VARIOUS REVIEWS
1978
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS EP (Black Hole)
Tacky snippets from the histoire of Mr Ron Asheton's own band.
Sounds likeaaaaaaaaw, ya know the sloppiest, grimiest,
'Funhouse' outtake you could imagine. Great!!!!!!!!!!
But stay away from the methadone and the window
pane tabs; stick to vit C.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS:
'Bored' (Cherry Red) It sez here that you either love this lot or
hate them, the implication being that if you drop for the latter
you're some kind of iredeemable turkey. Well, I bust a hole in
that theory by managing to remain entirely indifferent in their
company-without trying at all. This is le Ann Arbor punky rocky
with no energy and no spark and will no doubt find a place close
to the heart of those who think anything Ron Asheton has a
hand in automatically attains semi-divine,status Red, of course.
1979
ONE DAY IN DALLAS
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: 'Meet The Creeper'/'.Novemher 22
1963" (Cherry Red) Ho hum. A clear case of 'it's about time the
band got into a proper 'studio'. Last year's 'I'm Bored' might
have been a perfect example of Detroit slop but this double A-
side shows no significant change. I've had it on a muddy tape for
some time now and the vinyl incarnation displays no significant
improvement. Lesson Niagara will not become this year's Debbie
Harry till someone focuses DAM's sound and Rock Action learns
to moderate his love of power sustain. As for Niagra being this
year's Sonya Kristina, that's another thing. November 2 1963
was, of course, the date of the first Kennedy assassination.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: 'What Do I Get' (Cherry Red).
Niagara doesn't show her knickers on the sleeve of this record.
As she can't sing and as the guitarists sound like they'd play
better with no fingers and as the 'song' was probably written
while the producer was out taking a leak I'd be inclined to wait
for the poster mag instead.
1989
(SOUNDS July 15 1989)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS 'Live' (Fan Club/FCOSO) ***3/4
DESTROY ALL Monsters were the second Asheton-fronted band
to emerge after the demise of The Stooges. The Monsters were
thrown together from primal rock debris numbering Ron
Asheton, original exponent of the raw power guitar, ex-MC5
bassist Mike Davis and the delectably far out Niagra. And, as
you'd expect given the pedigree of the bloodstock, DAM's shake
appeal falls in the unsanctified ground somewhere between the
Stooges' wild-eyed, head-in-the-dirt bop and the MC5's
unrelenting hi-octane guitar blitzkrieg. With date and venue
unspecified, 'Live' catches Ron et al garagin' out with their
distinctively trashed living dead beat. They might cut loose on
curios as diverse as Lee Haizelwood's 'These Boots Are Made For
Walking', but the raunch of anti-anthems like 'Bored', 'Anyone
Can Fuck Her', Tarty Girl' and 'November 22nd, 1963' reveal
DAM's true ugliness in all its belligerent glory.
This is nihilistic street rock, shaped by Niagra's unearthly howl
and Ron Asheton's unrestrained guitar antics. Whether with
power chords or breakneck fills, Ron never misses a chance to
pepper everything with hot lead from the fretboard of his Les
Paul.
The sound quality on 'Live' is uncompromisingly rough -though
a hi-fidelity recording would've been completely inappropriate.
But while 'Live' is hardly in the same league as the backs-to-the-
wall desperation of 'Metallic KO', and never comes near the
hysterical tirade of 'Kick Out The Jams', it still deserves space
in the affections of any self-respecting Detroit obsessive.
GRAHAME BENT
2004
Destroy All Monsters - Bored
Bored is a collection of the amazing singles recorded by the mid-
period (1978 -79) incarnation of Destroy All Monsters. It is a
short CD, with only 6 songs and an unimpressive bonus track.
Vocals are supplied by ex-model, current visual artist and full-
time whack job Niagra. Stooge Ron Asheton is the guitarist and
co-songwriter. Bass and Drums are supplied by Mike Davis of
the MC5 and Rob King. These are freaky, challenging songs that
border on psychedelic with a quasi-industrial attitude. Niagra's
caterwauling vocal style compliments the difficult, crunchy
music. Her Nico-esque delivery, cool and detached, lends much
needed grounding to the psychotic musical mess. Her insane
lyrics concern witches, boredom, and Jackie Kennedy collecting
bits of the president's grey matter from the back of the
motorcade limousine
Every once in a while a CD comes along with a statement printed
on the sleeve encouraging you to play this CD at Maximum
Volume, or some such. For the most part, the suggestion is
redundant (ie Motorhead). This CD has no such warning, but the
listener would be better served if it did. The music on Bored is so
thick with quiet chaos, that low-volume listening cheats the
listener out of the full Destroy All Monsters experience;
screaming distorted guitars intertwining, riff after riff after riff
after riff...
06/07/04 Lee
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
"Paranoid of Blondes"
SFTRI 467-7 7" $4.00
Two tracks that were left off their "Silver Anniversary" reunion
CD, recorded live at the Magic Bag in Detroit in April '95.
(SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
"self titled"
GET 31-1 LP $9.60
Finally on one LP, all the singles recorded by this band for the
Cherry Red label. Featuring Ron Asheton (STOOGES) and Mike
Davis (MC5). Italian import. (GET BACK)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
"Silver Wedding Anniversary"
SFTRI 444-2 CD $9.65
The groundbreaking 1970's Detroit noise band has reunited, with
all 4 original members. The bastard child of the Stooges, MC5,
Sun Ra and Stockhausen, they still sound as ugly as ever.
(SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY)
I found some this other link you may find of interest...
www.hometown.aol.com/mlbmiller/page4.html
1978
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS EP (Black Hole)
Tacky snippets from the histoire of Mr Ron Asheton's own band.
Sounds likeaaaaaaaaw, ya know the sloppiest, grimiest,
'Funhouse' outtake you could imagine. Great!!!!!!!!!!
But stay away from the methadone and the window
pane tabs; stick to vit C.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS:
'Bored' (Cherry Red) It sez here that you either love this lot or
hate them, the implication being that if you drop for the latter
you're some kind of iredeemable turkey. Well, I bust a hole in
that theory by managing to remain entirely indifferent in their
company-without trying at all. This is le Ann Arbor punky rocky
with no energy and no spark and will no doubt find a place close
to the heart of those who think anything Ron Asheton has a
hand in automatically attains semi-divine,status Red, of course.
1979
ONE DAY IN DALLAS
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: 'Meet The Creeper'/'.Novemher 22
1963" (Cherry Red) Ho hum. A clear case of 'it's about time the
band got into a proper 'studio'. Last year's 'I'm Bored' might
have been a perfect example of Detroit slop but this double A-
side shows no significant change. I've had it on a muddy tape for
some time now and the vinyl incarnation displays no significant
improvement. Lesson Niagara will not become this year's Debbie
Harry till someone focuses DAM's sound and Rock Action learns
to moderate his love of power sustain. As for Niagra being this
year's Sonya Kristina, that's another thing. November 2 1963
was, of course, the date of the first Kennedy assassination.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: 'What Do I Get' (Cherry Red).
Niagara doesn't show her knickers on the sleeve of this record.
As she can't sing and as the guitarists sound like they'd play
better with no fingers and as the 'song' was probably written
while the producer was out taking a leak I'd be inclined to wait
for the poster mag instead.
1989
(SOUNDS July 15 1989)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS 'Live' (Fan Club/FCOSO) ***3/4
DESTROY ALL Monsters were the second Asheton-fronted band
to emerge after the demise of The Stooges. The Monsters were
thrown together from primal rock debris numbering Ron
Asheton, original exponent of the raw power guitar, ex-MC5
bassist Mike Davis and the delectably far out Niagra. And, as
you'd expect given the pedigree of the bloodstock, DAM's shake
appeal falls in the unsanctified ground somewhere between the
Stooges' wild-eyed, head-in-the-dirt bop and the MC5's
unrelenting hi-octane guitar blitzkrieg. With date and venue
unspecified, 'Live' catches Ron et al garagin' out with their
distinctively trashed living dead beat. They might cut loose on
curios as diverse as Lee Haizelwood's 'These Boots Are Made For
Walking', but the raunch of anti-anthems like 'Bored', 'Anyone
Can Fuck Her', Tarty Girl' and 'November 22nd, 1963' reveal
DAM's true ugliness in all its belligerent glory.
This is nihilistic street rock, shaped by Niagra's unearthly howl
and Ron Asheton's unrestrained guitar antics. Whether with
power chords or breakneck fills, Ron never misses a chance to
pepper everything with hot lead from the fretboard of his Les
Paul.
The sound quality on 'Live' is uncompromisingly rough -though
a hi-fidelity recording would've been completely inappropriate.
But while 'Live' is hardly in the same league as the backs-to-the-
wall desperation of 'Metallic KO', and never comes near the
hysterical tirade of 'Kick Out The Jams', it still deserves space
in the affections of any self-respecting Detroit obsessive.
GRAHAME BENT
2004
Destroy All Monsters - Bored
Bored is a collection of the amazing singles recorded by the mid-
period (1978 -79) incarnation of Destroy All Monsters. It is a
short CD, with only 6 songs and an unimpressive bonus track.
Vocals are supplied by ex-model, current visual artist and full-
time whack job Niagra. Stooge Ron Asheton is the guitarist and
co-songwriter. Bass and Drums are supplied by Mike Davis of
the MC5 and Rob King. These are freaky, challenging songs that
border on psychedelic with a quasi-industrial attitude. Niagra's
caterwauling vocal style compliments the difficult, crunchy
music. Her Nico-esque delivery, cool and detached, lends much
needed grounding to the psychotic musical mess. Her insane
lyrics concern witches, boredom, and Jackie Kennedy collecting
bits of the president's grey matter from the back of the
motorcade limousine
Every once in a while a CD comes along with a statement printed
on the sleeve encouraging you to play this CD at Maximum
Volume, or some such. For the most part, the suggestion is
redundant (ie Motorhead). This CD has no such warning, but the
listener would be better served if it did. The music on Bored is so
thick with quiet chaos, that low-volume listening cheats the
listener out of the full Destroy All Monsters experience;
screaming distorted guitars intertwining, riff after riff after riff
after riff...
06/07/04 Lee
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
"Paranoid of Blondes"
SFTRI 467-7 7" $4.00
Two tracks that were left off their "Silver Anniversary" reunion
CD, recorded live at the Magic Bag in Detroit in April '95.
(SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
"self titled"
GET 31-1 LP $9.60
Finally on one LP, all the singles recorded by this band for the
Cherry Red label. Featuring Ron Asheton (STOOGES) and Mike
Davis (MC5). Italian import. (GET BACK)
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
"Silver Wedding Anniversary"
SFTRI 444-2 CD $9.65
The groundbreaking 1970's Detroit noise band has reunited, with
all 4 original members. The bastard child of the Stooges, MC5,
Sun Ra and Stockhausen, they still sound as ugly as ever.
(SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY)
I found some this other link you may find of interest...
www.hometown.aol.com/mlbmiller/page4.html
UK PRESS
1978
SOUNDS - WAX FAX
MONSTER MASH
"WHAT DO you know about a U.S. new wave outfit
called Destroy All Monsters?" asks Jane McCarthy of
Croydon.
Not a lot! They're based in Detroit, and are a six piece
outfit including a tasty girl lead singer named Niagara
(sexist pig Feminist Ed.). The male musicians are Ron
Asheton and Larry Miller on guitars, Mike Dav on bass,
Ben Miller on electric sax(!), and Rob King on drums.
Asheton was once one of Iggy's Stooges, and Dave used
to be with the MC5, which gives the band some
creditable roots. I have to admit I've never heard any
records by them, and so don't know much about their
sound or degree of good/bad/indifference on vinyl. At
least 'one single ('Bored'/'You're Gonna Die'), is
available in the States, and there. maybe others probably
on a Detroit NW label. Anyone with details or a better
working knowledge of them - let's be hearing from you!
SOUNDS 1978 PLAYLIST
Pete Silverton
DAVID JOHANSEN, Blue Sky import .I
YOUR'E GONNA DIE, Destroy All Monsters, IDBI
import
RETURN TO MAGENTA, Mink DC Ville, Capitol
SOUNDS 1978 PLAYLIST
Alan Lewis (Editor)
SUMMERTIME BLUES, Flying Lizards, Virgin TIRED
OK BEING ALONE, Al Green, London
YOU'RE GONNA DIE, Destroy All Monsters, IDBI
Alan Lewis (Editor) PLAYLIST
MEET THE CREEPER, Destroy All Monsters Cherry Red
MY SHARONA, Knack, Capitol
AND NOW, The Runaways, Cherry Red
1979
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, the Detroit cult band, have
a new single released this weekend by Cherry Red
Records. Called 'Meet The Creeper'/'November 22 1963',
its a follow-up to their first single 'Bored' which was
released last January. The band, which features ex-
Stooge Ron Asheton and the exotic Niagara on vocals,
are planning a British tour in September.
NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS
DETROIT-based band Destroy All Monsters, who are
lined up for a U.K. tour in September release their
second single a double A side called " Meet The
Creeper" and "November 22, 1963" on Cherry Red on
Friday. The second title is about the Kennedy
Assassination.
SOUNDS
CHELTENHAM has acquired a new venue, the Live
Music Centre, which debuts auspiciously this Saturday
(29th) with a bill headed by Destroy All Monsters.
The gig is at the Tythe Barn Bishops Cleeve, just outside
the town, and the second show on October 6 will feature
Prince Hammer, Jah Whoosh, and Creation Rebel.
(SOUNDS)
MONSTER MASH
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, the Detroit band featuring
ex-Stooge Ron Asheton, ex-MC5 member Mike Davis
and the photogenic Niagra, are coming over for a British
tour later this month. They have a new single called
'Nobody Knows' released! by Cherry Red Records to
coincide with the tour. The tour starts at...
Norwich Cromwells on September 25th
and then moves to London Dingwalls 26,
Hull Wellington GlJub 27,
Retford Porterhouse 28,
Cheltenham Tyne Barn Bishops Cleeve 29,(BANNED!)
Sheffield Penthouse October 1,
Leeds F Club 2,
York Pop Club 3,
London Music Machine 4,
Newport Village 6,
Dudley JB's 6,
Redcar Coatham Bowl 7,
Manchester Factory 8.
Swindon Brunel Rooms 9,
Liverpool Erics 11,
London Harrow College 12,
Exeter University 13,
London Lyceum 14.
High Wycombe Town Hall 15.
London Nashville Rooms 16.
London Dingwalls 18.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS have added more dates to
their tour which was announced last week. They'll be
supporting Herman Brood at the London Lyceum on
October 14 and playing High Wycombe Town Hall 15.
(SOUNDS NEWS ITEM )
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, who were banned from
playing the new Cheltenham Tythe Barn venue last
Saturday because a local councillor didn't like the sound
of their name, have added Exeter
University this Saturday (13) to their current-tour.
SOUNDS
DAM DAMNED: Nothing going right for the hopelessly
over rated Destroy All Monsters it seems.
After getting that vital Tythe Barn gig banned (see last
week's Jaws exclusive) they had their van broken into
outside the Penthouse Club in Sheffield.
The thieves, obviously after a pair of Niagara's used
knickers, ran off with assorted clothes, cameras, candy
bars etc and woe of woes their manager's dinky address
book. As this is of little use to fences and vital to the
band. DAM would like to ask the light fingered felons to
Return it to Cherry Red records post haste.
SOUNDS
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, the Detroit-based band
who are currently on a British tour, release a new single
on Cherry Red this weekend called 'Nobody Know'. And
they are also making a return visit to London Dingwalls
on October 18.
1978
SOUNDS - WAX FAX
MONSTER MASH
"WHAT DO you know about a U.S. new wave outfit
called Destroy All Monsters?" asks Jane McCarthy of
Croydon.
Not a lot! They're based in Detroit, and are a six piece
outfit including a tasty girl lead singer named Niagara
(sexist pig Feminist Ed.). The male musicians are Ron
Asheton and Larry Miller on guitars, Mike Dav on bass,
Ben Miller on electric sax(!), and Rob King on drums.
Asheton was once one of Iggy's Stooges, and Dave used
to be with the MC5, which gives the band some
creditable roots. I have to admit I've never heard any
records by them, and so don't know much about their
sound or degree of good/bad/indifference on vinyl. At
least 'one single ('Bored'/'You're Gonna Die'), is
available in the States, and there. maybe others probably
on a Detroit NW label. Anyone with details or a better
working knowledge of them - let's be hearing from you!
SOUNDS 1978 PLAYLIST
Pete Silverton
DAVID JOHANSEN, Blue Sky import .I
YOUR'E GONNA DIE, Destroy All Monsters, IDBI
import
RETURN TO MAGENTA, Mink DC Ville, Capitol
SOUNDS 1978 PLAYLIST
Alan Lewis (Editor)
SUMMERTIME BLUES, Flying Lizards, Virgin TIRED
OK BEING ALONE, Al Green, London
YOU'RE GONNA DIE, Destroy All Monsters, IDBI
Alan Lewis (Editor) PLAYLIST
MEET THE CREEPER, Destroy All Monsters Cherry Red
MY SHARONA, Knack, Capitol
AND NOW, The Runaways, Cherry Red
1979
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, the Detroit cult band, have
a new single released this weekend by Cherry Red
Records. Called 'Meet The Creeper'/'November 22 1963',
its a follow-up to their first single 'Bored' which was
released last January. The band, which features ex-
Stooge Ron Asheton and the exotic Niagara on vocals,
are planning a British tour in September.
NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS
DETROIT-based band Destroy All Monsters, who are
lined up for a U.K. tour in September release their
second single a double A side called " Meet The
Creeper" and "November 22, 1963" on Cherry Red on
Friday. The second title is about the Kennedy
Assassination.
SOUNDS
CHELTENHAM has acquired a new venue, the Live
Music Centre, which debuts auspiciously this Saturday
(29th) with a bill headed by Destroy All Monsters.
The gig is at the Tythe Barn Bishops Cleeve, just outside
the town, and the second show on October 6 will feature
Prince Hammer, Jah Whoosh, and Creation Rebel.
(SOUNDS)
MONSTER MASH
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, the Detroit band featuring
ex-Stooge Ron Asheton, ex-MC5 member Mike Davis
and the photogenic Niagra, are coming over for a British
tour later this month. They have a new single called
'Nobody Knows' released! by Cherry Red Records to
coincide with the tour. The tour starts at...
Norwich Cromwells on September 25th
and then moves to London Dingwalls 26,
Hull Wellington GlJub 27,
Retford Porterhouse 28,
Cheltenham Tyne Barn Bishops Cleeve 29,(BANNED!)
Sheffield Penthouse October 1,
Leeds F Club 2,
York Pop Club 3,
London Music Machine 4,
Newport Village 6,
Dudley JB's 6,
Redcar Coatham Bowl 7,
Manchester Factory 8.
Swindon Brunel Rooms 9,
Liverpool Erics 11,
London Harrow College 12,
Exeter University 13,
London Lyceum 14.
High Wycombe Town Hall 15.
London Nashville Rooms 16.
London Dingwalls 18.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS have added more dates to
their tour which was announced last week. They'll be
supporting Herman Brood at the London Lyceum on
October 14 and playing High Wycombe Town Hall 15.
(SOUNDS NEWS ITEM )
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, who were banned from
playing the new Cheltenham Tythe Barn venue last
Saturday because a local councillor didn't like the sound
of their name, have added Exeter
University this Saturday (13) to their current-tour.
SOUNDS
DAM DAMNED: Nothing going right for the hopelessly
over rated Destroy All Monsters it seems.
After getting that vital Tythe Barn gig banned (see last
week's Jaws exclusive) they had their van broken into
outside the Penthouse Club in Sheffield.
The thieves, obviously after a pair of Niagara's used
knickers, ran off with assorted clothes, cameras, candy
bars etc and woe of woes their manager's dinky address
book. As this is of little use to fences and vital to the
band. DAM would like to ask the light fingered felons to
Return it to Cherry Red records post haste.
SOUNDS
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, the Detroit-based band
who are currently on a British tour, release a new single
on Cherry Red this weekend called 'Nobody Know'. And
they are also making a return visit to London Dingwalls
on October 18.
NIAGRA FAILS
Destroy All Monsters
Dingwalls, London 26th September 1979
What's in a name?
Consider this year's Stateside options: if The Cramps gave us
trashed banshee rockabilly in neon drag and The B-52's offered
canned campus hop fodder for the nearly-normal, we can but
tremble in anticipation of what Destroy All Monsters might hold in
store.
This much we know. The Monsters hail from Detroit with a title
pilfered from a '68 screen epic of the late Godzilla school. They
comprise Rob King on drums, ex-MC5 stalwart Michael Davis on
bass and 'original Stooge' Ron Asheton (guitar), who stood in the
shadow of Iggy Pop from '68 to '74 and has somehow survived to
tell the tale.
These three pale into insignificance before the rumblings heard of
late about Niagara, the Monsters' vamp-like chanteuse founder
member, 'artistic' leanings, raunchy, reptilian gait, Big in New York,
a bit of a stunner, that sort of thing. . .
This much we find. A voice announces it's "midnight monster time",
as a flock of photographers, bristling with lenses, swamp
stage wards and start jostling for positions. There's a blaze of light,
three male Monsters appear and get stuck straight into a ferocious
bone crusher entitled 'Nobody Knows'.
Niagara (gasp!) strolls on wearing stack hi-heels, leatherette mini,
cursory knotted sash and trowelled-on green eye shadow. She
embraces the mike, pouts, gets all enigmatic, makes to sing, but no
sound is forthcoming. Not a whisper. '(Meet The) Creeper' and
'You're Gonna Die' are irretrievably lost while she chimes "gimme a
break, my mother's here", and aims malicious glances at the
sound-crew.
Niagara's stage vocabulary is limited. She shrink-wraps herself
around pillars, peeling herself off with seductive flair, and then belies her cat's-eyed hardcore strut by asking the crushed
audience if they're "comfortable" while sipping a can of diet cola. It's almost touching.
The whole contrivance is by now becoming painfully transparent. Not so much 'a band', these Monsters, as a failsafe
commercial cocktail.
'Life' is delivered by Davis with a vocal texture like prime beef, while Niag crawls about on the deck. It confirms that, while
trying to slipstream behind a frantic Ramones-type power chord chassis, the Monsters are actually churning out
supercharged HM-based, brain-numbing dreck.
Variety is hardly a strong point. 'Wadda I Get?', '(Going To) Lou's' and 'The Past' consist of identical two-stop
hammerhead bass and bumped-up drums, with Asheton getting refunds on his text-book technique as Niagara scowls her
garbled paranoid ranting's over the top.
We get a caustic re-run of the assassination of Kennedy in 'November 22nd 1963', the disarming, but suspiciously
outmoded 'Bored', and thrown in like a conceptual yardstick, a mutilated (but hilarious) cover of 'These Boots Are Made
For Walking', carved up by the lady's tenuous vocal find with the descending riff sounding like a crashing „ elevator.
It's hardly sufficient to salvage the set. The Monsters play it sharp, flashy, derivative, inflexible, gift-wrapped, vacant and
dull. What's in a name?
At times, a whole lot of nothing. Godzilla must be turning in his grave.
Mark Ellen (New Musical Express October 1979)
Destroy All Monsters
Dingwalls, London 26th September 1979
What's in a name?
Consider this year's Stateside options: if The Cramps gave us
trashed banshee rockabilly in neon drag and The B-52's offered
canned campus hop fodder for the nearly-normal, we can but
tremble in anticipation of what Destroy All Monsters might hold in
store.
This much we know. The Monsters hail from Detroit with a title
pilfered from a '68 screen epic of the late Godzilla school. They
comprise Rob King on drums, ex-MC5 stalwart Michael Davis on
bass and 'original Stooge' Ron Asheton (guitar), who stood in the
shadow of Iggy Pop from '68 to '74 and has somehow survived to
tell the tale.
These three pale into insignificance before the rumblings heard of
late about Niagara, the Monsters' vamp-like chanteuse founder
member, 'artistic' leanings, raunchy, reptilian gait, Big in New York,
a bit of a stunner, that sort of thing. . .
This much we find. A voice announces it's "midnight monster time",
as a flock of photographers, bristling with lenses, swamp
stage wards and start jostling for positions. There's a blaze of light,
three male Monsters appear and get stuck straight into a ferocious
bone crusher entitled 'Nobody Knows'.
Niagara (gasp!) strolls on wearing stack hi-heels, leatherette mini,
cursory knotted sash and trowelled-on green eye shadow. She
embraces the mike, pouts, gets all enigmatic, makes to sing, but no
sound is forthcoming. Not a whisper. '(Meet The) Creeper' and
'You're Gonna Die' are irretrievably lost while she chimes "gimme a
break, my mother's here", and aims malicious glances at the
sound-crew.
Niagara's stage vocabulary is limited. She shrink-wraps herself
around pillars, peeling herself off with seductive flair, and then belies her cat's-eyed hardcore strut by asking the crushed
audience if they're "comfortable" while sipping a can of diet cola. It's almost touching.
The whole contrivance is by now becoming painfully transparent. Not so much 'a band', these Monsters, as a failsafe
commercial cocktail.
'Life' is delivered by Davis with a vocal texture like prime beef, while Niag crawls about on the deck. It confirms that, while
trying to slipstream behind a frantic Ramones-type power chord chassis, the Monsters are actually churning out
supercharged HM-based, brain-numbing dreck.
Variety is hardly a strong point. 'Wadda I Get?', '(Going To) Lou's' and 'The Past' consist of identical two-stop
hammerhead bass and bumped-up drums, with Asheton getting refunds on his text-book technique as Niagara scowls her
garbled paranoid ranting's over the top.
We get a caustic re-run of the assassination of Kennedy in 'November 22nd 1963', the disarming, but suspiciously
outmoded 'Bored', and thrown in like a conceptual yardstick, a mutilated (but hilarious) cover of 'These Boots Are Made
For Walking', carved up by the lady's tenuous vocal find with the descending riff sounding like a crashing „ elevator.
It's hardly sufficient to salvage the set. The Monsters play it sharp, flashy, derivative, inflexible, gift-wrapped, vacant and
dull. What's in a name?
At times, a whole lot of nothing. Godzilla must be turning in his grave.
Mark Ellen (New Musical Express October 1979)
| Destroy All Monsters original 1970's era 45's Discography with various US and UK sleeves. - Bored / You're Gonna Die 7" IDBI EEEE1, 1978 PS UK Cherry Red CHERRY3, 1978 PS - November 22, 1963 / Meet the Creeper 7" IDBI MONZ2, 1979 PS UK Cherry Red CHERRY7, 1979 PS - What Do I Get? / Nobody Knows 7" IDBI DAM3, 1979 PS UK Cherry Red CHERRY9, 1979 PS - Introduction / Assassination Photograph / Dream Song // Destroy A.M. / There Is No End 7" Black Hole 18551, 1979 PS Loads more DAM releases have now been uncovered with live albums, basement tapes and some re-union line-up tracks taken from live gigs in the 90's. There is also more studio tracks from the 80's which I would really like to hear. For more information see below. |
