The Monochrome Set

When the British art school punk band The B-Sides changed their name and direction to become Adam & the Ants, guitarist/vocalist Bid and guitarist Lester Square opted out to form their own group, The Monochrome Set. Founded in London in 1978, the band (also comprising ex-Gloria Mundi and Mean Street bassist Jeremy Harrington and former Art Attacks drummer J.D. Crowe) was quickly snapped up by the Rough Trade label, and during 1979 issued three singles -"He's Frank," "Eine Symphonie des Grauens," and its signature number, "Monochrome Set"- all completely different in content and stylistic approach.

After former B-Sides bassist Andy Warren grew tired of life in Adam & the Ants, he rejoined bandmates Bid and Square, replacing Harrington. In 1980, The Monochrome Set released their debut album, the cabaret-flavored 'Strange Boutique', followed later that year by the singles "405 Lines" and "Apocalypso" as well as another, more accessible full-length effort, 'Love Zombies'. Complete with new guitarist Foz, keyboardist Caroline Booth, and drummer Nick Wesolowski, they returned in 1982 with a cleaner, more melodic sound on the LP 'Eligible Bachelors'; "The Jet Set Junta," a satiric jab at the Falklands Islands conflict, became a significant hit the next year. The compilation 'Volume, Contrast, Brilliance: Sessions & Singles, Vol. 1' also appeared in 1983.

Following the departure of Square, The Monochrome Set veered even closer to light pop fare on singles like 1985's "Jacob's Ladder"; the sound subsequently crystallized on the nostalgically themed LP 'The Lost Weekend'. When the record met with a dismal commercial response, the group disbanded, only to re-form in 1989 around the nucleus of Bid, Square, and Warren along with new keyboardist Orson Presence. The 1990 album 'Dante's Casino' did little to raise The Monochrome Set's chart visibility, but the band soldiered on, releasing 'Charade' in 1993, 'Misere' in 1994, and 'Trinity Road' in 1995. They broke up in 1998 while Bid formed a new band, Scarlet's Well. In 2011, members of the Well joined a reunited Monochrome Set, which also featured Bid, Square, and Warren. Signed to the Disquo Bleu label, the band released 'Platinum Coils' in 2012 and 'Super Plastic City' in 2013. 'Spaces Everywhere' (2015) found them on their new home of Tapete Records, the label that a year later would release 'Volume, Contrast, Brilliance: Unreleased & Rare, Vol.2', a sequel to their 1983 set. The group stuck with Tapete for their next album, 2016's 'Cosmonaut', which featured Bid playing all the guitars due to the departure of Square. They also welcomed John Paul Moran back on keyboards. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]