A sort of all-star collection of L.A. scenesters and musicians,
Thelonious Monster formed in 1986 and specialized in what would best be described as drunk-rock in the tradition of
the Replacements. Ramshackle, loose live performances -- one was never sure if the band would actually turn up or finish out -- seemed to be their hallmark, yet at times lead vocalist and lyricist
Bob Forrest was capable of brilliance. No matter the lyrical scenario, nothing was ever good enough for him. The band began with a messy, four-guitar record, Baby....You're Bumming My Life Out in a Supreme Fashion in 1986 with
Pete Weiss, drums; Jon Huck, bass; K.K., guitar; Bill Stobaugh, guitar;
Chris Handsome, guitar; and Dix Denney, guitar. They followed it with
Next Saturday Afternoon, a more coherent effort. The
John Doe-produced Stormy Weather in 1989 was a step up, as the band had since been taken under the wing of
X and
the Red Hot Chili Peppers, serving as a support act and getting some informal studio help from
Doe and
Flea on occasion. The lineup revolved, but in the end,
Weiss, Denney, and Handsome remained true to
Forrest.
Beautiful Mess, an uneven, all-star gala (appearances by
Tom Waits,
Al Kooper and
Soul Asylum) came out three years later.
Forrest occasionally appears as a solo acoustic act, and the band tours sporadically. ~ Denise Sullivan