Thelonious Monster
Encyclopedia
Thelonious Monster is a post-punk
rock
band from Los Angeles
, led by singer-songwriter Bob Forrest
. Active from 1983 to 1994, and again since 2004, the band has released five original studio albums. Despite never achieving mainstream success, a number of largely popular acts cite them as influential.
.
In 1988, guitarist John Frusciante
auditioned for Thelonious Monster but the Red Hot Chili Peppers
were so impressed by Frusciante's musical ability that they ended up getting him to join their band.
After several years of sporadic activity and side projects by Forrest, Thelonious Monster reunited in 2004 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
in Indio, California
and at the Sunset Junction Street Fair
in Los Angeles, and released their first new album in 12 years. California Clam Chowder would feature guitarist Josh Klinghoffer
, who was also a member of Forrest's short-lived band, The Bicycle Thief
. Klinghoffer would eventually go on to replace John Frusciante in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In 2009 Thelonious Monster reunited for their first shows in five years. The band played a show at The Echo
in Los Angeles as a warm-up for dates on Warped Tour
, and a show at Pappy And Harriet's in Pioneertown, California
.
Former members of Thelonious Monster will be featured in the 2011 documentary Bob and the Monster
, which details the life and career of Bob Forrest.
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, led by singer-songwriter Bob Forrest
Bob Forrest
Bob Forrest is the lead vocalist and lyricist for Los Angeles bands Thelonious Monster and The Bicycle Thief. In September 2006 he released his first solo album, Modern Folk And Blues Wednesday. He is also a drug counselor, appearing alongside Dr...
. Active from 1983 to 1994, and again since 2004, the band has released five original studio albums. Despite never achieving mainstream success, a number of largely popular acts cite them as influential.
Biography
Members included Forrest on vocals; bass player Jon Huck, guitarists Chris Handsome, Dix Denney and Mike Martt, and drummer Pete Weiss. They were a popular live attraction in the underground rock clubs of Hollywood in the 1980s and put out a series of critically acclaimed albums, but never achieved major commercial success. Their name is a pun on jazz musician Thelonious MonkThelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
.
In 1988, guitarist John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
auditioned for Thelonious Monster but the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
were so impressed by Frusciante's musical ability that they ended up getting him to join their band.
After several years of sporadic activity and side projects by Forrest, Thelonious Monster reunited in 2004 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
in Indio, California
Indio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
and at the Sunset Junction Street Fair
Sunset Junction Street Fair
The Sunset Junction Street Fair is an event held annually in the Sunset Junction neighborhood of the Silver Lake community in Los Angeles, California...
in Los Angeles, and released their first new album in 12 years. California Clam Chowder would feature guitarist Josh Klinghoffer
Josh Klinghoffer
Joshua Adam "Josh" Klinghoffer is an American multi-instrumentalist, who is best known as the current guitarist for the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Klinghoffer replaced his friend and frequent collaborator John Frusciante, who left the band in 2009.Klinghoffer also fronts Dot Hacker, and was...
, who was also a member of Forrest's short-lived band, The Bicycle Thief
The Bicycle Thief (band)
The Bicycle Thief was a band fronted by Bob Forrest. After a break from the music industry after the demise of his previous band, Thelonious Monster, Forrest started jamming with Josh Klinghoffer and in 1997 they played a covers gig and Forrest started recording demos on a 4-track...
. Klinghoffer would eventually go on to replace John Frusciante in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In 2009 Thelonious Monster reunited for their first shows in five years. The band played a show at The Echo
The Echo (venue)
The Echo is a venue/nightclub located in Echo Park in Los Angeles, California. It also hosted Arthur Magazine's yearly ArthurFest.-Notable performers:*Thao with The Get Down Stay Down*Air Traffic*An Albatross*Autolux*Band Of Horses*Beck...
in Los Angeles as a warm-up for dates on Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
, and a show at Pappy And Harriet's in Pioneertown, California
Pioneertown, California
Pioneertown, California is an unincorporated village in the Morongo Basin region of Southern California's Inland Empire Metropolitan Area. It is located approximately 56 miles east of San Bernardino.-History:...
.
Former members of Thelonious Monster will be featured in the 2011 documentary Bob and the Monster
Bob and the Monster
Bob and the Monster is a 2011 documentary film by Keirda Bahruth which profiles musician and drug counselor Bob Forrest.- Synopsis :This documentary film follows outspoken indie-rock hero Bob Forrest, through his life-threatening struggle with addiction, to his transformation into one of the most...
, which details the life and career of Bob Forrest.
Albums
- Baby...You're Bummin' My Life out in a Supreme FashionBaby...You're Bummin' My Life out in a Supreme FashionBaby...You're Bummin' My Life out in a Supreme Fashion is the first full length album for Thelonious Monster. It was rereleased in Japan in 2002.- Track listing :# Psychofuckindelic# Yes Yes No# Positive Train# Let Me in the House# Thelonious Monster...
(1986) - Epitaph RecordsEpitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record... - Next Saturday AfternoonNext Saturday AfternoonNext Saturday Afternoon is the second full length album for Thelonious Monster. It was included on the CD version of Stormy Weather.- Track listing :# Swan Song # Lookin' to the West # Hang Tough # Michael Jordan...
(1987) - Relativity RecordsRelativity RecordsRelativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... - Stormy WeatherStormy Weather (Thelonious Monster album)Stormy Weather is the third full length album by Thelonious Monster. The CD version included their previous album Next Saturday Afternoon.- Track listing :# So What If I Did # Oh...
(1989) - Relativity RecordsRelativity RecordsRelativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... - Beautiful MessBeautiful Mess (Thelonious Monster album)Beautiful Mess is the fourth full length album for Thelonious Monster. Two versions of the album were released.- Track listing :# I Live in a Nice House# Blood Is Thicker Than Water# Body and Soul?# Adios Lounge# I Get So Scared...
(1992) - Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine... - California Clam ChowderCalifornia Clam ChowderCalifornia Clam Chowder is the fifth full length album for Thelonious Monster. It was released in 2004, the band's first release since 1992. It is a collection of interpretations of some of the world's most influential, iconoclastic artists.- Track listing :...
(2004) - Lakeshore RecordsLakeshore RecordsLakeshore Records is the independent music division of Lakeshore Entertainment . They started out as WILL Records.Will Records were started by Skip Williamson in the early 90s...
Singles and EPs
- "The Boldness of StyleThe Boldness Of Style EP"The Boldness Of Style EP" is the first single from the American rock band Thelonious Monster's second studio album, Next Saturday Afternoon. The single was officially released in 1987.-Origins:...
(1987) - EP - "So What If I Did" (1989)
- "Blood Is Thicker Than Water" (1992)
- "Body and Soul?" (1993)
- "Adios Lounge" (1993)