Rudimentary Peni
Encyclopedia
Rudimentary Peni are a British
anarcho-punk/deathrock band formed in 1980.
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. Bassist Grant Matthews has also written a number of songs for the band, though his lyrics primarily focus on sociopolitical themes. Very few photos exist of the band, as their albums feature Blinko's drawings instead, but Pushead
published a few in an early edition of his magazine.
In Maximum RocknRoll
, issue #237 (February 2003), Matthews explains how he came up with the name of the band: "When I was at school studying biology, we were told that in the fetal stage the clitoris is a rudimentary penis."
The band released its first record; a 10 song EP
pressed into 7" vinyl
, on their own label, Outer Himalayan Records. They have continued to self-release much of their material, with occasional offerings from other record companies. Early on, Rudimentary Peni had connections with fellow anarcho-punkers Crass
, and their second 7" EP, Farce, was issued by Crass Records
. Up through the band's first studio album, Death Church (1983), their records were packaged in fold-out paper sleeves full of artwork, lyrics and poster graphics characteristic of Crass and many other bands in the anarcho-punk scene.
Rudimentary Peni stopped performing in the mid-1980s after bassist Matthews was diagnosed with cancer. After a 4 year hiatus, they recorded Cacophony, a sonic tribute to seminal New England
horror author H. P. Lovecraft
. The band has continued to record and release material. Blinko authored a semi-autobiographical novel called The Primal Screamer, which is currently out of print. Blinko has also become increasingly popular in the Outsider Art
scene. Blinko continues to release new music, despite his move to a psychiatric hospital somewhere in London. Blinko also authored The Haunted Head. They have a cult following in the United States punk scene, with the EP's of RP and Death Church
becoming diversely popular within various punk scenes in recent years, despite changing much of their early anarcho punk after the release of Farce
(collected in EP's of RP). Most reissues of their 80's albums are now out of print.
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
anarcho-punk/deathrock band formed in 1980.
Line-up
- Nick BlinkoNick BlinkoNick Blinko is a British musician, lyricist, and artist best known as the lead singer, lyricist and guitar player for the British band Rudimentary Peni...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals, artwork, lyrics - Grant Matthews - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lyrics - Jon Greville - drums
History
Rudimentary Peni emerged from the British anarcho-punk scene in the early 1980s. Lead singer/guitarist Nick BlinkoNick Blinko
Nick Blinko is a British musician, lyricist, and artist best known as the lead singer, lyricist and guitar player for the British band Rudimentary Peni...
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
Pope Adrian 37th Psychristiatric
Pope Adrian 37th Psychristiatric is a concept album by the band Rudimentary Peni released in 1995. The majority of the album was written while lead singer/guitarist Nick Blinko was being detained in a psychiatric hospital under Section 3 of the 1983 Mental Health Act...
album whilst resident in a psychiatric hospital. Bassist Grant Matthews has also written a number of songs for the band, though his lyrics primarily focus on sociopolitical themes. Very few photos exist of the band, as their albums feature Blinko's drawings instead, but Pushead
Pushead
Pushead is an artist, record label owner, and writer within the hardcore punk and heavy metal field. He has created artwork for many bands, artists, and athletes including Metallica, the The Misfits, Dr. Dre, Travis Barker, and Craig Johnson. He has designed many record covers, T-shirts,...
published a few in an early edition of his magazine.
In Maximum RocknRoll
Maximum RocknRoll
Maximum rocknroll is a widely distributed, monthly not-for-profit fanzine based in San Francisco, USA. It features interviews, columns, and reviews from international contributors...
, issue #237 (February 2003), Matthews explains how he came up with the name of the band: "When I was at school studying biology, we were told that in the fetal stage the clitoris is a rudimentary penis."
The band released its first record; a 10 song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
pressed into 7" vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, on their own label, Outer Himalayan Records. They have continued to self-release much of their material, with occasional offerings from other record companies. Early on, Rudimentary Peni had connections with fellow anarcho-punkers Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
, and their second 7" EP, Farce, was issued by Crass Records
Crass Records
Crass Records is an independent record label which was set up by the anarchist punk band Crass.-Overview and history:Prior to the formation of Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher had published their creative works via their own Dial House based Exitstencil Press...
. Up through the band's first studio album, Death Church (1983), their records were packaged in fold-out paper sleeves full of artwork, lyrics and poster graphics characteristic of Crass and many other bands in the anarcho-punk scene.
Rudimentary Peni stopped performing in the mid-1980s after bassist Matthews was diagnosed with cancer. After a 4 year hiatus, they recorded Cacophony, a sonic tribute to seminal New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
horror author H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
. The band has continued to record and release material. Blinko authored a semi-autobiographical novel called The Primal Screamer, which is currently out of print. Blinko has also become increasingly popular in the Outsider Art
Outsider Art
The term outsider art was coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972 as an English synonym for art brut , a label created by French artist Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture; Dubuffet focused particularly on art by insane-asylum inmates.While...
scene. Blinko continues to release new music, despite his move to a psychiatric hospital somewhere in London. Blinko also authored The Haunted Head. They have a cult following in the United States punk scene, with the EP's of RP and Death Church
Death Church
"Death Church" is the first studio album by the anarcho-punk/Deathrock band Rudimentary Peni, which was released in 1983. It was recorded and mixed at Southern Studios on 9th and 10th April 1983, and engineered by John Loder...
becoming diversely popular within various punk scenes in recent years, despite changing much of their early anarcho punk after the release of Farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
(collected in EP's of RP). Most reissues of their 80's albums are now out of print.
Discography
Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie ChartUK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
.
- Rudimentary Peni EP, Outer Himalayan, 1981
- Farce EP, Crass RecordsCrass RecordsCrass Records is an independent record label which was set up by the anarchist punk band Crass.-Overview and history:Prior to the formation of Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher had published their creative works via their own Dial House based Exitstencil Press...
, 1981 (#7) - Catastrophe live LP, Rotten, 1982
- Death ChurchDeath Church"Death Church" is the first studio album by the anarcho-punk/Deathrock band Rudimentary Peni, which was released in 1983. It was recorded and mixed at Southern Studios on 9th and 10th April 1983, and engineered by John Loder...
LP, Corpus Christi RecordsCorpus Christi RecordsCorpus Christi Records is an independent record label started by some of the members of Crass and their recording engineer and business partner John Loder, to release records by artists who did not perhaps fit in with some of the stricter ideals of the Crass Records label.Several of the artists on...
, 1983 (#3) - The EPs of RPThe EPs of RP"The E.P.s of R.P." is a compilation of the anarcho-punk band Rudimentary Peni released on LP in 1986 and CD in 1994. It contains both 7" EPs, "Rudimentary Peni" and "Farce". It is available on CD from Outer Himalayan Records...
LP/CD (collects Rudimentary Peni and Farce EPs), Corpus Christi Records, 1986 - Cacophony LP, Outer Himalayan, 1987
- Pope Adrian 37th PsychristiatricPope Adrian 37th PsychristiatricPope Adrian 37th Psychristiatric is a concept album by the band Rudimentary Peni released in 1995. The majority of the album was written while lead singer/guitarist Nick Blinko was being detained in a psychiatric hospital under Section 3 of the 1983 Mental Health Act...
LP, Outer Himalayan, 1995 - Echoes of Anguish EP, Outer Himalayan, 1998
- The Underclass EP, Outer Himalayan, 2000
- Archaic EP, Outer Himalayan, 2004
- No More Pain EP, Southern, 2008