The Monks: a discordian band?

[GrannySmith]

Hi,
I'm talking about the 60s revolutionary band, the Monks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_monks). Comprised of 5 american former soldiers left back in Germany in the mid 60s, their philosophy was constructed by "a pair of loopy existentialist visionaries". Apart from being the fathers of punk, techno, etc., they influenced later bands like the Beastie Boys, Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys, The White Stripes, etc..

So if you listen to their only album, "black monk time" it is I think a collection of very discordian songs. Take for example "higgledy piggledy" (http://www.myspace.com/music/the-monks-6801749/songs/higgledypiggledy-2949587). Higgledy Piggledy in English means 'in confusion or disorder', and the only other lyrics of this song are "Way down, to heaven, yeah!". And Principia Discordia's heaven is down.

So my question is rather technical: does anybody have information to the discordian nature of the Monks? I mean, is it accidental or were their "designers" discordians or what?

merci, granny smith

[E.O.T.]

THE MONKS

          definitely benefitted, as an act, by the production leads of Niemann & Remy - for both their sound and image. Given the time frame, it would be impossible to pick this Lp up and not have it impact you in some way, especially if one were a musician/ artist at the time. I find their lyrics are deliberately all over, and the nature of the dactyl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_dactyl) as a contemporary (poetic) art influence is indicative of their radical yet contemporary content mix. The 'Monks' were designed to be an alternative. Giving them the labels of 'fathers' of anything really, is absolutely stretching their influence, i think.

[E.O.T.]

THE MONKS

          definitely benefitted, as an act, by the production leads of Niemann & Remy - for both their sound and image. Given the time frame, it would be impossible to pick this Lp up and not have it impact you in some way, especially if one were a musician/ artist at the time. I find their lyrics are deliberately all over, and the nature of the dactyl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_dactyl) as a contemporary (poetic) art influence is indicative of their radical yet contemporary content mix. The 'Monks' were designed to be an alternative. Giving them the labels of 'fathers' of anything really, is absolutely stretching their influence, i think.

&

          re; tha P.D. -were there German spags in 1963?

[the last yatto]

never heard of em

My brother tells me the Monkeys were the Hanna Montana of their day, grinning I tell him rockin in the ussa isn't that bad of a song

[Nephew Twiddleton]

THE MONKS

          definitely benefitted, as an act, by the production leads of Niemann & Remy - for both their sound and image. Given the time frame, it would be impossible to pick this Lp up and not have it impact you in some way, especially if one were a musician/ artist at the time. I find their lyrics are deliberately all over, and the nature of the dactyl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_dactyl) as a contemporary (poetic) art influence is indicative of their radical yet contemporary content mix. The 'Monks' were designed to be an alternative. Giving them the labels of 'fathers' of anything really, is absolutely stretching their influence, i think.

&

          re; tha P.D. -were there German spags in 1963?

They were from the US and formed over in Germany, so I suppose it's possible. I guess one would have to find out if it were possible, like if they knew a guy who knew a guy who knew Kerry Thornley.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

never heard of em

My brother tells me the Monkeys were the Hanna Montana of their day, grinning I tell him rockin in the ussa isn't that bad of a song

I heard about them in my Rock and Roll history class last semester, checked some of their songs out cuz they sounded interesting, especially being a rock band that used the banjo.

[E.O.T.]

THE MONKS

          definitely benefitted, as an act, by the production leads of Niemann & Remy - for both their sound and image. Given the time frame, it would be impossible to pick this Lp up and not have it impact you in some way, especially if one were a musician/ artist at the time. I find their lyrics are deliberately all over, and the nature of the dactyl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_dactyl) as a contemporary (poetic) art influence is indicative of their radical yet contemporary content mix. The 'Monks' were designed to be an alternative. Giving them the labels of 'fathers' of anything really, is absolutely stretching their influence, i think.

&

          re; tha P.D. -were there German spags in 1963?

They were from the US and formed over in Germany, so I suppose it's possible. I guess one would have to find out if it were possible, like if they knew a guy who knew a guy who knew Kerry Thornley.

I GET IT

          but it was their producers which whupped together the bands schtick, so i'm leaning more towards the probability that if there was an actual p.d. influence, it came from those two.

A MORE

          likely explanation is that similar elements in culture brought about both the p.d. and the art/ politics which were the environment that the 'monks' were a response to.

[Iason Ouabache]

"Songs Similar to HiggleDyPiggleDy":

"Kick Out the Jams" by MC5.  

[BadBeast]

"Songs Similar to HiggleDyPiggleDy":

"Kick Out the Jams" by MC5.   

I was just gonna say that. Maybe there were connections in both their production team and/or management. Or it might just be Lady Eris messing with everyones heads.

[the last yatto]

HodgeDyPodgeDy

[Cramulus]

SWEET MERCIFUL FUCK
             \





DOUBLE DACTYLS
             \





(ALL THE WAY)

[Doktor Howl]

How do you define a "discordian band"?

[Eater of Clowns]

How do you define a "discordian band"?

It has five members, all of which think they're the front man, and none of them can stop arguing long enough to make any music.

[Doktor Howl]

How do you define a "discordian band"?

It has five members, all of which think they're the front man, and none of them can stop arguing long enough to make any music.

And they hate each other for shit that happened in 2004.   

[BadBeast]

How do you define a "discordian band"?

And the latest headlines, from our Newsteams around the world,  "Discordian Band from Mystickwicks for questioning Mod decision"