Biografia
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Anos de atividade
1981 – até o momento (43 anos)
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Local de fundação
London, England, Reino Unido
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Membros
- Dr. Robert
- Neville Henry
The Blow Monkeys was a British pop band of the 1980s that started out, in 1984, as a new wave-oriented act. They subsequently turned into more commercial pop rock hit-makers, and finally became a dance group, shortly before splitting up, at the beginning of the 1990s. In late 2007, though, the original band members reunited, with the aim of releasing a new album and going on tour in 2008.
Career
Fronted by lead singer,songwriter, guitarist and piano player Dr. Robert (born Bruce Robert Howard, 2 May 1961, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland), the group formed in 1981, upon Howard's return to the UK, after spending his teen years in Australia. The other members were Mick Anker on bass guitar, Neville Henry on saxophone, and Tony Kiley on drums. The group gets its unusual name from an offensive term used in Australia, referring to Aboriginals playing the didgeridoo.
In 1984, they released their debut album, Limping for a Generation, characterized by a dark mood, and a mix of pop rock and new wave, but their first hit only came two years later, in 1986, with "Digging Your Scene", from their second album Animal Magic (which reached number 21 in the UK). The single attracted attention for its smooth pop-soul stylings and succinct topical lyrics (dealing with the AIDS-fuelled backlash against gays). It peaked at number 14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart listing, and number 7 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. In addition, it reached a high of number 12 in the UK Singles Chart, number 24 in Italy and number 25 in Germany.
In January of 1987, She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter, the band's third album was released; it reached number 20 in the UK, thanks to its biggest hit, "It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way", a pop funky track, with a dancey flavour which reached number 5 in the UK (and number 28 in Italy), although it never charted in the United States. However, it did feature in the film, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.
Another noteworthy track, "You Don't Own Me" was used on the platinum selling "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack.
Outside of the group (though actually included on their fourth album, Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood), a successful single release by Robert Howard was "Wait", that featured early Chicago House diva, Kym Mazelle, on female lead vocals. The record was an early British recording in the subgenre dubbed "UK garage". The track reached number 7 in the UK chart. It would later re-appear on the Blow Monkey's first greatest hits compilation, Choices - The Singles Collection, their highest-charting record, reaching Number 5 in the UK Album Chart, in 1989.
The band called it quits in late 1990, shortly after the release of their fifth and last album, entitled Springtime for the World (an EP of the same name also came out, collecting all three singles from the album). After briefly recording with Dee C. Lee as Slam Slam, Dr. Robert went solo and still records music. He contributed to Paul Weller's solo debut album, and co-wrote material with both Weller and Lee. Another notable collaborator was Beth Orton.
On 18 November 2007 the original band members announced the reunion of the Blow Monkeys, as well as a new album and a tour in 2008.
Discography
Singles
"Live Today Love Tomorrow" b/w "In Cold Blood"
"Go Public" (1984)
"Man from Russia" (1984)
"Atomic Lullaby" (1984)
"Wildflower" (1985)
"Forbidden Fruit" (1985)
"Digging Your Scene" (1986)
"Wicked Ways" (1986)
"Don't Be Scared of Me" (1986)
"It Doesn't Have to Be This Way" (1987)
"Out with Her" (1987)
"Celebrate (The Day After You)" with Curtis Mayfield (1987)
"Some Kind of Wonderful" (1987)
"This Is Your Life '88" (1988)
"It Pays to Belong" (1988)
"Wait" (1989) Robert Howard and Kym Mazelle
"This Is Your Life" (1989)
"Choice?" featuring Sylvia Tella (1989)
"Slaves No More" featuring Sylvia Tella (1989)
"Springtime for the World" (1990)
"La Passionara" (1990)
"If You Love Somebody" (1990)
Albums
Limping for a Generation (1984)
Animal Magic (1986)
She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter (1987)
Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood (1989)
Springtime for the World (1990)
Compilation Albums
Choices - The Singles Collection (1989)
Blow Monkeys The Masters (1997)
Atomic Lullabies - Very Best of The Blow Monkeys (2 CDs, 1999)
Digging Your Scene: The Best of The Blow Monkeys (2 CDs, 2008)
Other Appearances
Dirty Dancing ost "You Don't Own Me"
The Last Temptation of Elvis "Follow That Dream"
Trivia
New York band Ivy covered "Digging Your Scene". It was included as a bonus track on their 2001 album Long Distance, as well as on their 2002 album Guestroom.
Their cover of Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" appeared on the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing.
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