Tuff Monks
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music recordings, singles |
Tuff Monks was a brief-lived Australian musical group established in 1982, featuring Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, and Rowland S. Howard from the Birthday Party, along with Robert Forster, Lindy Morrison, and Grant McLennan of the Go-Betweens. Their only issued recording was the 7" single "After the Fireworks," released through Melbourne’s Au Go Go Records. The primary song was a collaborative composition by Cave, Forster, and McLennan.
This joint effort began when both bands happened to be booked at AAV studio in Melbourne concurrently while The Birthday Party was encountering difficulties finishing their album Junkyard. During breaks, they joined forces to create "After the Fireworks," with lyrics provided by Cave and distinctive drumming from Morrison. The name Tuff Monks was suggested by Anita Lane, who was Cave's partner at the time. The group performed live on only one occasion, delivering a rendition of "Ring of Fire" at the Tiger Lounge in Richmond.
Keith Glass of Missing Link Records released the single to help cover studio costs incurred by The Birthday Party. Glass took credit for designing the single’s cover art and producing the B-side dub version titled "After, After the Fireworks." Nonetheless, Mick Harvey later revealed his astonishment at the record’s release, characterizing it as an informal jam session never meant for commercial sale.
"After the Fireworks" has appeared on multiple compilations and reissues, including the CD version of Drunk on the Pope's Blood, The Birthday Party’s anthology box set The Definitive Missing Link Recordings 1979-1982, the remastered CD of the Go-Betweens' album Send Me a Lullaby, and the Australian compilation No Worries issued by Hot Records.
Personnel
- Nick Cave – lead vocals
- Robert Forster – guitar
- Mick Harvey – piano
- Rowland S. Howard – guitar
- Grant McLennan – guitar
- Lindy Morrison – drums