The Monks: Complication 1966

The Monks were one of those bands that were unlike any one else. In 1966 they had their hair cut very short with a tonsure (like real Monks). They wore nothing but black and had a noose for a necktie.  On top of that they had a "electrified banjo" player. They were also different in that they were not hippies they were ex-G.I.s. Original formed as the 5 Torquays, when all the members were stationed at the same U.S. Army base in Germany.  But they weren't red necks either. They were not a clean cut wholesome band and conservative was not a word used to describe The Monks.

 This is their 1966 debut single as The Monks (in 1964 they released There She Walks as The 5 Torquays). Complication was their take on the escalation of the Vietnam War. There’re no flowers in their hair. Fuzzbox guitars and lyrics about death and killing sung by some who knows what they’re talking about. The B-side was Oh, How To Do Now. 

Gary Burger                  Guitar, vocals
Larry Clark                   Organ, vocals
Dave Day                       Banjo, vocals
Eddie Shaw                     Bass,vocals
Roger Johnston            Drums vocals

Produced by Jimmy Bowien

Complications

Oh, How To Do Now