MONSTER

Monster came to life in 1994. 'We met in pubs', says Anders Wendin - nowadays known as MONEYBROTHER.



'We were all punk rockers in the beginning, grew up on the stuff - Sweden is so close to England, we've all been over there for many times. We favoured the Clash and the Buzzcocks, early reggae and dub. Lee 'Scratch' Perry. American soul music, too, Motown and Stax'. Music was Monster's thing, not protest. 'We're definitely musicians first', comments Anders, who wrote the lyrics in collaboration with drummer Glenn. 'We're political, but in the way that politics work themselves out between people, not between systems. We talk more about feelings, love, friendship- direct experience. We want it real, like in old blues music. Love and hate, directly'.



Monsters early musical crusade, to make the perfect mix of The Clash and The Supremes (as heard on the debut album "Rockers Delight (1997) was followed by the follow up "Gone, Gone Gone / A Bash Dem were MONSTERS hard, swaggering swing are hittings various corners of the musical spectra, as the band are up to present a very fine honest outstanding album. The punkish common recording attitude 'hey, it has to sound live' has obviously been put a bit aside on 'Gone, Gone, Gone/A Bash Dem' to make an improvement on the sound, as the album totally displays the bands ability towards more melodic solid songwriting, passing through areas of many different styles. The soul and punkrock roots though are somehow still evident throughout the whole album giving punch to polish (especially on the 'A Bash Dem' part of the record) to the smooth and tender emotional songs and vocal arrangements. No matter how you see it, Monster was far from your typical rockband. And on stage, Monster was nothing but a raving live-act with a garageland attitude and spirit taken one step ahead. Sweating their guts with rhytmic energy and urgency, to entertain and satisfy their audience.



The concert on Sweden´s biggest Festival, HULTSFRED (2000), turned out to be MONSTER’s last. In the end of the set in front of a crowd of 1500 people, singer Anders Wendin announced that this show was the end of the career for Monster. "You come to a point where you know it´s time, without any special reasons. And we want to quit while we still feel we are a great band", explained Anton.



The audience in Hultsfred was though happy to see MONSTER on stage delivering an almost perfect show; with the boots, the haircut and the music on top they really gave it all, and you could easily tell that the show was something really special for the band.



Monster will be missed; By everyone that in some way or another got in contact with a very honest band that always walked their own way. Missed by the ones in front of the stage during concerts. By everyone that has worked with the band, and for everyone in general that appreciates high quality music. We miss you already.



00-06-19 / Mudda Johansson.