Artist Biography
by Stephen Howell
The Monkeywrench -- who played a hybrid of blues, punk, and classic garage rock -- came together in 1991 after
Mark Arm and
Steve Turner of the classic Seattle band
Mudhoney met
Tim Kerr, the former guitarist with punk bands
the Big Boys and
Poison 13. After
Turner and
Arm explained what big fans they were of his days with
Poison 13,
Kerr suggested that they get together to record.
Kerr would handle guitar duties;
Arm would play piano, harmonica and sing; and
Turner would pick up the bass. The lineup was completed with the addition of second guitarist
Tom Price, formerly of Seattle band
the U-Men, as well as Australian drummer
Martin Bland, known for his work with groups like
Lubricated Goat,
the Primevils, and
Bloodloss. The latter of these bands also included
Arm on vocals and guitar.
When Sub Pop Records was informed of the new
supergroup in 1991, the label signed the band immediately. Later in the
year, the Monkeywrench spent time at Egg Studios in Seattle with
producer
Conrad Uno recording their first LP,
Clean as a Broke-Dick Dog.
The album was released in 1992, along with a 7" that included two
tracks from the LP -- "Bottle Up & Go" and "Cold Cold World" -- as
well as a song titled "Out of Focus." The group took some time off in
the mid-'90s, due to the fact that
Arm and
Turner were still involved with
Mudhoney and
Kerr was busy with his band
the Lord High Fixers. However, they still managed to release a split 7" of the
Germs song "Shut Down" on Gasatanka Records in late 1995. The song also appeared on that year's tribute album to
the Germs, titled
A Small Circle of Friends, on Grass Records.
Kerr had also been getting more involved with
Dave Crider
at Estrus Records in the latter part of the '90s, helping to produce
many of the label's bands, as well as joining their roster in groups
like
Jack O'Fire and the aforementioned
Lord High Fixers.
In turn, this led to the Monkeywrench signing to Estrus in 1999. The
band entered Private Radio Studios in November of 1999 along with
producer
Jack Endino to record its second full-length LP,
Electric Children.
The CD was released on April 4, 2000. Another eight years passed before
the group got back together to record more material. The resulting
album,
Gabriel's Horn, was issued by Sub Pop in March of 2008.
Tracklist
| 1 |
Call My Body Home |
2:35
|
| 2 |
Angelhead |
3:32
|
| 3 |
Cold Cold World (With Organ) |
2:19
|
| 4 |
Codine |
4:40
|
| 5 |
From You |
3:12
|
| 6 |
Doubled Over Again |
2:17
|
| 7 |
Great Down Here |
3:33
|
| 8 |
Intermission |
1:00
|
| 9 |
Look Back |
2:55
|
| 10 |
Bottle Up & Go |
3:58
|
| 11 |
The Story As I Was Told |
4:48
|
| 12 |
Notes & Chords Mean Nothing To Me |
2:23
|
| 13 |
Stop This World |
3:05
|
| 14 |
I'm Blown |
3:56 |