Primordial soup: Andy Warren and Bid went to school together, Lester Square and Adam Ant both attended Hornsey School of Art. The latter two formed a band called "The B-Sides", which Andy joined sometime in 1976. Bid also joined a couple of months later, and Adam left shortly after. Lester, Andy and Bid occasionally continued to write and rehearse together (it was around this time that some of the songs later to be used by The Monochrome Set were written, e.g., Goodbye Joe, He's Frank, Puerto-Rican Fence Climber, Lester Leaps In), until Adam formed The Ants with Lester and Andy. Whilst Andy continued on with Adam to record the first Ants album, Lester left The Ants in 1977, to form, firstly The Zarbies & The Ectomorphs with Bid and Jeremy Harrington, and then The Monochrome Set with Bid (Jeremy joined later).
To quote the Asahi Evening News, 1993: "When B-Sides singer Adam Ant quit the band for an ill-fated solo career, The Monochrome Set was born."
The Monochrome Set was formed in late 1977.
In early 1979, Tony Potts "joined" the band as film maker/projectionist. He is not listed here as a band member, though he became an integral part of the live shows, made several band films/videos, and was a great friend. When the band reformed in 1990, he did one concert with them (as set designer and film projectionist) on 16th August, at the Central TV Studios in Nottingham (the "Rock Legends" series). He was a film director/producer in his own right, and continues to be so.
1980: "You can never pin down The Monochrome Set. They're so difficult in many ways, yet easy to appreciate.
They've been together now for three years, since the dying days of punk, developing a music which oscillates between furtive seriousness and high enjoyment and tries to connect fantasy with the world. Label them and their music at your peril.
Because of the Rough Trade alliance, brief enigmatic press coverage, shadowy pictures, the casualness of the group, their seemingly aloof airs and faces, and the apparent strictness of their live performances, the wrong impression of the group is being communicated. I'm not sure they are doing all they can to change this."
"This week their first LP is released: "Strange Boutique". An LP of melodrama and melody, irregular instrumentals and silly titles, bitter tenderness and new twists to the old ways. It's a wry work, but in no way daunting. So what do the group think about when they make up their music?
"Cheap thrills", says Lester.
"We don't think about anything," whines Andy. "We just do it. If it sounds good don't do it. If it sounds stupid do it."
Andy has such a nice way of putting things."
*********************************************************** Today, Bid performs and records with his new outfit Scarlet's Well. As of 2006 they have 5 studio albums and 1 live album which contain a few Monochrome Set songs. Andy Warren can be seen lurking around and plays bass for the Would Be Goods. Lester is an art teacher at an all girl school, Orson Presence has relocated to Canada, and John Haney writes books and is a food critic in New York City...
Hi! I'm one of those idiots who writes, "Could you upload 'Closing Time'? I've never heard it, and darned if I can find it." Unless, you know, it isn't another of those Lester Square instrumentals..
Just to inform you of the release of a new book from Cherry Red Books;
'Independence Days - The Story of UK Independent Record Labels'
Independence Days cover the era's most celebrated labels including Rough Trade, Beggars Banquet/4AD, Factory, Cherry Red and Mute, and covers releases by notable acts such as The Smiths, Joy Division, The Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello, New Order, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Echo & The Bunnymen, Gary Numan, Teardrop Explodes, Nick Cave, KLF etc. There is also extensive coverage of a myriad of less familiar labels and their unique stories, revealing a fabulous, almost Shakespearean cast of characters along the way, simultaneously profiling their achievements and contributions.
![Simon ArtE [Official site]](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/69/s_b102f929c3b9467d816f68b0e0fa7cb5.gif)
