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.
Jack
The Monochrome Set Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kissing the backs of lonely boys
Their books and toys
Trailing blood
So far away
Watching the fireworks in the sky
Someone will cry
Jack!
Poisonous dreams
Vampires obscenely suck in the dark
Bent over stark
Naked lunch
Primeval sea
One body splits in two and then three
Something will die
Oh, my baby
Jack!
And in the night
There will be peace and light and love
Yes, there will be
Love, oh, baby
We walk in twos upon the ark
Our footsteps glitter in the dark
Our eyes are always open
Our eyes are always open
Jack!
The Monochrome Set's song "Jack" has a haunting and enigmatic quality that leaves listeners with a sense of unease and uncertainty. The opening lines, "And stars shine silver / Kissing the backs of lonely boys / Their books and toys / Trailing blood," evoke a sense of melancholy and fragility. The vivid imagery of stars "kissing" the backs of lonely boys, and their books and toys trailing blood, creates a sense of vulnerability and potential danger.
The chorus of the song, which simply repeats the name "Jack," adds to the mysterious and unsettling tone. It's unclear who or what Jack represents, but the repetition of the name suggests a sense of fixation or obsession. The lyrics that follow the chorus, "Poisonous dreams / Vampires obscenely suck in the dark / Bent over stark / Naked lunch," only add to the sense of dread and horror.
As the song progresses, there are references to a "primeval sea" and a body splitting in two and then three. These images create a sense of overwhelming chaos and destruction. However, there is also an underlying sense of hope, as the final lines of the song promise that "there will be peace and light and love" in the end.
Overall, "Jack" is a deeply poetic and ambiguous song that invites interpretation and analysis. It's a song that manages to be both beautiful and unsettling, leaving listeners with a sense of unease and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
And stars shine silver
The bright, radiant stars illuminate the sky, giving off a silver sheen.
Kissing the backs of lonely boys
The soft, gentle light of the stars seems to embrace and caress the abandoned and isolated souls of boys.
Their books and toys
The boys' belongings, which might usually have brought them comfort and solace, now feel tainted and grotesque.
Trailing blood
The boys' innocent pastime, now considered sinister and repugnant, is leaving behind an ominous trail of consequences.
So far away
The boys feel distant and removed from the rest of the world, as if they are in their own separate reality.
Watching the fireworks in the sky
The boys observe the bright and colorful explosions in the night sky, which seem to mock their own darkness.
Someone will cry
The spectacle is sure to cause an emotional response, likely sadness or grief.
Oh, my baby
An expression of concern, and perhaps affection, for whoever the song's subject might be.
Jack!
An abrupt and startling interruption, signaling the emergence of a new perspective or voice.
Poisonous dreams
The boys' subconscious is filled with corrupted and treacherous images of triumph and adventure.
Vampires obscenely suck in the dark
The boys' interests and passions, once considered innocent and harmless, now feel sinister and depraved in the shadows.
Bent over stark
The boys seem to show no modesty or restraint in their now-repugnant activities.
Naked lunch
The boys' once-innocent meals are now physical manifestations of their moral decay.
Primeval sea
An ancient and primal force, representing the deep-seated desires and motivations that drive the boys' behavior.
One body splits in two and then three
The boys' twisted pursuits ultimately lead them to divide and subdivide, spreading their malignant influence further and further.
Something will die
The destructive tendencies of the boys will inevitably result in a loss or a fatality.
Oh, my baby
Repeated, as if to emphasize the emotional weight and importance of the looming tragedy.
Jack!
Another sudden interruption, like a warning, or an exclamation of a name or title.
And in the night
Despite the boys' darkness and decay, there is still a chance for beauty and hope in the nighttime.
There will be peace and light and love
These three qualities are fleeting, but meaningful and powerful, and can bring comfort even amidst chaos and turmoil.
Yes, there will be
Affirmative, but perhaps tinged with a sense of uncertainty or doubt.
Love, oh, baby
A repeated assertion of the importance of love, and an expression of affection and care for the subject of the song.
We walk in twos upon the ark
A poetic metaphor for the two-by-two procession of animals on Noah's ark, highlighting the pervasive sense of unease and danger.
Our footsteps glitter in the dark
Despite the dark and ominous nature of the situation, there is still a certain amount of beauty and sparkle in the scene.
Our eyes are always open
The boys remain acutely aware of their surroundings, even when the things they witness are troubling or grotesque.
Our eyes are always open
Repetition of the above statement, driving the point home about the boys' unblinking vigilance.
Jack!
A final, almost accusatory exclamation, as if to call out to someone specific to take responsibility for the events in the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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