Raft of Dead Monkeys
Encyclopedia
Raft of Dead Monkeys was a rock band from Seattle, WA, USA, known for their controversy within the Christian punk
scene. Described as a hypothetical band mocking rock culture, their early stage shows consisted of vulgar lyrics, male stripper
s and bloody nurses. They broke up in late 2001.
The majority of the band members were openly Christian
and previously played in bands on Tooth & Nail Records
, a label that featured primarily Christian rock
bands. The band itself was not affiliated with Tooth & Nail, but the fan base of affiliated bands (Roadside Monument
, Ninety Pound Wuss
) was largely Christian, and was left confused when Raft released their first album which contained explicit lyrics.
In 2001 Raft was invited to play Tomfest
, a Christian underground music
festival, and received mixed reactions when singer Jeff Suffering fingered
the crowd during their song Two Year Lease, which features the lyrics, "you're not the only whore in town, you're just the best fuck around." Tomfest founder Mikee Bridges later issued an apology to those who were offended by the performance.
In an interview, Suffering explained the band's concept with the following:
Raft of Dead Monkeys played a reunion show in January 2004 at Studio 7
in Seattle.
Ex-Members:
Christian punk
Christian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock with some degree of Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies among bands...
scene. Described as a hypothetical band mocking rock culture, their early stage shows consisted of vulgar lyrics, male stripper
Stripper
A stripper is a professional erotic dancer who performs a contemporary form of striptease at strip club establishments, public exhibitions, and private engagements. Unlike in burlesque, the performer in the modern Americanized form of stripping minimizes the interaction of customer and dancer,...
s and bloody nurses. They broke up in late 2001.
The majority of the band members were openly Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and previously played in bands on Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
, a label that featured primarily Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
bands. The band itself was not affiliated with Tooth & Nail, but the fan base of affiliated bands (Roadside Monument
Roadside Monument
Roadside Monument was a Christian math rock band from Seattle, Washington who were signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They were active from 1994–1998 and then again from 2002–2003.-History:...
, Ninety Pound Wuss
Ninety Pound Wuss
Ninety Pound Wuss was an experimental punk rock band from Port Angeles, Washington, USA that released three studio albums on Tooth & Nail Records...
) was largely Christian, and was left confused when Raft released their first album which contained explicit lyrics.
In 2001 Raft was invited to play Tomfest
Tomfest
TOMfest was an annual Christian music festival held in Camas, WA, USA.TOMfest was a Christian indie and alternative music festival founded in 1995. Showcasing established and up-and-coming Christian bands, TOMfest presented an alternative to secular music festivals and provided a venue for...
, a Christian underground music
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
festival, and received mixed reactions when singer Jeff Suffering fingered
Finger (gesture)
In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"...
the crowd during their song Two Year Lease, which features the lyrics, "you're not the only whore in town, you're just the best fuck around." Tomfest founder Mikee Bridges later issued an apology to those who were offended by the performance.
In an interview, Suffering explained the band's concept with the following:
- It was art and we were making some statements about our culture by mirroring it, copying it and throwing it back on people’s faces to like say, “Hey, this is what people adhere to and this is it.” We thought it was funny and humorous and a lot of people didn’t get the joke and didn’t get that we were characters that we had created when we performed sort of to break the Rock ‘n’ Roll idea/lifestyle, although we don’t really have that idea or lifestyle, at least I don’t. http://decapolis.com/cgi-bin/music/viewnews.cgi?newsid1027452765,86742,
Raft of Dead Monkeys played a reunion show in January 2004 at Studio 7
Studio 7
Studio 7 is an American game show that aired on The WB during the summer of 2004.Studio 7 was hosted by NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan. Each episode featured seven contestants, mostly college-age, who lived together in New York City for the four days prior to the taping. During this time, they were given...
in Seattle.
Members
- Jeff SufferingJeff SufferingJeff Suffering Jeff Suffering Jeff Suffering (birth name, Jeff Bettger, is the lead singer of Ninety Pound Wuss, Raft of Dead Monkeys, and Suffering and the Hideous Thieves. While no longer involved in the aforementioned projects, Suffering continues to perform live music with Mars Hill Church in...
- Bass, Vocals - (Suffering and the Hideous Thieves, Ninety Pound WussNinety Pound WussNinety Pound Wuss was an experimental punk rock band from Port Angeles, Washington, USA that released three studio albums on Tooth & Nail Records...
) - Doug Lorig - Guitar, Vocals - (Roadside MonumentRoadside MonumentRoadside Monument was a Christian math rock band from Seattle, Washington who were signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They were active from 1994–1998 and then again from 2002–2003.-History:...
, Black Eagle, Patrol) - John Spalding - Guitar - (Ninety Pound WussNinety Pound WussNinety Pound Wuss was an experimental punk rock band from Port Angeles, Washington, USA that released three studio albums on Tooth & Nail Records...
, Suffering and the Hideous Thieves) - Davey - Drums
Ex-Members:
- Matt Johnson - Drums - (Roadside MonumentRoadside MonumentRoadside Monument was a Christian math rock band from Seattle, Washington who were signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They were active from 1994–1998 and then again from 2002–2003.-History:...
, BlenderheadBlenderheadBlenderhead was a punk rock band signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They released three full length albums from 1994 to 2001.-Band members:* - Vocals, Bass* Ed Carrigan - Guitar* - Drums* Paul Henry - Bass* Eben Haase - Vocals, Guitar...
, Don't Know, Supine to Sit, Rocky VotolatoRocky VotolatoRocky Votolato is an American singer-songwriter. He was born in Dallas, Texas on March 8, 1977. He was raised in a small town called Frost, roughly 50 miles south of Dallas, until the age of 13. After his parents were divorced, his mother remarried and moved the family to the Pacific Northwest...
, Jeremy EnigkJeremy EnigkJeremy Enigk is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for being the front man of the Seattle band Sunny Day Real Estate.-Biography:...
) - Jonathan Ford - (Unwed SailorUnwed SailorUnwed Sailor is a mostly instrumental band formed in 1998 by Johnathon Ford. Unwed Sailor's recordings range from instrumental rock to ambient drones. The band's touring and recording line-ups have largely been in rotation over the years, with the core member being the band's founder, Johnathon Ford...
, Roadside MonumentRoadside MonumentRoadside Monument was a Christian math rock band from Seattle, Washington who were signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They were active from 1994–1998 and then again from 2002–2003.-History:...
, Decahedron, Pedro the LionPedro the LionPedro the Lion was an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Singer-songwriter David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. T. W. Walsh is considered to be the sole official band member besides Bazan. In...
, Mr. Bishop's Fist, Ester DrangEster DrangEster Drang is an experimental, post rock musical group from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The band was formed in 1995, with guitarist Bryce Chambers recruiting drummer James McAlister and bass player Kyle Winner....
, Scientific, Native Lights) - Damien JuradoDamien JuradoDamien Jurado is an American indie rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian.-Music career:...
- (Coolidge) - James Parks
- Brian Wall
Albums
- Thoroughlev (2001 Burnout Records)
- DBM EP (1999 Make Believe Recordings)
- Joey the Pigfucker (unreleased) http://www.hideousthieves.com/raft/ListenNEW.htm
External links
- Official Website
- What a great name for a band! Seattle Times interview with Matt Johnson.
- SHZine interview Raft of Dead Monkeys June 2000 interview with Jeff Suffering
- Troy McClure Interviews Raft of Dead Monkeys February 2000 interview with Jeff Suffering and John Spalding.
- Bandoppler interview with Matt Johnson
- Decapolis interview with Jeff Suffering