The Monks

Bio:

Mystery outfit with one fine glam era single released in 1974. "Roller Coaster Rock And Roller" is a light but rockin' tribute/ripoff of "Sweet Little Rock 'n Roller". The B-side is less interesting. There was a second single in 1975 which I haven't heard.

So who were the Monks? They are not the post-Strawbs outfit who did "Nice Legs, Shame About The Face". The songs are credited to J. & E. Monks, i.e. Joe and Eric Monks whose songwriting credits also appear on a couple of other Rex releases: one track titled "If I Ever Fall In Love" on Family Pride's LP; and both sides of The Meagher Family's 1976 single "Five O'Clock Friday" / "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" , though clearly they didn't write the B-side!

There is more than likely a link to a 70s band called The Pirates AKA The Dublin Bay Pirates, who released a trad and folk-rock album on Tara Records in 1975 titled "To Ireland I Did Fly" (TARA 1006). The lineup includes Eric Monks, Joe Monks, Louis Monks, Paddy Landy (ex drummer for Tony & the Graduates, from Skerries) and Johnny Murtagh. These Monks brothers were from Rush, Co.Wicklow. If anyone knows how they came to release a glam rock single on Rex in 1974, get in touch!

Joe Monks was a member of the Sun Valley Boys (ca 1970-73) who also recorded Joe & Eric Monks tracks. They also wrote "She Meant Everything" which was performed in the 1970 National Song Contest by Tony O'Leary and later released as a single by Dolphin.

Help!: We need your help to complete this entry. If you can tell us more about this band then please do! We welcome any corrections, missing details, connections to other bands, where are they now, etc. We also need photos, scans, copies of releases or live or demo recordings, and any other memorabilia gathering dust in the attic. If you can help, then please get in touch.