Tuff Monks

Tuff Monks were a short-lived band consisting of Nick Cave, Mick Harvey and Rowland S. Howard (each a member of the Birthday Party) with Robert Forster, Lindy Morrison and Grant McLennan (each a member of the Go-Betweens). Their only release was the 1982 7" 45 rpm single "After the Fireworks", on the Australian label, Au Go Go Records. The lead track was co-written by Cave, Forster and McLennan.

The collaboration came about when the Go-Betweens and the Birthday Party found themselves by happen-stance with overlapping booked studio time at AAV studio, Melbourne. The Birthday Party were having trouble completing their album, Junkyard (May 1982), and the two bands decided to join forces on a song during downtime. The idea to join forces, as well as the lyrics of "After the Fireworks" are Cave's, while the drums are distinctly Morrison's. The band's name was coined by Cave's then-girlfriend, Anita Lane. The collaboration performed live only once, at Richmond's Tiger Lounge venue doing a cover version of "Ring of Fire".

Links to Peel
Peel played their only single on his shows in 1983. It was originally released in Australia in 1982, but was available in the UK as a single a year later.

Shows Played

 * Tuffmonks - After The Fireworks
 * 20 August 1983 (BFBS): After The Fireworks (7") Au Go Go
 * 24 August 1983: After The Fireworks (7") Au Go Go
 * 1987
 * 09 November 1987: After The Fireworks (7") Au Go Go
 * 1993
 * 08 August 1993 (BFBS): After The Fireworks (7" ) Au Go Go