Jessicka
Jessicka | |
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Promotional photo of Jessicka Jack Off Jill era 1996
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jessica Fodera |
Also known as | J. Jinx, Jessicka Addams, Sick |
Born | October 23 |
Origin | Miami, Florida |
Genre(s) | Alternative, Indie, Experimental, Noise and Goth rock, Noise pop, Shoegaze and Post-Grunge |
Occupation(s) | Singer, painter, musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | vocals |
Years active | 1990–present |
Label(s) | Sympathy for the Record Industry |
Associated acts | Jack Off Jill, Scarling., Tweaker, Messy, Marilyn Manson, The Ingenues, Mrs. Scabtree |
Website | http://www.Jessicka.com |
Jessicka Addams (born Jessica Fodera October 23), better known by her stage name Jessicka, is a professional American musician and artist. She was the first to use this alternate spelling of her given name Jessica. She added the "K" to the original spelling of her first name and dropped her surname, paying homage to Magick (Book 4), by Aleister Crowley. She was the lead singer of the alternative rock band Jack Off Jill until its separation in 2000, and is now the lead singer of another alternative rock band, Scarling.. She is a friend of Marilyn Manson, and performed with him, among others, in the short-lived Mrs. Scabtree project. She dated Jeordie White from 1992 until 1997.
Contents
Biography[edit]
Jessicka was born in Miami, but was raised in Sunrise, Florida. In 1991, she met Marilyn Manson at a local bar called the Squeeze; the two quickly became friends. He encouraged her to start a band, which would later be called Jack Off Jill. Over the next 15 years Fodera would be involved in such bands as Jack Off Jill, Mrs. Scabtree, Honey to Ash, Messy, and more currently, Scarling.
Career[edit]
Jack Off Jill[edit]
After a few failed attempts at starting a band, Jessicka met Tenni Arslynian while attending Piper High School. They had begun writing songs, but had not yet formed a complete band when Robin Moulder and Michelle Oliver joined them to create the band Jack In Jill. In 1992, Jack In Jill got their start when they were asked to open for fellow Floridian and long time friend Marilyn Manson and his band, Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids at a Davie, Florida nightclub called the Plus 5 Lounge. Before advertisements for the show were printed, Manson suggested a name change to Jack Off Jill, which the foursome accepted.
Dreadlock-clad Jessicka was the center of all the hype and attention that Jack Off Jill received. She delivered her vocals in an angelic to banshee-like voice and performed on-stage antics dressed in Goth or kinderwhore attire, that included stripping young men on stage while the band and crowd taunted the exposed fans, as well as writing the word cunt on her body, slicing her arms on-stage with a razor and covering the audience with multi colored spit, candy, and her own blood. In early 1993, Jessicka and Manson formed Mrs. Scabtree. Mrs. Scabtree was a side project where Manson played drums, while Jessicka shared vocal duties with then boyfriend, Jeordie White, known later as Twiggy Ramirez.In late December 1994, Jessicka spent a night in jail when she and Manson were arrested after a concert in Jacksonville, Florida after being accused by the town's Christian Coalition for breaking the town's adult entertainment codes. Both singers were charged with misdemeanors. Though Jessicka's onstage behavior was often labeled as shocking, she's never claimed to be a shock rocker. It did not help that after a four year relationship, then boyfriend Jeordie White, began to mimic Jessicka's dress and appearance, making critics' comparisons draw even closer. At this time Jessicka increasingly cut herself on and off stage, which earned her the title of Patron Saint of Self Injury, a line that would later resurface in the lyrics to Jack Off Jill's song, "When I Am Queen". The band released their first full-length Sexless Demons and Scars, on September 9, 1997, then hit the road on several national tours throughout the United States and Canada.
Once back in Los Angeles, Jessicka began to question her commitment to Jack Off Jill. At this time not only were she and band mate Robin Moulder not agreeing on the band's direction but she and mentor Manson were no longer on speaking terms. The initial strain in their relationship was due to the involvement of Manson's ex-guitarist Scott Mitchell Putesky in Jack Off Jill, and Jessicka's ongoing feud with ex-boyfriend, Twiggy Ramirez. In early 1998 after reading Manson's autobiography The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, and finding her role in the story had been reduced to a mere mention as a groupie, she decided to contact Manson. She found out that Manson believed that she had employed Putesky in retaliation to how she was negatively depicted in the book. Their renewed friendship is speculated to be the reason why by early 1999, Putesky was no longer a member of Jack Off Jill and the band were asked to take the opening slot on Marilyn Manson's Rock Is Dead tour, after Hole departed. By most accounts, the split was amicable.
On July 17, 2000, Jack Off Jill released their second full-length album, Clear Hearts Grey Flowers, just as their label was preparing to close its doors. Producer Chris Vrenna played drums for the band's last show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in April of 2000. Jack Off Jill officially separated in late 2000.
Reunion[edit]
On April 7th, 2015 Bust.com announced a Jack Off Jill reunion show at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on July 18th as well as a Pledgemusic campaign offering "Golden Tickets" and other Jack Off Jill rarities related to the show. The 2015 lineup consists of Jessicka, Tenni Ah-Cha-Cha, Michelle Inhell & Helen Storer. Daisy Berkowitz joined the band on stage for their encore, "Cinnamon Spider", "Strawberry Gashes", & a cover of the Cure's "Love Song"
Scarling.[edit]
After making Los Angeles her permanent residence, Jessicka was invited in 2001 by guitarist Christian Hejnal to perform guest vocals on his solo album. They began recording and rehearsing together and eventually recruited the musicians who would form the first and very short-lived lineup of Scarling. in 2002. In early 2002 Jessicka was introduced to Long Gone John, owner of Sympathy for the Record Industry, by mutual friend Mark Ryden. On March 19, 2003 Scarling.'s debut single, "Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole", was released on John's record label. Its cover featured an illustration entitled Wound 39 by artist Mark Ryden. In April 2004, Scarling. released their first album, the seven-song, thirty-three-minute Sweet Heart Dealer, which again utilized the team of Ryden and Vrenna.
In the autumn of 2004, Scarling. was invited to join the lineup of the Robert Smith curated Curiosa Festival, performing on select West Coast dates alongside Jessicka's long-time favorite, The Cure. Smith described the band's music as "dark, desperate, chaotic, gorgeous pop music, the sound of the end of the world" and nominated Sweet Heart Dealer for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize.
In December 2005, after releasing their second full length album So Long, Scarecrow, Scarling. embarked on its first UK tour, creating a buzz for themselves and selling out most venues. While in Europe, Jessicka attended long-time friend Marilyn Manson's wedding to burlesque performer Dita Von Teese on December 3, 2005, in a secular ceremony in County Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 Jessicka continued to tour in the United States and Europe with Scarling., touring with such bands as The Wedding Present and Depeche Mode.
Scarling. began working on their third full length album in 2013 but it never materialized.
Personal life[edit]
Jessicka is bisexual and has been open about her sexual experiences with both men and women. She has been romantically linked to musicians such as Twiggy Ramirez, guitarist Clint Walsh of Tweaker, Carlos Dengler from Interpol, and Scarling. guitarist Christian Hejnal. On February 14, 2006, (Valentine's Day) while on a break from touring, she and guitarist Christian Hejnal were engaged. Their wedding took place on October 13, 2007 at the Oviatt Penthouse in Los Angeles. Keanu Reeves, Jeff Buhler, Roman Dirge, Kevin Haskins, Dita Von Teese, Mark Ryden, Jared Gold, Elizabeth McGrath, Tim Biskup, Lisa Leveridge, and Samantha Maloney were amongst the guests that attended. The couple changed their surname to Addams. Ryden's wedding gift was a miniature portrait of the couple, a faithful adaptation of Jan Van Eyck's "Arnolfini Portrait," that was reproduced on the invitations. Jessicka was friends with Jennifer Syme famous for being the girlfriend of Canadian film actor Keanu Reeves, whom she dated from 1999 until 2000. She died at the age of 28 in a car accident, allegedly caused by the consumption of alcohol and drugs which she had taken at a party at Marilyn Manson's residence the night before.
Art career[edit]
On April 25, 2008 Jessicka unveiled her artwork to the public at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery in Los Angeles, California. The multi-artist show called "depARTed" was curated by actor Daniel Franzese and featured art inspired by stars that died before their time. All art submitted was inspired by famous personalities like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Anna Nicole Smith, to notable figures like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., to artists like Keith Haring and Isabella Blow.
Jessicka also took part in Daniel's next show Crusaders and Haters at Royal/T gallery that showcased an assortment of work from artists from all over the world, depicting superheroes and villains in pop culture. The show opened July 17, 2009.
On February 7, 2009 Jessicka attended artist Mark Ryden's exhibition "The Snow Yak Show" at the Tomio Koyama Gallery in Tokyo along with well known American artists Tim Biskup, Junko Mizuno, and Marion Peck. This show marked a bit of a departure for the artist, whose previously brightly colored palette and rich back rounds were replaced by a more austere, minimal look and staying to a serene palette of white and grey tones. Jessicka was listed as one of Ryden's muses for the show.
Jessicka's first solo show titled, Smile Even if it Hurts with fellow artist/musician Lindsey Way took place on November 13, 2010 in Los Angeles at the Dark Dark Science Gallery. The show featured collaborations with artists Mark Ryden, Marion Peck, Morgan Slade, Joshua Petker, Liz Mcgrath, Austin Young, Jared Gold, Tarina Tarantino and Count Louis-Marie de Castelbajac.
On April 9, 2011 Jessicka participated in Tara McPherson's "Tiny Trifecta" in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York and LeBasse Projects inaugural exhibition "Momentum" in Chinatown, Los Angeles, California.
On August 5, 2011 Jessicka's show "Little Grey Secrets" opened at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles.
On November, 02, 2013 Jessicka was part of a four woman show entitled, "Black Moon" in Los Angeles with art legends Camille Rose Garcia, Elizabeth McGrath, and Marion Peck.
Curator[edit]
Jessicka has curated two different art shows under the name Dark Dark Science. The first was on November 13, 2010, the show was collectively entitled 'Smile Even if it Hurts', a joint exhibit with friend and fellow artist Lindsey Way. The second show was on August 4, 2012 and ran until August 28, 012. The show was called 'MiXTAPE'. Artists were asked to pick a song and create art inspired by that song. 24 artists participated in the show including Mark Ryden, Frances Bean Cobain, Camille Rose Garcia, Fairuza Balk, Aaron Smith, and Tara McPherson. The eclectic mix of songs chosen were featured for digital download on iTunes.
Exhibitions[edit]
Solo shows[edit]
2010 - "Smile Even If It Hurts" Dark Dark Science Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 - "Little Grey Secrets" La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
Selected group shows[edit]
2014 "Black Moon NYC" Sloan Fine Arts, NY, NY with Camille Rose Garcia, Elizabeth McGrath and Marion Peck
2014 "Boxes Of Death 5"
2014 “Small Indignities” September 13th - October 5th at Red Truck Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
2014 "Flannel and Glitter" opened September 13th The Rawk Show, Romani Gallery, Austin, Texas
2014 "The Coaster Show" September 5 – 28, 2014 La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
2014 "Fourth Annual Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
2014 LA Art Show "Littletopia" Los Angeles, CA
2013 - "Black Moon" Sloan Fine Arts, LA, CA
2013 - "beer-is-art " at La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
2013 - "Third Annual Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
2013 - "Tentacles!" Ltd. Art Gallery in Seattle, Washington
2013 - "Mark Ryden’s YHWH Group Custom Show" @ Toy Art Gallery Los Angeles, CA
2012 - "AWAKENING" curated by Sloan Fine Arts, AFA gallery New York, NY
2012 - "MiXTAPE" at Dark Dark Science Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2012 - "Second Annual Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
2012 - "Hey Geek Girl" LTD art Gallery Seattle, Washington
2011 - "Spread the Word" Mark Moore Gallery, Culver City, CA
2011 - "Plus 1" Sloan Fine Arts, New York, NY
2011 - "Momentum" at LeBasse Projects Chinatown Inaugural Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
2011 - "Tiny Trifecta" at Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
2011 - "Everything But The Kitschen Sync 14" at La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA
2009 - "Crusaders and Haters" RoyalT, Culver City, California
2008 - "2008 "DepARTed" World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Discography[edit]
Jack Off Jill[edit]
- Children 5 and Up (1993, Demo)
- The Boygrinder Sessions (1994, Demo)
- Cannibal Song Book (1995, Demo)
- Cockroach Waltz (1996, Demo)
- Sexless Demons And Scars (1997)
- Covetous Creature (1998, EP)
- Clear Hearts Grey Flowers (2000)
- Humid Teenage Mediocrity (2005)
Messy[edit]
- Make You Believe (2001)
Scarling.[edit]
- "Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole" (2003, Single)
- Sweet Heart Dealer (2004)
- "Crispin Glover" (2004, Single)
- "We Are the Music Makers" (2005, Single)
- So Long, Scarecrow (2005)
- "Staring to the Sun" (2006, Single)
- "Who Wants to Die for Art" (2013, Single)
The Ingenues[edit]
- "Happy for You" (2008)
Guest vocals[edit]
- "Last Day In June" (1999), for the band Honey To Ash.
- "Miss Ann Thrope" (2000), track seven on My Ruin studio album, A Prayer Under Pressure of Violent Anguish, Snapper/Spitfire.
- "Make You Believe" (2000), for the band Messy.
- "Iieee" (2001), cover duet with Meegs Rascón, guitarist of Coal Chamber, for Songs Of A Goddess – A Tori Amos Tribute.
- "Nothing At All" (2012) Chris Vrenna / Tweaker "call the time eternity" Metropolis Records
Filmography[edit]
- Ellie Parker (2005)
- Begin the End (2014) - Jessicka makes a small cameo in this Placebo's video directed by Los Angeles photographer Piper Ferguson (2013)
Trivia[edit]
- In Manson's autobiography The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, it was revealed that Jessicka has in fact had sex with former-Marilyn Manson drummer Sara Lee Lucas. but later both parties denied it.
- In March, 2009, Jessicka appeared as a special guest in an episode of the reality television series Germany's Next Topmodel, hosted by Heidi Klum.
- On April 2009 Jessicka modeled for photographer Austin Young for the Bettie Page "Heaven Bound" art show.
- Jessicka and her husband Christian Hejnal Addams performed with their band Scarling. at the wedding of Bravo's Shear Genius finalist Janine Jarman and Matthew Wolcott at the Houdini Mansion in Hollywood on June 26, 2010.
- Jessicka and Christian also were featured on an episode of Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis which aired August 20th 2013.