The Monochrome Set – In session at Maida Vale for Marc Riley – September 28, 2016 – BBC 6 Music –
The Monochrome Set in session for Marc Riley at BBC 6 Music, and recorded live from Maida Vale Studios on September 238, 2016.
From The Monochrome Set’s very own website:
“The Monochrome Set are a highly influential English new wave band, originally formed in London in 1978 by Bid (vocals & guitar), Lester Square (lead guitar), and J D Haney (from The Art Attacks, on drums); a bassist called Charlie was added shortly thereafter.
Bid & Lester had been in a band called The B-Sides in 1976, which also included Adam Ant and Andy Warren (who both then formed Adam & The Ants). Andy would go on to record the first Ants album, “Dirk Wears White Sox”, before joining The Monochrome Set in late 1979.
Over the course of 1978, TMS gained a strong following, and Simon Croft replaced Charlie on bass. They recorded a demo, “He’s Frank (Slight Return)”, which was later released in 1980 on Rough Trade. At the end of the year, Jeremy Harrington replaced Croft on bass and vocals.
Experimental filmmaker Tony Potts began collaborating with the band in 1979, designing lighting and stage sets with film projections for their live appearances. The band’s early persona was defined by the shadowy, uncertain stage images created by the films to such an extent that he is often described as being the band’s “fifth member”.
In 1979, they signed to Rough Trade and released three singles, “He’s Frank”, “Eine Symphonie Des Grauens”, and “The Monochrome Set”, all of which charted in the Indie Top Ten, though sales from Indie shops were not eligible for the national charts.
Over the next 6 years, the band released four more albums with the same line-up: “Jack” (for Honeymoon Record, later on Cherry Red), “Charade”, “Misère”, and “Trinity Road” (for Cherry Red). The albums all sold as well as their earlier output, but the difficulties in touring and promotion that many bands faced in the 90s took their toll, and the band broke up again in 1998.
The Monochrome Set reunited on 8 October 2008 for a one-off performance at Cherry Red’s 30th anniversary party at Dingwalls, London. It also marked the 30th anniversary of The Monochrome Set. Bid, Warren and Square were joined by Jennifer Denitto (drums), Sian Chaffer (keyboards), Alice Healey & Deb Van Der Geugten (backing vocals), all from Scarlet’s Well, and performed 13 songs.
In 2018, the 40th year since the band formed, their 14th studio album, “Maisieworld” and a box set, “The Monochrome Set 1979–1985: Complete Recordings”, were released. They recorded “Fabula Mendax” in 2019, but had to cut short the promotion of this album in 2020, including the cancellation of many shows around the world, due to global shit.
In 2020, Athen Ayren replaced Moran on keyboards and vocals, and TMS recorded “Allhallowtide” in 2021, which was released in 2022″.
Okay – jump in and play loud.
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