We caught up with Jimmy Urine from Mindless Self Indulgence, for a chat about the bands forthcoming studio album 'If', what the band get up to inbetween shows and many other things.

Hello and thank you for taking time out to do this
interview? First of all how did Mindless Self
Indulgence get together?
THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR US TO BE TOGETHER IN THE FIRST PLACE ...BUT ISN'T THE WORLD THAT MUCH MORE LUCKY THAT WE ARE?

Your music fits into many genres, how would you describe it?
I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS THINKING FOR YOURSELF.

You have released five full-length albums and many EP's, singles and remixes in the past but have only released 'You'll Rebel To Anything' (Expanded & Re-mastered) in the UK, why is this and do you plan to release any more of your previous material in the UK?
We wanted the UK to have a special package as the old one was floating around for years. As far as the second question...maybe. WAIT AND SEE.

Despite the lack of releases in the UK you have been very successful in the UK selling out many shows across the years including every London show prior to playing with either The Used or My Chemical Romance. How did you first start off spreading the MSI word across to UK people?
IT WAS SPREADING BEFORE WE EVER GOT TO THE UK... SO WHEN WE ARRIVED WE WERE ALREADY SELLING OUT SHOWZ ...ITS THAT GODDAMN FUCKING INTERNET'S FAULT ...THAT AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE A VERY PRETTY PRETTY BAND

You have just finished work on your forthcoming album 'If', what can we expect from it?
WE MADE A RECORD WE PUT IT OUT THERE ...YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF IT ...WE ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW YOU SHOULD PERCEIVE IT ...AND YOU SHOULDN'T TELL ME HOW TO PERCEIVE IT ...AND WE ALL WALK AWAY HAPPY

How does if differ from your previous releases?
MORE SONGS AND MORE VARIETY OF SONGS.

Most of your songs are extremely short, why is this?
WE GET RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS ...NO SENSE IN HANGING AROUND FOR 4 MINUTES...THAT'S BORING OLD HIPPY SHIT

Your single 'Straight To Video' got to number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles chart after spending well over 90 weeks in the chart and your most recent single, 'Never Wanted To Dance' was recently the number one selling single in the United States according to Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart. How important are chart positions to you?
WE’RE GLAD PEOPLE LIKE OUR MUSIC, BUT CHARTS ARE JUST SOMETHING FOR RECORD LABELS TO BRAG ABOUT. CHART POSITIONS HAVE VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH PAYING OUR BILLS OR WRITING GOOD SONGS.

The artwork on your CD’s are pretty impressive, who comes up with the ideas and final designs?
THE IDEAS OF ART ARE WHATEVER THE PROJECT CALLS FOR AT THE TIME ... SOMETIMES WE GET A MAJOR ARTIST LIKE JAMIE HEWLETT OR JHONEN VASQUEZ TO DO THE ART.... SOMETIMES WE KICK IT GUERRILLA STYLEE AND DO IT OURSELVES

You are heading back to the UK towards the end of April for a 6 date tour, are you looking forward to it?
We're here now and it's FUN as always. Our UK fans GO APE SHIT THEY ARE...amazing!

Who will be supporting you on your UK tour?
Your MOTHER.

The summer festivals are slowly being announced, do you have plans to play any festivals this summer?
Yes but we're not at liberty to disclose them at this time. Anyone that is paying attention will know.

You headlined the Revolution stage of the Project Revolution tour in 2007, how many shows did you play and how did you go down with the crowds?
WE PLAYED FOR 2 MONTHS AND IT WAS ALL A CRAZY INSANE BLUR ...BUT A GREAT FUCKING BLUR.

You toured the UK as main support for My Chemical Romance on their Arena tour in November, how did you go down with the bands very mixed fan base?
RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING AT A LINE OF KIDS OUT SIDE OUR SOLDOUT SHOW IN PARIS ...I SEE SOME CRAZY MOTHER FUKERS/ SOME NERDS /SOME GEEKS/SOME PUNKS AND SOME MCR FANS.... I GUESS IT WORKED.

Do you think the My Chemical Romance support slot has majorly increased your fan base and made you more successful in the UK?
Of course! So did playing with THE USED at GIVE IT A NAME last year. All were GREAT experiences. We've been building a dedicated fan base here for a while. The fact is, any band can support any number of more well known bands, but at the end of the day, if you can't deliver the goods, it won't make much of a difference. We deliver!

You have toured with many bands, but have you had any favourite bands to tour with?
MY FAVORITE BAND TO TOUR WITH IS ALWAYS MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE. BECAUSE I LOVE ME.

You have toured all over the world, do you have any favourite countries/cities to play in?
PARIS TOKYO LONDON SCOTLAND OHIO PERTH.... THAT'S MY TOP BUNCH AS OF TODAY IT WILL CHANGE TOMORROW.

When you're on long tours such as now, what do you do to entertain yourself between shows?
I BEAT OFF ALLOT ... I TRY TO BEAT OF IN EVERY STATE ...NOW I'M TRYING FOR EVERY COUNTRY.

Do tensions ever run high, when you are on the road for so long and in the same space as other bands?
NO TIME FOR TENSION… WE STRAIGHT UP HATE EVERYONE.

You really interact with the crowd at your shows and quite often wind them up, have you ever had a crowd turn for the worse on you?
NO BECAUSE THEY DESPERATELY WANT TO FUCK US.

What advice would you give to new bands starting off?
DON'T BOTHER WITH MUSIC. BECOME A DOCTOR.

This is a bit of a random question but we ask every band it, if you had a choice what animal would you be out of a Zebra and a Giraffe?
I WOULD BE THE FATTEST CAT I COULD EVER BE ...I WOULD DO NOTHING BUT EAT... AND I WOULD CALL MYSELF FAT PIECE OF SHIT.

Thanks for your time, is there a message you would like to add for your fans?
NO ONE IS SAFE.

Interview by Trigger