The original line-up consisted of Indian born lead singer and principal songwriter Bid (real name Ganesh Seshadri), Canadian guitarist Lester Square (real name Thomas W.B. Hardy), drummer John D. Haney, and bassist Charlie Harper. The band went through several bassists in the next few years, including Jeremy Harrington, and Andy Warren of the Ants, a childhood friend of Bid.
Experimental filmmaker Tony Potts began collaborating with the band in 1979, designing lighting and stage sets with film projections for their live appearances. The band's early persona was defined by the shadowy, uncertain stage images created by the films to such an extent he is often described as being the band's "fifth member."
They released several singles for the Rough Trade label before recording their debut album, "Strange Boutique", produced by Bob Sargeant, for Virgin Records' imprint DinDisc in 1980, as well as their follow-up effort, Love Zombies, produced by Alvin Clark and the band later that same year. John Haney left the band in 1981 and was replaced by Lexington Crane.
In 1982, the band switched labels to Cherry Red to release their third full-length album, Eligible Bachelors, produced by Tim Hart. Lester Square and Lexington Crane left soon afterwards, and were replaced by keyboardist Carrie Booth and drummer Nicholas Weslowski. This line-up recorded 1982 single Cast a Long Shadow, for Cherry Red before Booth was in turn replaced by new lead guitarist James 'Foz' Foster.
In 1983, Cherry Red released Volume, Contrast, Brilliance... sessions & singles vol. 1, a retrospective of the band's early Rough Trade singles, BBC and Capital Radio sessions, and other unreleased early sessions.
In 1985, with the same line-up as on Cast a Long Shadow, The Monochrome Set recorded the relatively mainstream album The Lost Weekend for major label Warner Bros. Records. The Lost Weekend failed commercially, and after a few singles, the band officially broke up, though they served as Jessica Griffin's backing band on the first album by the Would-Be-Goods, The Camera Loves Me.
In early 1990, Bid, Lester Square and Andy Warren reformed the band, with the addition of keyboardist Orson Presence and drummer Mike Slocombe (who was quickly replaced by Trevor Ready). The new band toured extensively--especially in Japan, where Bid had become a major star.
The band released several low-key albums for Cherry Red Records during the 1990s, and went on hiatus from 1998 to 2008 though during that off time Bid recorded a number of albums with another band, Scarlet's Well.
The band reunited on 8 October 2008 for a one-off performance at Cherry Red's 30th Anniversary party at Dingwalls, London. It also marked the 30th year of The Monochrome Set. Bid, Andy Warren and Lester Square were joined by Jennifer Denitto (drums) and Sian Dada (keyboards) of Scarlet's Well, and performed 13 songs.
Band reformed in 2010.
Apocalypso
The Monochrome Set Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It merrily whistles down on me
I'm wrapped in silver foil
My blood is on the boil
B-52s flutter coyly
All I want is a flat in Berkeley Square
With colour TV set, reclining chair
Antique grandfather clock, phone in the shower
Hurrah! For the missiles from heaven's gate
They syncopate gaily in seven eight
I mambo to the sound
Of Martels, air-to-ground
I hear the baying of bloodhounds
All I require is a Rolls Royce Corniche
Cocktail cabinet for the nouveaux riches
Persian carpets and Van Goghs in the boot
Cardin three-piece beneath my Noddy suit
Hip! hip! for machine gun, breve and rest
It beats out a rhythm in my chest
Crotchets in my belly
Turn my legs to jelly
Quavers are F sharp and L, G
All I desire is a Swiss bank account
Given an OBE and made a Count
Country estate with a resident staff
Acute angina and an epitaph
The Monochrome Set's song "Apocalypso" is a satirical commentary on the Cold War-era fascination with nuclear weapons and the societal desire for material possessions. The lyrics are written from the perspective of someone who seems to be enjoying the thrill of the impending doom, singing "Sing ho! for the A-bomb melody / It merrily whistles down on me." The singer is wrapped in silver foil and their blood is on the boil. The reference to the B-52s fluttering coyly suggests a sexual connotation and highlights the gendered nature of Cold War-era technological advancements.
The second verse mentions the desire for a flat in Berkeley Square with all the material trappings of the nouveau riche, such as a color TV, reclining chair, big box of Suchard chocolates, antique grandfather clock, and phone in the shower. The chorus celebrates the missiles from heaven's gate, those weapons perfectly synced and exploding to a mambo beat. The singer even hears the baying of bloodhounds, adding to the dark humor of the song. In the third verse, the singer enjoys the rhythm of the machine gun's beat, with crotchets in their belly turning their legs to jelly, and quavers that are F sharp and L, G making them feel alive.
The singer's desires in this verse include a Swiss bank account, an OBE, being made a Count, owning a country estate with a resident staff, acute angina, and an epitaph. The exaggerated desires for both material possessions and societal status highlight the singer's apathy towards the destruction of the world around them. The Monochrome Set's "Apocalypso" is a biting satirical critique of the Cold War-era capitalist culture and its potential for self-destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing ho! for the A-bomb melody
Celebrating the melody of destruction caused by atomic bombs
It merrily whistles down on me
The destruction of an A-bomb is entertaining to the author
I'm wrapped in silver foil
The author takes measures to protect themselves from nuclear fallout
My blood is on the boil
The author's anxiety is at an all-time high
B-52s flutter coyly
The author finds the destruction caused by B-52 bombers charming
All I want is a flat in Berkeley Square
The author is describing their ideal living situation
With colour TV set, reclining chair
The author wants modern luxuries in their home
Big box of Suchard for me to devour
The author desires sweets
Antique grandfather clock, phone in the shower
The author wants both classic and modern amenities in their home
Hurrah! For the missiles from heaven's gate
The author is again celebrating destruction, but now referencing heavenly missiles
They syncopate gaily in seven eight
The author finds the missile's destruction to be musical
I mambo to the sound
The author is associating dance with destruction
Of Martels, air-to-ground
The author is enjoying the sound of bombs dropping
I hear the baying of bloodhounds
The author hears something ominous associated with the destruction
All I require is a Rolls Royce Corniche
The author is now describing their ideal car
Cocktail cabinet for the nouveaux riches
The author wants to have a fancy car with a bar
Persian carpets and Van Goghs in the boot
The author wants expensive items in their car
Cardin three-piece beneath my Noddy suit
The author wants to be dressed in fancy clothing
Hip! hip! for machine gun, breve and rest
The author is again celebrating the destruction, but now referencing the rhythm of gunfire
It beats out a rhythm in my chest
The author is excited about the rhythm of destruction
Crotchets in my belly
The author is experiencing an internal reaction to the rhythm of destruction
Turn my legs to jelly
The author's excitement is causing physical reactions in their body
Quavers are F sharp and L, G
The author is associating musical notation with the destruction
All I desire is a Swiss bank account
The author now desires financial wealth
Given an OBE and made a Count
The author wants status and recognition
Country estate with a resident staff
The author wants a large, luxurious property and the staff to go with it
Acute angina and an epitaph
The author desires recognition even in death
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW WARREN, GANESH SESHADRI, JOHN DAVID HANEY, THOMAS WOODBURNE HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind