Destroy All Monsters were a late 70's US cult band, which featured ex-Stooge Ron Asheton and the
exotic Niagara on vocals. Destroy All Monsters were based in Detroit, Michigan. At least one single
('Bored'/'You're Gonna Die') should signal some familiarity in punk folklore! But If you ain't heard em
already, I suggest you look em up coz you won't be dissapointed if your into a more laidback sleazy
Stooges grind and along with Niagra's laidback drawl and bewitiching lyrics completes this cult
package. Here's their story taken from the British music press's perspective at the time.
SOUNDS October 28th,1978
So where did Destroy All Monsters spring from? Well, first of all the final incarnation arose from an earlier one. which sported
the same name but was vastly different in terms of both personnel and musical style. The original D.A.M. came together at the
end of 1973 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was conceived not as a band in the usual sense, but as an extra dimension to the artistic
activities of the four people involved Cary Loren, a maverick underground filmmaker, and painters Mike Kelly, Jim Shaw and
Niagara.
This latter-named young lady turned out to be the
band's pivotal element, having remained a member
from those early days to the present. Just what the
rest of her name (or her real name) is, nobody
seems to have discovered; in fact, Niagara has
generally succeeded in remaining anonymous. We
know from visual evidence that she has an aversion
to wearing much of anything from the waist
upwards.
The original quartet made music based on a
concept of filling a given airspace with an
assortment of noise — much as one might fill a
canvas with paint. The theory might have been
artistically valid, but aurally it presented a distinctly
unresolved racket! I can't resist quoting Kris Needs, who
speaks of the band thrashing out
"a formless blur on cheap plastic organs,
electronic drum boxes, fuzz guitars and Niagara's
violin". It wouldn't have needed much of a prophet to suggest that this lot were destined to go nowhere very fast; nonetheless
they held loosely onto each other and their joint cacophony until the end of 1974. When Mike Kelly conceded to himself that
this was not the way up the yellow brick road. Exit Kelly and Shaw, and goodbye D.A.M. mark one.
Loren's masterplan for resurrection was quite straight forward, requiring simply the addition of new band members with
established musical credits. The two he got the ex-Iggy & The Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, and former MC5 bass player
Mike Davis were quite a coup. Asheton (a resident Ann Arbor commodity) had been dormant since the collapse of his previous
rock & roll fiasco, the New Order. Loren's invitation just happened to coincide with Asheton's own decision to tread the boards
again, and the projected D.A.M. seemed the right vehicle.
To complete the band came brothers Ben and Larry Miller on sax and guitar, and Rob King on drums. Niagara and Loren
shared lead vocal chores , the stage act fell together well, and a new hard-rockin' D.A.M. arose phoenix-like from the ashes of
the earlier band. Plenty of heavy gigging around Detroit and Ann Arbor rapidly built up a loyal local following undoubtedly
aided, by Asheton and Davis' semi-legendary status, and by Niagara's sexist appeal. They even concluded successful gigs in
Toronto and New York during 1977. Then, in August, Gary Loren upped and exited. This whole event and the reasons for it
appear to be shrouded in mystery; (however you can read the real reason why he left in Giovanni Dadomo's interview with
D.A.M. in July 14th 1979 here).
Since then the band played support to the Ramones, Pere Ubu, Devo and our own lovable exports the Stranglers. What
they didn't do was get snapped up by a record company — but it was only a matter of time before they put themselves onto
vinyl. A single was recorded in October 1977 and eventually saw the light of day in February 1978 on the band's own I.D.B.I,
label (stands for 'I Don't Believe It', which figures!). The titles are 'Bored' and 'You're Gonna Die', and Kris Needs sums up their
sound as: "kind of raw Motor City Blondie, minus the keyboards but plus screaming psychedelic guitars" oh, and the recording
quality is a bit lo-fi, if you know what I mean.
An EP was recorded as a follow-up, assuming the band don't get a legit recording deal
before it's issued. Titles are not known, but possibly include some of the songs featured
in their regular stage set, like 'November 22nd, 1963', 'Tab Machine', 'Broken Mirrors',
'Lou Lou', 'Soul Divider', 'Turn Your Every Page', 'Jet' (with Ron Asheton lead vocal),
and the Nancy Sinatra oldie 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin'.'
The band's sound is basically an aural battering ram, using all the tricks of cacophony
in which the psychedelic groups of the mid-60's delighted, plus assorted heavy-metal
borrowings from all points since. Niagara's voice is reckoned to be cold, detached,
monotonous — and indeed the lass herself is quoted as saying (in reference to her
performance of the Nancy Sinatra hit): "I used to think that Nancy sang in such a
monotone, but when I listen to her now, she sounds so vital". Draw your own conclusions!
IDBI records, in the interim, can be contacted at P.O. Box 7241, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107, U.S.A.; David Keeps is the man to
address there. I also received a note, however, from Wretched Records of 98 Soho Market, Newport Place, London WC2 not
more than a couple of minutes jaunt from the palatial Sounds offices, in fact. They have copies of 'Bored/You're Gonna Die' on
IDBI import at £1.25 a throw; and while I doubt that they're the ONLY retailers with copies, since they took the effort to inform
us, I see no reason not to point the more serious among you in their direction. John Peel has been known to play the single in
recent weeks when this appears in print, and if you all listen politely twixt ten and twelve, he might well be persuaded to give it
another whirl.
EPITAPH: Destroy Alll Monsters continued playing until 1985. They also made a new batch of studio recordings as well as
some video work from this period. Although in 1981 Ron Asheton had also joined ex-Radio Birdman members Deniz Tek and
Rob Younger in their underground supergroup The New Race. Ron also did some acting in low budget horror movies in the
80's and 90's. Before rejoining Niagara in the shortrtlived Dark Carnival during the 90's. However Destroy All Monsters were
ressurrected for more appearances most notable being Punks 25th anniversary held at CBGB's. They still make sporadic
appearances both in Detroit and New York to this day. Ron later teamed up with the reformed Stooges who are currently
gigging all over the world once more.
Cheers to Sid (Nuneaton) who sent me a copy of Kris Needs' article on Destroy All Monsters from Zig Zag issue 83,
Erin from (Texas Punk Junk) for introducing me to the missing 'Creeper' sleeve and Brett from (Temple, PA) for
info and a few live CD burns. While a special big thanx must go out to original contributors from the Don't Care
archives - Barry Lazell from Sounds and Alastair of the fanzine 'Kids Stuff' who spared the time and energy to put
together a potted band history all those years ago. Wonder where they are now?
For further details on Niagra's current exploits go to her fab art site www.niagaradetroit.com
exotic Niagara on vocals. Destroy All Monsters were based in Detroit, Michigan. At least one single
('Bored'/'You're Gonna Die') should signal some familiarity in punk folklore! But If you ain't heard em
already, I suggest you look em up coz you won't be dissapointed if your into a more laidback sleazy
Stooges grind and along with Niagra's laidback drawl and bewitiching lyrics completes this cult
package. Here's their story taken from the British music press's perspective at the time.
SOUNDS October 28th,1978
So where did Destroy All Monsters spring from? Well, first of all the final incarnation arose from an earlier one. which sported
the same name but was vastly different in terms of both personnel and musical style. The original D.A.M. came together at the
end of 1973 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was conceived not as a band in the usual sense, but as an extra dimension to the artistic
activities of the four people involved Cary Loren, a maverick underground filmmaker, and painters Mike Kelly, Jim Shaw and
Niagara.
This latter-named young lady turned out to be the
band's pivotal element, having remained a member
from those early days to the present. Just what the
rest of her name (or her real name) is, nobody
seems to have discovered; in fact, Niagara has
generally succeeded in remaining anonymous. We
know from visual evidence that she has an aversion
to wearing much of anything from the waist
upwards.
The original quartet made music based on a
concept of filling a given airspace with an
assortment of noise — much as one might fill a
canvas with paint. The theory might have been
artistically valid, but aurally it presented a distinctly
unresolved racket! I can't resist quoting Kris Needs, who
speaks of the band thrashing out
"a formless blur on cheap plastic organs,
electronic drum boxes, fuzz guitars and Niagara's
violin". It wouldn't have needed much of a prophet to suggest that this lot were destined to go nowhere very fast; nonetheless
they held loosely onto each other and their joint cacophony until the end of 1974. When Mike Kelly conceded to himself that
this was not the way up the yellow brick road. Exit Kelly and Shaw, and goodbye D.A.M. mark one.
Loren's masterplan for resurrection was quite straight forward, requiring simply the addition of new band members with
established musical credits. The two he got the ex-Iggy & The Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, and former MC5 bass player
Mike Davis were quite a coup. Asheton (a resident Ann Arbor commodity) had been dormant since the collapse of his previous
rock & roll fiasco, the New Order. Loren's invitation just happened to coincide with Asheton's own decision to tread the boards
again, and the projected D.A.M. seemed the right vehicle.
To complete the band came brothers Ben and Larry Miller on sax and guitar, and Rob King on drums. Niagara and Loren
shared lead vocal chores , the stage act fell together well, and a new hard-rockin' D.A.M. arose phoenix-like from the ashes of
the earlier band. Plenty of heavy gigging around Detroit and Ann Arbor rapidly built up a loyal local following undoubtedly
aided, by Asheton and Davis' semi-legendary status, and by Niagara's sexist appeal. They even concluded successful gigs in
Toronto and New York during 1977. Then, in August, Gary Loren upped and exited. This whole event and the reasons for it
appear to be shrouded in mystery; (however you can read the real reason why he left in Giovanni Dadomo's interview with
D.A.M. in July 14th 1979 here).
Since then the band played support to the Ramones, Pere Ubu, Devo and our own lovable exports the Stranglers. What
they didn't do was get snapped up by a record company — but it was only a matter of time before they put themselves onto
vinyl. A single was recorded in October 1977 and eventually saw the light of day in February 1978 on the band's own I.D.B.I,
label (stands for 'I Don't Believe It', which figures!). The titles are 'Bored' and 'You're Gonna Die', and Kris Needs sums up their
sound as: "kind of raw Motor City Blondie, minus the keyboards but plus screaming psychedelic guitars" oh, and the recording
quality is a bit lo-fi, if you know what I mean.
An EP was recorded as a follow-up, assuming the band don't get a legit recording deal
before it's issued. Titles are not known, but possibly include some of the songs featured
in their regular stage set, like 'November 22nd, 1963', 'Tab Machine', 'Broken Mirrors',
'Lou Lou', 'Soul Divider', 'Turn Your Every Page', 'Jet' (with Ron Asheton lead vocal),
and the Nancy Sinatra oldie 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin'.'
The band's sound is basically an aural battering ram, using all the tricks of cacophony
in which the psychedelic groups of the mid-60's delighted, plus assorted heavy-metal
borrowings from all points since. Niagara's voice is reckoned to be cold, detached,
monotonous — and indeed the lass herself is quoted as saying (in reference to her
performance of the Nancy Sinatra hit): "I used to think that Nancy sang in such a
monotone, but when I listen to her now, she sounds so vital". Draw your own conclusions!
IDBI records, in the interim, can be contacted at P.O. Box 7241, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107, U.S.A.; David Keeps is the man to
address there. I also received a note, however, from Wretched Records of 98 Soho Market, Newport Place, London WC2 not
more than a couple of minutes jaunt from the palatial Sounds offices, in fact. They have copies of 'Bored/You're Gonna Die' on
IDBI import at £1.25 a throw; and while I doubt that they're the ONLY retailers with copies, since they took the effort to inform
us, I see no reason not to point the more serious among you in their direction. John Peel has been known to play the single in
recent weeks when this appears in print, and if you all listen politely twixt ten and twelve, he might well be persuaded to give it
another whirl.
EPITAPH: Destroy Alll Monsters continued playing until 1985. They also made a new batch of studio recordings as well as
some video work from this period. Although in 1981 Ron Asheton had also joined ex-Radio Birdman members Deniz Tek and
Rob Younger in their underground supergroup The New Race. Ron also did some acting in low budget horror movies in the
80's and 90's. Before rejoining Niagara in the shortrtlived Dark Carnival during the 90's. However Destroy All Monsters were
ressurrected for more appearances most notable being Punks 25th anniversary held at CBGB's. They still make sporadic
appearances both in Detroit and New York to this day. Ron later teamed up with the reformed Stooges who are currently
gigging all over the world once more.
Cheers to Sid (Nuneaton) who sent me a copy of Kris Needs' article on Destroy All Monsters from Zig Zag issue 83,
Erin from (Texas Punk Junk) for introducing me to the missing 'Creeper' sleeve and Brett from (Temple, PA) for
info and a few live CD burns. While a special big thanx must go out to original contributors from the Don't Care
archives - Barry Lazell from Sounds and Alastair of the fanzine 'Kids Stuff' who spared the time and energy to put
together a potted band history all those years ago. Wonder where they are now?
For further details on Niagra's current exploits go to her fab art site www.niagaradetroit.com
