Red Monkey (band)
{{Short description|English band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Red Monkey
| image =
| caption =
| origin = Newcastle, England
| genre = Post hardcore, riot grrrl, post-punk
| years_active = 1996–2005, 2008
| label = Slampt
Troubleman Unlimited
Kill Rock Stars
| associated_acts = Pussycat Trash
Avocado Baby
Matter Of Exact
Milky Wimpshake
Do The Right Thing
The Guise
Month Of Birthdays
Chronicity
Kodiak
Bilge Pump
Spinach
| past_members = Pete Dale
Rachel Holborow
Marc Walker
Joe Mask
| instruments = Guitar, Bass, Drums
}}
Red Monkey were an English DIY post-hardcore, post-riot grrrl band, active from 1996 to 2005.{{r|"krs"}} The band are notable for their political lyrics.{{r|allmusic|mtv}}
History
Red Monkey was formed by Rachel Holborow, Pete Dale and Marc Walker in 1996,{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Alternative & Indie Discography |url=https://archive.org/details/greatalternative0000stro |url-access=registration |year= 1999 |publisher=Canongate |isbn=0-86241-913-1 }} following on from Rachel and Pete’s earlier bands, the riot grrrl four-piece Pussycat Trash,{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/803319-Pussycat-Trash |title=Pussycat Trash Discography |publisher=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}}{{cite web|url=http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2383/1/uk_bl_ethos_522933.pdf |title=DIY Queer Feminist (Sub)cultural Resistance in the UK |author=Julia Downes |publisher=Etheses.whiterose.ac.uk |accessdate=2015-06-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gullbuy.com/buy/2003/6_10/pussycattrash.php |title=Pussycat Trash - The Brat Years: 1992-1995 gullbuy music review |publisher=Gullbuy.com |date=2003-06-10 |accessdate=2015-06-02}} and lo-fi duo Avocado Baby.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/951187-Avocado-Baby |title=Avocado Baby Discography |publisher=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wipeoutmusic.com/wpcproduct/kodiak/ |title=Independent Music Publishers |publisher=Wipeoutmusic.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}}
Red Monkey’s first release was the "Do What You Feel"{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Red-Monkey-Do-What-You-Feel-Feel-What-You-Do/release/2174223 |title=Red Monkey (2) - Do What You Feel (Feel What You Do) (Vinyl) |publisher=Discogs.com |date= 25 November 1997|accessdate=2015-06-02}} EP on Slampt, followed by "The Time Is Right"{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Red-Monkey-The-Time-Is-Right/release/749956 |title=Red Monkey (2) - The Time Is Right (Vinyl) |publisher=Discogs.com |date= 25 November 1997|accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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",{{cite web|author=Nitsuh Abebe |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/make-the-moment-mw0000667280 |title=Make the Moment - Red Monkey | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=1998-03-30 |accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Red-Monkey-Mailorder-Freak-7-Singles-Club-March/release/1374179 |title=Red Monkey (2) - Mailorder Freak 7" Singles Club (March) (Vinyl) |publisher=Discogs.com |date= 25 November 1998|accessdate=2015-06-02}} including two tracks performed on the band’s Peel Session earlier the same year.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1990s/1998/Jan25redmonkey/ |title=Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 25/01/1998 Red Monkey |publisher=BBC.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/1090 |title=NME Reviews - Difficult Is Easy |publisher=Nme.Com |date=2005-09-12 |accessdate=2015-06-02}} but Popmatters criticised the album for failing to capture the live energy of the band,{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/redmonkey-difficult/ |title=Red Monkey: Difficult Is Easy |publisher=PopMatters.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Red-Monkey-Gunpowder-Treason-And-Plot/master/311419 |title=Red Monkey (2) - Gunpowder, Treason And Plot |publisher=Discogs.com |date=2011-12-19 |accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.insound.com/Gunpowder-Treason-Plot-Vinyl-LP-Red-Monkey/P/INS10820/ |accessdate=May 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |title=insound|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408225015/http://www.insound.com/Gunpowder-Treason-Plot-Vinyl-LP-Red-Monkey/P/INS10820/ |archivedate=April 8, 2014 }}
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. Dale started work as a music teacher, and later as a lecturer at Oxford Brookes University,{{cite web|url=http://arts.brookes.ac.uk/staff/petedale.html |title=Pete Dale — School of Arts — Oxford Brookes University |publisher=Arts.brookes.ac.uk |date=2010-07-05 |accessdate=2015-06-02}} while continuing to play in long term side project Milky Wimpshake{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/245210-Milky-Wimpshake |title=Milky Wimpshake Discography |publisher=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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.
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. They continue to be invoked as a touchstone for bands up to the present day.{{cite web|url=http://fdhmusic.com/gianthaystacks/gianthaystacks.html |title=Giant Haystacks |publisher=Fdhmusic.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}}{{cite web|url=http://reconfest.co.uk/2013/artist-profiles/ |title=reconfest|accessdate=May 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409002718/http://reconfest.co.uk/2013/artist-profiles/ |archivedate=April 9, 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.collapseboard.com/features/best-of-2013/erika-elizabeth-obligatory-backwards-gazing-for-2013 |title=Music features | Erika Elizabeth | obligatory backwards gazing for 2013 |publisher=Collapse Board |date=2015-05-26 |accessdate=2015-06-02}} 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".{{cite web|url=http://ourvoltage.bigcartel.com/product/volt-2-red-monkey-how-we-learned-to-live-like-a-bomb |title=Our Voltage — VOLT 2 | RED MONKEY | How We Learned To Live Like A Bomb LP |publisher=Ourvoltage.bigcartel.com |date=2014-01-15 |accessdate=2015-06-02}}
Reception
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".{{r|allmusic}} 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."{{r|mtv}}
Discography
=Singles and EPs=
- 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){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Red-Monkey-2-Submission-Hold-Split-Single/release/2264054 |title=Red Monkey (2) / Submission Hold - Split Single (Vinyl) |publisher=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}}
- (Split single with Erase Errata) 7”, 2003 (Gringo Records, UK){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Erase-Errata-Red-Monkey-Erase-Errata-Red-Monkey/release/1080729 |title=Erase Errata / Red Monkey (2) - Erase Errata / Red Monkey (Vinyl) |publisher=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-02}}
=Albums=
- 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=
References
Further reading
- [https://theses.ncl.ac.uk/dspace/bitstream/10443/1101/1/Dale%2011.pdf Punk and the Politics of Empowerment, Pete Dale (2010)]
- [http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2383/1/uk_bl_ethos_522933.pdf DIY Queer Feminist (Sub)cultural Resistance in the UK, Julia Downes (2009)]
External links
- [http://diskant.marcelinesmith.com/features/red-monkey/ 2002 interview]
- [http://tuningforkmedia.blogspot.com/2006/01/uk-riot-grrrl-and-their-friends-red.html 2006 retrospective]
- [http://www.thegirlsare.com/2014/05/19/interview-red-monkey/ 2014 retrospective interview]
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