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.
The Jet Set Junta
The Monochrome Set Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pop, pop, goes the Cliquot magnum at the reading of the will
Hiss, hiss, goes the snakeskin wallet stuffed with Cruziero bills
Here we come, the jet set junta
Here we come, the jet set junta
Broom, broom, goes the armoured Cadillac through Montevideo
Snip, snip, go the tailor's scissors on the suit in Saville Row
Here we come, the jet set junta
Here we come, the jet set junta
Thud, thud, goes the rubber truncheon on the Indian peon's heel
Buzz, buzz, go the brass electrodes as the flesh begins to peel
Rattle, rattle, goes the bullet round and round the roulette wheel
Here we come, the jet set junta
Here we come, the jet set junta
The Monochrome Set's song Jet Set Junta, released in 1982, is a satirical commentary on the military dictators and their regimes prevalent in many Latin American countries in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The song is divided into three verses, with each verse describing the atrocities committed by the military junta and their lavish lifestyle. The first verse describes the corrupt practices of the regime, where death watch beetles tick-tock in the swill of the president while he and his associates revel in extravagance, popping Cliquot Magnum champagne, and carrying snakskin wallets stuffed with Cruziero bills. The second verse details the military might of the junta, with an armored Cadillac driving through Montevideo, sub-machine guns rattling to restore the status quo, and the tailor's scissors snipping the suit in Savile Row, representing the European support that the regimes enjoyed. In the final verse, the junta's brutality is highlighted, with rubber truncheons thudding on the Indian peon's heel and brass electrodes buzzing as the flesh is peeled, while the bullet rattles round and round the roulette wheel, signifying the blood games played by the military rulers.
Through its chilling lyrics, the song provides a scathing critique of authoritarian regimes, placing their wealth and power in stark contrast to the oppression, violence and suffering they visited on their people. The song's title itself suggests the hipster, jet-setting image of the juntas, while the repeated chorus "Here we come, the jet set junta" creates a sense of arrogance and entitlement, mocking the complacency and insouciance of the ruling elite. The use of onomatopoeic sounds in each verse enhances the impact of the song, drawing attention to the brutality and obscenity that the junta perpetuated.
Line by Line Meaning
Tick, tock, go the death watch beetles in él presidente's swill
The death watch beetles are the only ones enjoying the president's drink, which is being wasted since everyone else is suffering
Pop, pop, goes the Cliquot magnum at the reading of the will
The magnum is being opened in celebration of someone's death and the distribution of their money
Hiss, hiss, goes the snakeskin wallet stuffed with Cruziero bills
A wealthy person flaunts their money with a wallet made of snakeskin and filled with bills from a foreign currency
Here we come, the jet set junta
The privileged and powerful arrive on the scene ready to exercise their authority
Broom, broom, goes the armoured Cadillac through Montevideo
The powerful travel through the city in a luxurious armored car
Rat-a-tat goes the sub-machine gun to restore the status quo
Violence is used to preserve the current power structure
Snip, snip, go the tailor's scissors on the suit in Saville Row
Tailored clothing from an elite location is being prepared for someone in power
Thud, thud, goes the rubber truncheon on the Indian peon's heel
An oppressed person is being beaten with a blunt weapon
Buzz, buzz, go the brass electrodes as the flesh begins to peel
Someone is being subjected to torture using electricity
Rattle, rattle, goes the bullet round and round the roulette wheel
Death is being treated as a game or a gamble by those in power
Here we come, the jet set junta
The powerful and privileged are asserting their dominance over the weaker and oppressed
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW WARREN, GANESH SESHADRI, THOMAS HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@batcave3491
I love Monochrome Set as much as TV Personalities. Eligible bachelors is a masterpiece, all the songs are great and The devil rides out remains my favorite !
@TheFatOwl
Havent heard this for simply years! Still a top tune. Why werent they more sucessful??
@johnprestigiacomo8070
One of my favorite gems from my teenage years.....loved hearing this on WLIR on Long Island!
@technoeditorchick
Had the biggest crush on him while in London during my Jr. year abroad. Saw the band live four times and saw Lester Square on the Tube once!
@dermot51
His name is Tom Hardy does a bit of teaching now apparently it was'nt on the Northern line was it? Beth 'Leicester Square' geddit! Ill get me coat seen them them in the Electric Ballroom and the Acklam Hall when I was a young lad , cheers! Beth
@milbury55
Have loved The Monochrome Set since i was 13 and still play their songs to this day! Love them, toodle pip.
@johnnybsteelriff
Great pop song....love the Set....
@andrewjohnstone963
Hysterical and brilliant 👏
What a beat and Farfisa makes it ❤
@captainkundalini1
I just wish they'd have been given the credit they so deseved
@Mrprawn2
I remember seeing them live in a small club...fantastic night...:)