The Flaming Monkeys

The Flaming Monkeys, South London's newest and rawest punk rock band are made up of four irritating little hooligans who have a remarkable ability to write music and play their instruments.
The band formed two years ago, and since then have notched up several rave reviews, had massive airplay on XFM, and supported the Kaiser Chiefs at the XFM Winter Wonderland.
Max McNally, lead singer and bass player, writes lyrics for the songs and gets the band's message across. With influences like the Clash and the Sex Pistols, Max is deft at writing about his experiences growing up in a neighbourhood where there is nothing to do except skate or watch TV. But Max is fortunate. Anarchistic mayhem has a tendency to find him wherever he goes and so there is rarely peace, quiet or boredom for Max to deal with.
The musical platform for Max's teen angst is set by rhythm guitarist Chris Allan. Rather than rejecting society like Max, Chris is more interested in getting involved in it. Going to Green Day and Rammstein concerts, these influences help Chris create his own blend of punk and rock. According to him sarcasm is the highest form of wit and he never misses a chance to take a cheap shot. Chris' ambition is to make you feel like an idiot.
David Wearn is the youngest member of the band. He is also a lunatic. Where Max and Chris are calculating, David is indiscriminate in the anarchy he effortlessly conjures. But don't let the fool fool you. He's a dedicated drummer. If David's not shouting, fighting or gyrating he's practising his chops. The only drummers who can match David for flamboyance are Blink 182's Travis Barker and mad sticks man Tre Cool, of Green Day. David meticulously unlocks the secrets behind their playing and through his unrelenting practice regime interprets their styles in his own unique and explosive way.
Contrasting all the bands punk influences is lead guitarist Ben Allison. A natural and fluid player Ben looks to the legend that is Slash for inspiration in his solos and guitar parts. But Ben's addition to the melting pot doesn't go against the grain. His edgy guitar riffs laced with teen torment add a crucial element of musicality and connective tissue that help catapult the songs like a roller coaster. Ben is a committed guitarist, he doesn't waste his time on trying to be the band's number one bad boy, he's quite happy to let his playing to do the talking.