug overdose.[20]

In September 2013, founding member of Marilyn Manson and Jack Off Jill guitarist Putesky was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer.[21] He died on October 22, 2017.[22]

On May 26, 2021, Poppy released a cover of Jack Off Jill's song "Fear of Dying". The cover mainly keeps in line with the original song which was recorded as a single for their final album, Clear Hearts Grey Flowers.[23]

Reunion

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A reunion had been discussed by the band members in the preceding years, but they did not have the time to organise one. When Jessicka Addams suffered a serious health emergency in 2013, she decided it was "now or never".[24]

On April 7, 2015, Bust.com announced a Jack Off Jill reunion show at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on July 18 as well as a Pledgemusic campaign offering "Golden Tickets" and other Jack Off Jill rarities related to the show. Other reunion shows in the tour included Manchester (October 19), London's Electric Ballroom (October 21) and Heaven Nightclub (October 23), where they were joined on stage by (Scott Putesky), a founding member of Marilyn Manson. Their last London show was also on Jessicka's birthday, and was an emotional show for all of the fans and the band, especially due to both Jessicka's and Scott's health problems.[25] They announced via their facebook page that these shows would be their last saying, "It's been an honor & a pleasure friends."

The 2015 roster consisted of Jessicka, Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha, Michelle Inhell (née Oliver), and Helen Storer.[26] Original bassist Robin Moulder was not involved in the reunion shows.[27]

Jack Off Jill is referred to by several publications as "Riot Goth Legends" & "Cult Heroes"[26][28][4]

Singer Jessicka Addams stated that their show at Heaven in London on October 23, 2015 (her birthday) would be Jack Off Jill's final show.[4]

Members

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Reunion lineup

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  • Jessicka (Jessicka Addams) – vocals, lyrics (1992–2000, 2015)
  • Michelle Inhell (Michelle Oliver) – guitars (1992–1996, 2015)
  • Helen Storer – guitars (2000), bass (2015)
  • Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha (Tenni Arslanyan) – drums (1992–1996, 2015)

Former members

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  • Agent Moulder (Robin Moulder) – bass, piano, keyboards on "My Cat" credited as the big white dancing beav (1992–2000)
  • Lauracet Simpson (Laura Simpson) – drums (1996–1997)
  • Ho Ho Spade (Jeff Tucci) – guitars (1996–1997; died 2014)
  • SMP (Scott Putesky) – guitar (1998–1999; died 2017)
  • Claudia (Claudia Rossi) – drums (1997–1999)
  • Clint Walsh – guitars (1999–2000)

Live members

[edit]
  • Norm Block – drums (1999–2000)
  • Chris Vrenna – drums (2000)

Timeline

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Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Year Title US

CMJ

Label
1997 Sexless Demons and Scars 116 Ichiban
2000 Clear Hearts Grey Flowers - Risk

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Album Label
1993 "My Cat / Swollen" Sexless Demons and Scars Rectum
1996 "Girlscout / American Made" Risk

EPs

[edit]
Year Title Label
1998 Covetous Creature 404

Compilations

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Year Album
2006 Humid Teenage Mediocrity 1992–1996

Cassette demos

[edit]
Year Title
1993 Children 5 And Up
1994 Boy Grinder Session1
1995 Cannibal Song Book
1996 Cockroach Waltz1

1 indicates the demos were never released.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Legendary riot-goths Jack off Jill cheat death again to reform for one night". Alternative Press.
  2. ^ "Poppy goes alt.rock for new cover of Jack off Jill's Fear of Dying". May 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "Humid Teenage Mediocrity: 1992-1995 - Jack Off Jill | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Cult heroes: Jack Off Jill's underground following has made them legends". The Guardian. August 11, 2015. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  5. ^ "Paying the Rant".
  6. ^ "YOUR FAVORITE RIOT GOTH BAND JACK OFF JILL IS REUNITING". Ladygunn.com. April 7, 2015. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Ted B. Kissell (January 21, 1999). "Manson: The Early Years - Page 1". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  8. ^ a b Anthony, Todd (July 7, 1993). "Distaff of Life - Page 1 - News - Miami". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  9. ^ Pelletier, George (November 27, 1997). "Paying the Rent - Page 1 - Music - Miami - Miami New Times". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Greg Baker (October 23, 2006). "Program Notes 48". Miaminewtimes.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  11. ^ Ewens, Hannah Rose (December 1, 2015). "The zine sharing feminist stories to keep riot goth alive | Dazed". Dazed. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Pettigrew, Jason (July 17, 2015). "Legendary riot-goths Jack Off Jill cheat death again to reform for one night - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  13. ^ Baker, Greg (January 5, 1995). "Program Notes 38". Miami New Times. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Greg Baker (April 6, 1994). "The Hits Just Keep on Coming - Page 3 - Music". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  15. ^ "MTV news April 20, 1998". MTV. April 20, 1998. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  16. ^ MTV.com: "/ MTV news March 22, 1999 Archived June 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved June 18, 2007.
  17. ^ Johnson, Tina (April 7, 2000). "MTV news March 04, 2000". MTV. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  18. ^ Price, Simon (September 4, 2005), "Scarling. So Long, Scarecrow", The Independent, The, vol. Independent, London, UK, p. 16, archived from the original on September 29, 2007
  19. ^ "Untitled Page". Scarling.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  20. ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2014 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  21. ^ "Founding MARILYN MANSON Guitarist Daisy Berkowitz Has Stage Four Colon Cancer". Metal Injection. November 15, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017.
  22. ^ RIP Daisy Berkowitz, founding member of Marilyn Manson (1968–2017) Archived October 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine: The Moshville Times.
  23. ^ Battoclette, Augusta (May 26, 2021). "Poppy unleashes gritty rendition of 'Fear Of Dying'—listen". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  24. ^ "A Conversation with Jack off Jill's Jessicka Addams -". July 14, 2015.
  25. ^ "Jack off Jill Reunion". The Collected Rantings of a Blue Haired Geek. January 7, 2016. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  26. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: Seminal 90s Riot-Goth band Jack Off Jill Reunite For One Weekend Only!". bust.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  27. ^ Marshalek, J, (2015). A Conversation With Jack Off Jill's Jessicka Addams. Available at: "A Conversation with Jack off Jill's Jessicka Addams -". July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2015.. [Accessed August 20, 2015]
  28. ^ Pettigrew.Jason "Legendary riot-goths Jack Off Jill cheat death again to reform for one night". Alternativepress.com. July 17, 2015. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
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