Trashmonkeys:

The TRASHMONKEYS must be the only German Garage / Rock band with an NME single of the week under their belt. And the theme music for the Italian late night show “le iene”. And a deal with the cult label Acid Jazz. And a tour with The Cramps. Unmistakable is the sound: a massive, swelling hammond organ, cutting 60s guitar and rock – steady rhythms. Not forgetting elegant songwriting. All of which packed in to their LP “The Maker” released on LADO in 2004. A successor by the name “Favourite Enemy” is already on the go. More about that later.

“The Maker”, for TRASHMONKEYS, meant the release from the 60s underground mod-scene. However, as charming as the deal with Acid Jazz may seen, there was a glitsch. Although “Clubtwon” was released in the whole of Europe in their home country of Germany was this hammond organ milestone only to be obtained as an exlusive and expensive import. This was a good enough reason to change labels for “The Maker”.

With the listeners and critics alike “The Maker” received positive feedback. The album includes two cracking club singles with “Song No 1” and “Innocent” and the video to “Song no.1” was not only played by the usual music TV stations but also numerous “serious” cultural channels. The TRASHMONKEYS got together ´96 in Bremen as singer / guitarist Andreas Wolfinger requested drummer Gunnar Riedel´s presence in the practice room. The first evening witnessed the birth of 5 songs, and as Daz Fralick (bass) – who earlier had played in a hardcore punk band with Gunnar after moving from London to Bremen – made up the trio they found themselves supporting the legendary Link Wray in January 97. It didn´t take long before the TRASHMONKEYS released their first LP on the “Karate Club Meier” Label. This LP was later released on the “Weser Label” who then sent the band on tour with the likes of The Cramps, Rocket From The Crypt and The Hellacopters.

In the year 2000 keyboarder Offer Stock joined up after being recommended by Gunnar´s mate Frank Popp. The TRASHMONKEYS sound was born. Now a quartet the band recorded their second LP “Clubtown”, which fell into the hands of Acid Jazz boss Eddie Piller, who released it in Britain and other european countries. Their first single “Sundays” was single of the week in the NME, their tour in Britain impressed one and all, and meanwhile, in Italy the clubs were queing to book the band, and “Sundays” was used as the title theme for the TV Show “le iene”. As the TRASHMONKEYS finished recording “The Maker” everything was, once again, up in the air. The LP, produced by Gregor Henning, reached the shell-like ears of Carol von Rautenkranz, founder and boss of the hamburg based label LADO. Who could resist the raw charms of the TRASHMONKEYS ? Superman had found his Lois Lane, the album it´s label and the TRASHMONKEYS their well – earned support. Withe “The Maker” the TRASHMONKEYS drew, at last, an open and mixed audience. Where as before the band played mainly for 60s fanatics they were now playing to mixed bunch, aged between 18 and mid – forties.

After the release of the LP the TRASHMONKEYS got stuck in and played over 100 shows between August und November 2004. In the autumn of 2005, the band went off to Japan for 2 amazing weeks where they were cheered on by the worlds most impressionable fans. Apart from this, the year 2005 was also the year of the new LP. Again, with Gregor Hennig and this time also with Chris von Rautenkranz in the famous hamburg based studio “Soundgarden” and then retreated for a couple of weeks in the “Ton – Steine – Scherben” house in Friesenhagen (a lovely, old, sprawling farm house smack bang in the middle of nowhere) where they could get down to some serious work on their new album. “Favourite Enemy” is finished and it´s been worth it.

The TRASHMONKEYS have, in the two years since “The Maker” developed immensely. The songs and the sound reached new levels, withour losing the power of the 60s. Offer Stock has turned out to be a master of all trades changing between organ, piano, synthesizer and guitar. This takes some weight off Andreas´ shoulders giving him more space to exercise his melodic skills. Apart from all this on one song there are real violins to be heard.

Remember the title “Attitudes in stereo”. Not only that once you´ve heard it you can´t get it out of your head but also that the song was chosen by BMW for the italian advert for the new mini. Cool enough on itself, but what really impress is that they are using an obscure practiceroom – demoversion, cobbled together by gunnar and his mate electro – whizz – kid Nayan Souki, with a tape player and a 4 – Track recorder in Nayan´s hallway.

Look forward to this, the imagination and the groove of the TRASHMONKEYS are without bounds. You can´t and shouldn´t even try to escape them. Get it. -Mikki 11/07

More at:

• Official
• Trashmonkeys on MySpace