The redoubtable Bid has been fronting the singular Monochrome Set since, oh my goodness, a very long time anyway. He provided some witty responses and chucks a few barbs around in yet another “Ten with Betty”.
1. So, Mr Bid – BM is a big fan. It’s a long time ago but what were your original aims (for you personally and for the band in general) when you first started getting money for playing music?
Never stopping. Success was desired, but of what kind, we didn’t know. We were just forest savages who liked to make noise, and wanted to do it forever.
2. Betty is old enough to have bought ‘Volume Contrast Brilliance’ when it first came out and the songs have not dulled over time. What is your personal favourite (if any) of the material from that early era?
I think ‘Eine Symphone’ is the best song from the early period, partly because I don’t know why it’s good, and I don’t know what it’s about.
3. At your last gig but one in Glasgow (I think, Stereo around 2.5 years ago) BM heckled you to say something about the Tories after ‘The Ruling Class’. It’s not a question – but has the band ever declared any political allegiances given some of the social commentary in that material?
The Bay of Politics is a little too shallow for my ship. I write more personally, I think – but listeners may have other perceptions. The song, ‘Iceman’, from the new album, is about electioneering and the effect it has on people, and not about specific political manifestos.
4. So the new material – the LP ‘Spaces Everywhere’ – BM likes it, but can you describe it?
Not really! All I can say is that we don’t latch onto one musical style and stick with it for a whole album.
5. In the mid 80s TMS were promoted a bit as “pop” artists with the likes of ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ – how close do you think you were to breaking into the mainstream, and was that important to the band, or just to the record company?
I think that we’ve always been mainstream, but just not a big, commercial outfit. We’re still here- the small group of barbarian swine in our vile canoe, paddling past the expensive wrecks.
6. Do you guys (sorry if this is a bit rude) make enough from music, or do you need to have other jobs, like the rest of us?
I make just enough to live on, but the others have to sell trinkets to tourists.
7. What are the best and worst gigs you have ever played?
We were in Glasgow once when someone kept shouting things out. Most of the gigs have been good, I think.
8. BM is aware the line-up has changed a bit over the years but does it still feel essentially like the same band as when you started out?
Yes, I suppose it does.
9. Are there any emerging groups or musicians you feel some kinship or similarity with, or just like their music?
I’ve never really paid much attention to other bands – being in a (serious) band is a very inward-looking thing.
10. And finally, there have been some forays north in recent years, very welcome they have been too by the way – any planned in 2015?
Yes- there’s been some delays in getting the UK booking started, but we’ll be in Scotland in late Spring/early Summer.
‘Spaces Everywhere’ is available now on Tapete Records. More at http://www.themonochromeset.co.uk.