The Monks (UK band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Richard Hudson, John Ford, Brian Willoughby |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Albums, singles |
The Monks were a British band blending pop punk and new wave styles, established in the late 1970s by ex-members of the Strawbs: Richard Hudson on guitar, John Ford handling vocals, guitars, and synthesizers, and Brian Willoughby, joined by Terry Cassidy (vocals, synthesizers) and Clive Pierce (drums).
History
Their first album, Bad Habits (1979), was released following the chart success of the single "Nice Legs Shame About Her Face," which climbed to number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. Initially recorded as a demo without plans for release, it was turned down by another group before being issued by the French label Carrere Records. Ford later reflected in Mojo that the song’s unexpected popularity brought certain difficulties. Nevertheless, the album did not produce additional UK chart hits since punk fans rejected them due to their Strawbs association. On the television program Juke Box Jury, Johnny Rotten dismissed them as "patronising rubbish" and accused them of imitating the Sex Pistols poorly.
In contrast, The Monks experienced more significant success in Canada, where their single "Drugs in My Pocket" entered the national Top 20 and reached number 4 on Toronto’s CHUM Chart. Canadian listeners, unburdened by UK biases, were more welcoming of their music.
In 1980, under the name High Society, they experimented with 1930s-inspired sounds before releasing their second album as The Monks, Suspended Animation, which was distributed solely in Canada in 1981. This release was supported by a 21-day tour across Ontario that included a prominent performance at Toronto's Massey Hall. During the 1982 tour, Chris Parren joined as keyboardist and Huw Gower replaced Willoughby on guitar.
Suspended Animation earned gold certification in Canada, while Bad Habits achieved double platinum status there in 1982.
Although they recorded material for a third album titled Cybernetic Sister, it was never officially released. However, a CD reissue of Suspended Animation in the 1990s featured six additional tracks from those sessions.
Legacy
In 2004, Ford reinterpreted "Nice Legs Shame About Her Face" along with "Suspended Animation" for his solo project Backtracking, which was issued through Whole Shot Records.
In 2012, Canadian artist Thomas D'Arcy organized The Monks' Bad Habits Tribute concert at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern, showcasing Canadian talents including Chris Colohan, John Kastner, Ian Blurton, Kurt Dahle, Ryan Dahle, and Chris Murphy. At this event, Ford was presented with a double platinum plaque recognizing the album’s sales in Canada. Participating musicians also collaborated on a track-by-track tribute album titled A Tribute to the Monks, which was made available as a free download from D'Arcy's website.
Their track "Ain't Gettin' Any" was covered by The Slickee Boys on their live recording A Postcard from the Day.
Personnel
- John Ford – vocals, guitars, synthesizers (1979–1980, 1981–1982)
- Richard Hudson – vocals, bass guitar, synthesizers (1979–1980, 1981–1982)
- Terry Cassidy – vocals, synthesizers (1979–1980, 1981–1982)
- Clive Pierce – drums (1979–1980, 1981–1982)
- Brian Willoughby – guitars (1979–1980, 1981)
- Miffy Smith – keyboards (1981–1982)
- Huw Gower – guitars (1982)
Albums
- Bad Habits (1979)
- Suspended Animation (1981) (initially issued exclusively in Canada)
Singles
| Year | Single | UK | CAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "Nice Legs Shame About Her Face" | 19 | — |
| "I Ain't Gettin' Any" | — | — | |
| "Johnny B. Rotten" | — | — | |
| "Drugs In My Pocket" | — | 18 | |
| 1980 | "Don't Want No Reds" | — | — |
| 1981 | "I Can Do Anything You Like" | — | — |
"—" indicates singles that either did not chart or were not released in that territory.