The Monoconics were an English post-punk band formed in Sunderland in 1979, consisting of Denny Pooley (Guitar, Lead Vocals), Grahame Cusack (Drums, Backing Vocals) and Dave Green (Bass, Backing Vocals).
They were active for two years and in that time gigged heavily and released one single called 'Exit Stage Left' on their own label. They recorded a John Peel session in 1980 that was broadcast three times, ensuring their live performances and record sales were not confined to their local region.
In 1981 the Monoconics split, with Denny Pooley and Grahame Cusack joining Milan Station, who also did a Peel Session in that year. However, the new group failed to get any interest from record companies and disbanded.
Links to Peel[]
In a 2009 interview with Denny Pooley for the Eccentric Sleeve Notes website, he was asked how he got Peel's attention for the Monoconics:
"I took the day off work and took the train down to London and just sat outside the BBC, which a lot of people did but I managed to time it so that the day I was there somebody in the BBC had a heart attack. I was ringing Peel saying, 'I've got a tape for you.' He asked me to leave it at reception. I said, 'I could do but I've come all the way down from Sunderland and I wanted to make sure that you'd got it.' He said, 'I'm not trying to be awkward but somebody's just had a heart attack in the building.' What it meant is that he actually remembered it and listened to it in the car on the way home and I think John Walters [his producer] rang us the next day or the day after - it happened that quickly. Getting a Peel session got you out to tens of thousands of people - more than you could hope to reach by doing gigs and then you did a single and hope that the people who listened remembered and were interested." [1]
The John Peel session was first broadcast in May 1980 and helped the band to get gigs out of town and enabled them to build up an audience and made it worthwhile to release a single. The Monoconics gave the release the full DIY treatment. Their label was called One Zone i.e. 'one's own'.
After the group split, Denny and Grahame joined Milan Station, an unsigned band with Peel giving the new group a chance to do a session for his programme in 1981. However, the session didn't gain any interest from record companies and the group split up.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1980-05-12. First Broadcast: 21 May 1980. Repeated: 03 June 1980, 01 July 1980
- Exit Stage Left / People Will Talk / Such A Shame (About You) / Vox Pop
- Milan Station
1. Recorded: 1981-07-04. First Broadcast: 09 July 1981. Repeated: 10 August 1981
- Imaginary Baby / This Room Is Strange / Men In The Rain / Chapter Two
Other Shows Played[]
- 1980
- 25 November 1980: unknown
- Peel October November December 1980: Such A Shame (About You) (7" EP - Exit Stage Left) One Zone ZONE 001
- 02 December 1980: Such A Shame (About You) (7" - Exit Stage Left) One Zone
- 06 December 1980 (BFBS): Exit Stage Left (7") One Zone
- 13 December 1980 (BFBS): Sensible Breakdown (7" EP - Exit Stage Left) One Zone
- 1981
- 06 January 1981: Exit Stage Left (7") One Zone
- 11 January 1981 (BFBS): Exit Stage Left (7") One Zone
- 14 January 1981: Such A Shame (About You) (7" - Exit Stage Left) One Zone