The Monochrome Set

The Monochrome Set are a London-based English post-punk and new wave group formed in 1978 from the remains of a college band called The B-Sides. Stuart Goddard, later known as Adam Ant, is among the former members of that earlier group. The Monochrome Set become known for witty lyrics, the restrained vocal style of lead singer Bid, and the deliberately old-fashioned guitar approach of original lead guitarist Lester Square.

Original line-up and early years

The original line-up features Bid, whose real name is Ganesh Seshadri, on lead vocals and principal songwriting, Canadian guitarist Lester Square, drummer John D. Haney and bassist Charlie Harper. The group changes bass players several times in its early years, including Jeremy Harrington and Andy Warren, who is a childhood friend of Bid and also a member of the Ants. Experimental filmmaker Tony Potts begins working with the band in 1979, creating lighting, stage sets and film projections for live shows. His visual work becomes central enough to the band’s early image that he is often described as a fifth member.

Recordings and label changes

The Monochrome Set issue several singles on Rough Trade before recording their debut album, Strange Boutique, for DinDisc, Virgin Records’ imprint, in 1980. Later that year they release Love Zombies. John Haney leaves in 1981 and is replaced by Lexington Crane. In 1982 the band move to Cherry Red for their third album, Eligible Bachelors. After that release, Lester Square and Lexington Crane leave and are replaced by keyboardist Carrie Booth and drummer Nicholas Weslowski. This line-up records the 1982 single Cast a Long Shadow, before Booth is replaced by lead guitarist James ‘Foz’ Foster.

In 1983 Cherry Red releases Volume, Contrast, Brilliance... sessions & singles vol. 1, a retrospective of early Rough Trade singles, BBC and Capital Radio sessions, and other unreleased recordings. In 1985 the band records The Lost Weekend for Warner Bros. Records, a more mainstream release than their earlier work. Although it does not sell well, it is followed by a few singles before the band formally splits.

Break-up, backing work and reunion

After the split, The Monochrome Set also serve as the backing band for Jessica Griffin on the first Would-Be-Goods album, The Camera Loves Me. In early 1990 Bid, Lester Square and Andy Warren reform the group, joined by keyboardist Orson Presence and drummer Mike Slocombe, who is soon replaced by Trevor Ready. The band tours extensively during the 1990s, particularly in Japan, where Bid becomes a major star. During that decade they release several low-key albums on Cherry Red Records.

The group goes on hiatus from 1998 to 2008. Bid records several albums with Scarlet’s Well during that period. The Monochrome Set reunite in 2008 for a one-off performance at Cherry Red’s 30th anniversary event at Dingwalls in London, with Bid, Andy Warren and Lester Square joined by Jennifer Denitto on drums and Sian Dada on keyboards from Scarlet’s Well. The band reform again in 2010 and remain active.

Members

Across its history the group includes Simon Croft, Jeremy Harrington, John David Haney, Lester Square, Ganesh Seshadri, Andy Warren, James ‘Foz’ Foster, Jennifer Denitto, John Paul Moran, Helena Johansson, Steve Brummell, Mike Urban, Athen Ayren and Carrie Booth.