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Red Monkey (band)

April 12, 2024

Red Monkey were an English DIY post-hardcore, post-riot grrrl band, active from 1996 to 2005.[1] The band are notable for their political lyrics.[2][3]

Red Monkey
OriginNewcastle, England
GenresPost hardcore, riot grrrl, post-punk
InstrumentsGuitar, Bass, Drums
Years active1996–2005, 2008
LabelsSlampt
Troubleman Unlimited
Kill Rock Stars
Past membersPete Dale
Rachel Holborow
Marc Walker
Joe Mask

History edit

Red Monkey was formed by Rachel Holborow, Pete Dale and Marc Walker in 1996,[4] following on from Rachel and Pete’s earlier bands, the riot grrrl four-piece Pussycat Trash,[5][6][7] and lo-fi duo Avocado Baby.[8] Both acts had released records on the duo’s own record label Slampt, based in their adopted home town of Newcastle. Marc had previously drummed for Newcastle-based Post Hardcore/Rock bands Spinach and Kodiak.[9]

Red Monkey’s first release was the "Do What You Feel"[10] EP on Slampt, followed by "The Time Is Right"[11] EP on US label Troubleman Unlimited and then their debut album Make The Moment. Allmusic praised the album for its "melodic appeal" and the band’s "ability to make entirely political lyrics work in a personal, intelligent manner",[12] while the group’s sound was compared to Gang of Four.

In 1998, the band toured the US to support the stateside release of the album, and a third single followed on Kill Rock Stars records,[13] including two tracks performed on the band’s Peel Session earlier the same year.[14] Tours of Ireland and Europe followed before the band recorded their second album Difficult Is Easy, released in 1999. The record received more mixed reviews than the first; it was praised by the NME[15] but Popmatters criticised the album for failing to capture the live energy of the band,[16] albeit while making favourable comparisons to both Minutemen and Fugazi, the latter of whom Red Monkey supported on their American tours.

Third and final album Gunpowder, Treason and Plot[17] was released in 2001 on Troubleman Unlimited, after Slampt records was wound down the previous year. Joe Mask (of Leeds group Bilge Pump) joined the band on second guitar. The album was praised as a return to form and noted for the use of non-standard time signatures, as well as horns, which brought comparisons to The Ex.[18]

From 2001, the band was less active as members focused increasingly on their families and careers. A final split single with Erase Errata was released in 2003 and the band played their last shows in 2005.[1] Dale started work as a music teacher, and later as a lecturer at Oxford Brookes University,[19] while continuing to play in long term side project Milky Wimpshake[20] and also, immediately following Red Monkey, in a band called Chronicity. Marc Walker and Rachel Holborow went on to play in The Guise and Do The Right Thing, respectively.[1]

Red Monkey reformed for a night to play a Slampt Records retrospective event in Newcastle in 2008, alongside a new generation of post riot-grrrl bands which they and their label helped influence.[6] They continue to be invoked as a touchstone for bands up to the present day.[21][22][23] In 2014, Berlin-based label Our Voltage released a Red Monkey singles and rarities compilation, calling it "posthumous post-punk.. by one of England’s finest Post-RiotGrrrl-Outfits".[24]

Reception edit

The band have been notated for their overt left-leaning political lyrics. Allmusic acclaimed the political agenda of the group, describing it as "down with materialist culture, up with self-actualization".[2] Chris Nelson, writing for MTV in 1998, noted the group's lyrics and "jagged" sound. He added that the three members had "... distinct voices moving forward as one."[3]

Discography edit

Singles and EPs edit

  • Do What You Feel (Feel What You Do), EP, 1997 (Slampt, UK)
  • The Time Is Right, EP, 1997 (Troubleman Unlimited, USA)
  • Mailorder Freak 7” Singles Club, EP, 1998 (Kill Rock Stars, USA)
  • "Get Uncivilised", single, 2000 (Troubleman Unlimited)
  • (Split single with Submission Hold) 7”, 2000 (Radio One, Australia)[25]
  • (Split single with Erase Errata) 7”, 2003 (Gringo Records, UK)[26]

Albums edit

  • Make The Moment, 1997 (Slampt/Troubleman Unlimited)
  • Difficult Is Easy, 1999 (Slampt/Troubleman Unlimited)
  • Gunpowder, Treason and Plot, 2001 (Troubleman Unlimited)
  • How We Learned To Live Like A Bomb, 2014 (Our Voltage)

Compilation appearances edit

  • Taking A Chance On Chances LP, 1998[27] (Slampt/Troubleman Unlimited)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Red Monkey". Kill Rock Stars. 17 January 1997. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b Charlie Wilmoth (1 June 1999). "Difficult Is Easy - Red Monkey | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Red Monkey Make Their Marx On Punk Rock". Mtv.com. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  4. ^ Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1.
  5. ^ "Pussycat Trash Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b Julia Downes. "DIY Queer Feminist (Sub)cultural Resistance in the UK" (PDF). Etheses.whiterose.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Pussycat Trash - The Brat Years: 1992-1995 gullbuy music review". Gullbuy.com. 10 June 2003. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Avocado Baby Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Independent Music Publishers". Wipeoutmusic.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Red Monkey (2) - Do What You Feel (Feel What You Do) (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 25 November 1997. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Red Monkey (2) - The Time Is Right (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 25 November 1997. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  12. ^ Nitsuh Abebe (30 March 1998). "Make the Moment - Red Monkey | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Red Monkey (2) - Mailorder Freak 7" Singles Club (March) (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 25 November 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 25/01/1998 Red Monkey". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  15. ^ "NME Reviews - Difficult Is Easy". Nme.Com. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Red Monkey: Difficult Is Easy". PopMatters.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Red Monkey (2) - Gunpowder, Treason And Plot". Discogs.com. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  18. ^ . Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  19. ^ "Pete Dale — School of Arts — Oxford Brookes University". Arts.brookes.ac.uk. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  20. ^ "Milky Wimpshake Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  21. ^ "Giant Haystacks". Fdhmusic.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  22. ^ . Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  23. ^ "Music features | Erika Elizabeth | obligatory backwards gazing for 2013". Collapse Board. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  24. ^ "Our Voltage — VOLT 2 | RED MONKEY | How We Learned To Live Like A Bomb LP". Ourvoltage.bigcartel.com. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  25. ^ "Red Monkey (2) / Submission Hold - Split Single (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  26. ^ "Erase Errata / Red Monkey (2) - Erase Errata / Red Monkey (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Taking a Chance on Chances - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 3 November 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2015.

Further reading edit

  • Punk and the Politics of Empowerment, Pete Dale (2010)
  • DIY Queer Feminist (Sub)cultural Resistance in the UK, Julia Downes (2009)

External links edit

  • 2002 interview
  • 2006 retrospective
  • 2014 retrospective interview

April 12, 2024
monkey, band, monkey, were, english, post, hardcore, post, riot, grrrl, band, active, from, 1996, 2005, band, notable, their, political, lyrics, monkeyoriginnewcastle, englandgenrespost, hardcore, riot, grrrl, post, punkinstrumentsguitar, bass, drumsyears, act. Red Monkey were an English DIY post hardcore post riot grrrl band active from 1996 to 2005 1 The band are notable for their political lyrics 2 3 Red MonkeyOriginNewcastle EnglandGenresPost hardcore riot grrrl post punkInstrumentsGuitar Bass DrumsYears active1996 2005 2008LabelsSlamptTroubleman UnlimitedKill Rock StarsPast membersPete DaleRachel HolborowMarc WalkerJoe Mask Contents 1 History 2 Reception 3 Discography 3 1 Singles and EPs 3 2 Albums 3 3 Compilation appearances 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editRed Monkey was formed by Rachel Holborow Pete Dale and Marc Walker in 1996 4 following on from Rachel and Pete s earlier bands the riot grrrl four piece Pussycat Trash 5 6 7 and lo fi duo Avocado Baby 8 Both acts had released records on the duo s own record label Slampt based in their adopted home town of Newcastle Marc had previously drummed for Newcastle based Post Hardcore Rock bands Spinach and Kodiak 9 Red Monkey s first release was the Do What You Feel 10 EP on Slampt followed by The Time Is Right 11 EP on US label Troubleman Unlimited and then their debut album Make The Moment Allmusic praised the album for its melodic appeal and the band s ability to make entirely political lyrics work in a personal intelligent manner 12 while the group s sound was compared to Gang of Four In 1998 the band toured the US to support the stateside release of the album and a third single followed on Kill Rock Stars records 13 including two tracks performed on the band s Peel Session earlier the same year 14 Tours of Ireland and Europe followed before the band recorded their second album Difficult Is Easy released in 1999 The record received more mixed reviews than the first it was praised by the NME 15 but Popmatters criticised the album for failing to capture the live energy of the band 16 albeit while making favourable comparisons to both Minutemen and Fugazi the latter of whom Red Monkey supported on their American tours Third and final album Gunpowder Treason and Plot 17 was released in 2001 on Troubleman Unlimited after Slampt records was wound down the previous year Joe Mask of Leeds group Bilge Pump joined the band on second guitar The album was praised as a return to form and noted for the use of non standard time signatures as well as horns which brought comparisons to The Ex 18 From 2001 the band was less active as members focused increasingly on their families and careers A final split single with Erase Errata was released in 2003 and the band played their last shows in 2005 1 Dale started work as a music teacher and later as a lecturer at Oxford Brookes University 19 while continuing to play in long term side project Milky Wimpshake 20 and also immediately following Red Monkey in a band called Chronicity Marc Walker and Rachel Holborow went on to play in The Guise and Do The Right Thing respectively 1 Red Monkey reformed for a night to play a Slampt Records retrospective event in Newcastle in 2008 alongside a new generation of post riot grrrl bands which they and their label helped influence 6 They continue to be invoked as a touchstone for bands up to the present day 21 22 23 In 2014 Berlin based label Our Voltage released a Red Monkey singles and rarities compilation calling it posthumous post punk by one of England s finest Post RiotGrrrl Outfits 24 Reception editThe band have been notated for their overt left leaning political lyrics Allmusic acclaimed the political agenda of the group describing it as down with materialist culture up with self actualization 2 Chris Nelson writing for MTV in 1998 noted the group s lyrics and jagged sound He added that the three members had distinct voices moving forward as one 3 Discography editSingles and EPs edit Do What You Feel Feel What You Do EP 1997 Slampt UK The Time Is Right EP 1997 Troubleman Unlimited USA Mailorder Freak 7 Singles Club EP 1998 Kill Rock Stars USA Get Uncivilised single 2000 Troubleman Unlimited Split single with Submission Hold 7 2000 Radio One Australia 25 Split single with Erase Errata 7 2003 Gringo Records UK 26 Albums edit Make The Moment 1997 Slampt Troubleman Unlimited Difficult Is Easy 1999 Slampt Troubleman Unlimited Gunpowder Treason and Plot 2001 Troubleman Unlimited How We Learned To Live Like A Bomb 2014 Our Voltage Compilation appearances edit Taking A Chance On Chances LP 1998 27 Slampt Troubleman Unlimited References edit a b c Red Monkey Kill Rock Stars 17 January 1997 Retrieved 2 June 2015 a b Charlie Wilmoth 1 June 1999 Difficult Is Easy Red Monkey Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 2 June 2015 a b Red Monkey Make Their Marx On Punk Rock Mtv com Retrieved 14 September 2020 Strong Martin C 1999 The Great Alternative amp Indie Discography Canongate ISBN 0 86241 913 1 Pussycat Trash Discography Discogs com Retrieved 2 June 2015 a b Julia Downes DIY Queer Feminist Sub cultural Resistance in the UK PDF Etheses whiterose ac uk Retrieved 3 June 2015 Pussycat Trash The Brat Years 1992 1995 gullbuy music review Gullbuy com 10 June 2003 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Avocado Baby Discography Discogs com Retrieved 2 June 2015 Independent Music Publishers Wipeoutmusic com Retrieved 2 June 2015 Red Monkey 2 Do What You Feel Feel What You Do Vinyl Discogs com 25 November 1997 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Red Monkey 2 The Time Is Right Vinyl Discogs com 25 November 1997 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Nitsuh Abebe 30 March 1998 Make the Moment Red Monkey Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 2 June 2015 Red Monkey 2 Mailorder Freak 7 Singles Club March Vinyl Discogs com 25 November 1998 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Radio 1 Keeping It Peel 25 01 1998 Red Monkey BBC co uk Retrieved 2 June 2015 NME Reviews Difficult Is Easy Nme Com 12 September 2005 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Red Monkey Difficult Is Easy PopMatters com Retrieved 2 June 2015 Red Monkey 2 Gunpowder Treason And Plot Discogs com 19 December 2011 Retrieved 2 June 2015 insound Archived from the original on 8 April 2014 Retrieved 16 May 2014 Pete Dale School of Arts Oxford Brookes University Arts brookes ac uk 5 July 2010 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Milky Wimpshake Discography Discogs com Retrieved 2 June 2015 Giant Haystacks Fdhmusic com Retrieved 2 June 2015 reconfest Archived from the original on 9 April 2014 Retrieved 16 May 2014 Music features Erika Elizabeth obligatory backwards gazing for 2013 Collapse Board 26 May 2015 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Our Voltage VOLT 2 RED MONKEY How We Learned To Live Like A Bomb LP Ourvoltage bigcartel com 15 January 2014 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Red Monkey 2 Submission Hold Split Single Vinyl Discogs com Retrieved 2 June 2015 Erase Errata Red Monkey 2 Erase Errata Red Monkey Vinyl Discogs com Retrieved 2 June 2015 Taking a Chance on Chances Various Artists Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic 3 November 1998 Retrieved 2 June 2015 Further reading editPunk and the Politics of Empowerment Pete Dale 2010 DIY Queer Feminist Sub cultural Resistance in the UK Julia Downes 2009 External links edit2002 interview 2006 retrospective 2014 retrospective interview Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Red Monkey band amp oldid 1186736546, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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