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.
Leather Jacket
The Monochrome Set Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have hair growing from my head
I get too old, I will fall dead
But when I wear that leather jacket with the silver studs ]
I am Evil, I am Glory, I am Beautiful, I am God ] (Chorus)
I eat white bread and I drink white wine
I get too ill, I will decline
(Chorus)
Midnight strikes and it makes me sweat
Two o'clock, and I feel so wet
Moon, shine on my napa jet
(Chorus)
The Monochrome Set's song Leather Jacket speaks to the power of clothing and how it can transform a person's identity. The verses start off describing the physical body in a very matter-of-fact way, highlighting its fragility and impermanence. However, the chorus explodes with a sense of confidence and invincibility that comes with wearing a leather jacket. The repetition of "I am Evil, I am Glory, I am Beautiful, I am God" reflects the almost god-like power one can feel when wearing such an item of clothing. It's a bold statement of identity, and one that speaks to the power of fashion to create personas.
The second verse continues with this theme, describing the singer's diet in a similarly clinical way, before returning to the chorus' sense of power. The final verse heightens the sense of mystery and otherworldliness, describing the effect of midnight and the moon on the singer's state of mind. While the verses are filled with concrete language, the chorus' use of grandiose statements and bold proclamations creates a sense of theatricality and performance, further underscoring the transformative power of fashion.
Line by Line Meaning
My hands are flesh, my tongue is red
I am human, with a beating heart and a desire to communicate
I have hair growing from my head
I am alive, growing and changing with time
I get too old, I will fall dead
My mortality is one of life's certainties, and one day I will inevitably die
But when I wear that leather jacket with the silver studs
This item of clothing has the power to transform me and give me an air of rebellion and coolness
I am Evil, I am Glory, I am Beautiful, I am God
Through the power of this piece of clothing, I feel invincible and god-like, with an alluring aura of danger and glamour
I eat white bread and I drink white wine
My tastes may be simple and mundane
I dine on white meat all the time
I may be boring and predictable in my eating habits
I get too ill, I will decline
I am susceptible to illness and aging, and eventually death
Midnight strikes and it makes me sweat
There is something haunting and evocative about the passing of time
Two o'clock, and I feel so wet
Time is fleeting and unpredictable, and my emotions may shift suddenly
Moon, shine on my napa jet
The beauty and power of the natural world is a constant source of wonder and inspiration
(Chorus)
The leather jacket is a symbol of my desire to be someone or something greater than myself, and all the wonder and danger that comes with it
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
juveale29
This is great. Don't believe it was a single but would have been a good one