The Blow Monkeys
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in London, United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
| Website | www |
The Blow Monkeys are a pop group from the United Kingdom, established in 1981. Their first single, "Live Today Love Tomorrow," debuted in 1982. Throughout the 1980s, they enjoyed commercial acclaim with multiple hit singles and albums before disbanding in the early 1990s. Their major breakthrough came with the track "Digging Your Scene," which climbed to No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1986. From 1986 to 1990, the band secured chart positions for four albums and eleven singles within the UK.
The original lineup reunited towards the end of 2007, subsequently releasing thirteen albums.
Formation
The Blow Monkeys originated in London in 1981 when lead vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Dr. Robert (born Bruce Robert Howard on 2 May 1961 in Haddington, Scotland) returned to Britain after spending five years in Australia. The ensemble also featured Mick Anker on bass guitar, Neville Henry playing saxophone, and either Tony Kiley or Crispin Taylor on drums.
Recording
Their debut album, Limping for a Generation, was issued in 1984. The band's first charting single emerged in 1986 with "Digging Your Scene," taken from their sophomore album Animal Magic, which attained number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. This track addressed societal backlash linked to AIDS against the gay community and peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as No. 7 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart; it also charted across the UK, Italy, and Germany.
Released in January 1987, their third album She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter reached No. 20 on UK charts, propelled by the successful single "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way," which peaked at No. 5 domestically and No. 28 in Italy. The album included harmony vocals by Grayson Hugh and featured a duet with Curtis Mayfield titled "Celebrate (the day after you)." Although it was made available in the US market, it did not enter the charts there.
The track "You Don't Own Me" was featured on the soundtrack for Dirty Dancing.
Apart from the band’s work, Dr. Robert collaborated with Chicago house vocalist Kym Mazelle on the song "Wait," which reached No. 7 on UK charts and was included on The Blow Monkeys' fourth album Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood as well as their greatest hits compilation Choices – The Singles Collection. This album became their highest-charting release, peaking at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart in 1989.
Split and reunion
Following the release of their fifth album Springtime for the World—which included an EP compiling its three singles—the band dissolved in late 1990. Dr. Robert then embarked on a solo career, working alongside artists such as Paul Weller, Dee C. Lee, and Beth Orton.
On 18 November 2007, The Blow Monkeys’ original lineup declared their reunion along with plans for a new album entitled Devil's Tavern and a tour scheduled for 2008. The album was released on 8 September 2008 and was financed through fan pre-orders. Q magazine commended it as a strong comeback for frontman Robert.
In June 2009, they issued a limited edition double digipack CD/DVD featuring their performance at London’s 100 Club, showcasing classics like "Digging Your Scene" alongside new material from Devil's Tavern.
January 2011 marked the release of Staring at the Sea, led by the single "Steppin' Down".
April 2013 saw the arrival of Feels Like a New Morning via Cherry Red Records, accompanied by a bonus CD containing Blow Monkeys songs performed by Dr. Robert.
Also in 2013, Sony Music released a three-disc box set titled Halfway to Heaven: The Best of The Blow Monkeys & Dr Robert, which included a live concert recorded at Hammersmith Palais in 1984.
The band recorded If Not Now, When? at Monnow Valley Studios in Wales during October 2014; it was released in April 2015 with Jon Withnall responsible for mixing and engineering.
October 2017 brought their tenth studio project, The Wild River, under Monks Rd. Records. Composed and produced by Robert Howard, this album was recorded in Motril, Spain, featuring Crispin Taylor on drums and marked a return to their soul and funk origins.
In October 2018, The Blow Monkeys supported Level 42 during their Eternity Tour.
Their eleventh studio album, Journey To You, produced and written by Dr. Robert, was released in September 2021.
In January 2024, they announced their twelfth studio album titled Together/Alone, slated for release in May via Scottish label Last Night From Glasgow.
Discography
- Limping for a Generation (1984)
- Animal Magic (1986)
- She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter (1987)
- Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood (1989)
- Springtime for the World (1990)
- Devil's Tavern (2008)
- Staring at the Sea (2011)
- Feels Like a New Morning (2013)
- If Not Now, When? (2015)
- The Wild River (2017)
- Journey to You (2021)
- Together/Alone (2024)
- Birdsong (2025)
External links
- English pop music groups
- English new wave musical groups
- Sophisti-pop musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1981
- Musical groups disbanded in 1990
- Musical groups reunited in 2007
- Pop music groups from London
- Ariola Records artists
- Cherry Red Records artists
- RCA Records artists
- Musical groups disestablished in 1990