Monks

Monks

Black Monk Time

Munster

***Released exclusively in Germany in March 1966, Black Monk Time by The Monks has become a cult classic—praised as a groundbreaking forerunner to punk and krautrock. From the explosive opener "Monk Time" to the fierce "Complication," Black Monk Time rejected flower power for something more urgent—anger, humor, and innovation developing a confrontational, rhythm heavy sound. Though the album was overlooked at the time, its bold sound and sharp lyrics have earned it lasting influence and critical acclaim. The Monks were five American G.I.s stationed near Heidelberg, West Germany. Originally performing as a typical beat group under the name the 5 Torquays, they evolved into something far more radical. After discovering guitar feedback by accident and embracing a raw, percussive approach, they caught the attention of two German ad men—Walther Niemann and Karl Remy—who became their managers and helped reinvent their identity. Dressed in monks' robes with tonsured hair and noose neckties, the band developed a confrontational, rhythm heavy sound. Their sole studio album, produced by Jimmy Bowien and recorded in Cologne in late 1965, defied musical norms. At the time, Polydor Records deemed the music too radical for American audiences, delaying its U.S. release. Despite its initial commercial failure, the album is now seen as a pivotal moment in rock history—loud, strange, and unapologetically ahead of its time. The Monks' story is as unlikely as their sound: five ex-soldiers and two ad executives creating one of the most daring records of the '60s. The band never sparked the revolution they...

Monks

Hamburg Recordings 1967

Third Man

***BACK IN STOCK!!!  The Monks—a strange, rare group with a story that sounds like a drunk friend’s generous hyperbole. A group of American G.I.s stationed in Germany on the precipice of Western cultural revolution starts playing music loosely connected to the rock n’ roll craze, contrastingly incorporating a critical and often offensive avant-garde edge. Nothing was off limits—screeching vocals, dark aesthetics, staccato-strummed banjo, sardonic lyricism, critiques of the Vietnam War and full monk costuming down to the tonsure. When viewed on the whole, it seems like an art school student’s senior thesis on what the craze means and its future possibilities. Due in large part to original Polydor vinyl collectability and years in the word-of-mouth hype machine, their legend and cult status has steadily blossomed since their last shows in 1967. Fast forward to 2017, the crew at Third Man, already huge fans, are presented with an honest-to-God treasure trove of original Monks photos, newspaper clippings, business cards, letterhead, contracts, postcards and, yes, analog tapes, containing trailblazing, wild compositions completely unheard by public ears. “I’m Watching You” would have been recorded on February 28th, 1967 at the same sessions that would produce the Monks’ final single “Love Can Tame the Wild” b/w “He Went Down to the Sea.” The remaining four songs were recorded after hours in the Top Ten Club later that year, just prior to the break-up of the band.