The Monochrome Set
Any all-encompassing classification of the Monochrome Set's music would be difficult. During a sporadic career that has spanned as many musical styles as it has record labels, they have been on the verge of breaking to a wider audience on a number of occasions. Formed in the UK during late 1976, Andy Warren (bass), Lester Square (guitar) and Bid (guitar/vocals) were playing in the B-Sides with Adam Ant. When the B-Sides became the Adam And The Ants, Bid and Lester Square left. They formed the Monochrome Set in January 1978, later joined by Warren in 1979 after his role on the debut Ants album. With Jeremy Harrington (bass; ex-Gloria Mundi and Mean Street) and J.D. Haney (drums; ex-Art Attacks), the band issued singles during 1979-80 for Rough Trade including He's Frank, Eine Symphonie Des Graeuns, The Monochrome Set and He's Frank (Slight Return), each completely different in style and content. 
Their debut, THE STRANGE BOUTIQUE skirted the UK charts. After the title track came further singles 405 Lines and Apocalypso, and a second album, LOVE ZOMBIES. Lex Crane briefly sat in on drums before ex- Soft Boys Morris Windsor joined for the release of The Mating Game in July 1982, followed by Cast A Long Shadow and the memorable ELIGIBLE BACHELORS. By this time Carrie Booth had joined on keyboards while Nick Wesolowski took up the drums and Foz the guitar soon after. VOLUME, BRILLIANCE, CONTRAST, compiled their Rough Trade recordings, and coincided with another indie hit, Jet Set Junta. Jacob's Ladder which seemed a sure-fire hit for 1985, but like Wallflower later that year and the charming, THE LOST WEEKEND, eluded the charts. Disheartened, the band split and it was left to Cherry Red's El subsidiary to issue a sympathetic retrospective, FIN! LIVE, a year later. Various collections filtered out over the next three years ( COLOUR TRANSMISSION featured much of the Din Disc material, while WESTMINSTER AFFAIR highlighted their earliest recordings). In December 1989, the band reformed, and Bio Lester and Warren were joined by Orson Presence on guitar and keyboards.