The Monkeywrench

The Monkeywrench -- who played a hybrid of blues, punk, and classic garage rock -- came together in 1991 after <a href="spotify:artist:5xauPslNRX0Yf5mkZ3ktn4">Mark Arm</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3sLtKcGWnmF4ERWtIaoG5r">Steve Turner</a> of the classic Seattle band <a href="spotify:artist:7LuYiSXiWs86rwWJjEEgB9">Mudhoney</a> met Tim Kerr, the former guitarist with punk bands <a href="spotify:artist:5dLLOxuGeaMlFV5OAEsmtL">the Big Boys</a> and Poison 13. After <a href="spotify:artist:3sLtKcGWnmF4ERWtIaoG5r">Turner</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5xauPslNRX0Yf5mkZ3ktn4">Arm</a> explained what big fans they were of his days with Poison 13, Kerr suggested that they get together to record. Kerr would handle guitar duties; <a href="spotify:artist:5xauPslNRX0Yf5mkZ3ktn4">Arm</a> would play piano, harmonica and sing; and <a href="spotify:artist:3sLtKcGWnmF4ERWtIaoG5r">Turner</a> would pick up the bass. The lineup was completed with the addition of second guitarist Tom Price, formerly of Seattle band <a href="spotify:artist:22WypD8tTI2wltNMQJZhj6">the U-Men</a>, as well as Australian drummer Martin Bland, known for his work with groups like <a href="spotify:artist:3ijqDyDi341R8k7WRVh4N0">Lubricated Goat</a>, the Primevils, and <a href="spotify:artist:38TYbNVJtwfrg9fzxa0qc3">Bloodloss</a>. The latter of these bands also included <a href="spotify:artist:5xauPslNRX0Yf5mkZ3ktn4">Arm</a> on vocals and guitar.

When <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sub+Pop+Records%22">Sub Pop Records</a> was informed of the new supergroup in 1991, the label signed the band immediately. Later in the year, the Monkeywrench spent time at Egg Studios in Seattle with producer Conrad Uno recording their first LP, Clean as a Broke-Dick Dog. The album was released in 1992, along with a 7" that included two tracks from the LP -- "Bottle Up & Go" and "Cold Cold World" -- as well as a song titled "Out of Focus." The group took some time off in the mid-'90s, due to the fact that <a href="spotify:artist:5xauPslNRX0Yf5mkZ3ktn4">Arm</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3sLtKcGWnmF4ERWtIaoG5r">Turner</a> were still involved with <a href="spotify:artist:7LuYiSXiWs86rwWJjEEgB9">Mudhoney</a> and Kerr was busy with his band <a href="spotify:artist:53d6lhNq8UIg88EMC4Fzjj">the Lord High Fixers</a>. However, they still managed to release a split 7" of the <a href="spotify:artist:39zgKjGWsiZzJ9h6gbrPFY">Germs</a> song "Shut Down" on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gasatanka+Records%22">Gasatanka Records</a> in late 1995. The song also appeared on that year's tribute album to <a href="spotify:artist:39zgKjGWsiZzJ9h6gbrPFY">the Germs</a>, titled A Small Circle of Friends, on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Grass+Records%22">Grass Records</a>.

Kerr had also been getting more involved with Dave Crider at <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Estrus+Records%22">Estrus Records</a> in the latter part of the '90s, helping to produce many of the label's bands, as well as joining their roster in groups like <a href="spotify:artist:5jAHzEMfgZENFzl9uxTina">Jack O'Fire</a> and the aforementioned <a href="spotify:artist:53d6lhNq8UIg88EMC4Fzjj">Lord High Fixers</a>. In turn, this led to the Monkeywrench signing to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Estrus%22">Estrus</a> in 1999. The band entered Private Radio Studios in November of 1999 along with producer <a href="spotify:artist:5WPz1DmtxRJBajeTYGiftU">Jack Endino</a> to record its second full-length LP, Electric Children. The CD was released on April 4, 2000. Another eight years passed before the group got back together to record more material. The resulting album, Gabriel's Horn, was issued by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sub+Pop%22">Sub Pop</a> in March of 2008. ~ Stephen Howell, Rovi