The Monochrome Set

The Monochrome Set
The Monochrome Set at Club W71, Germany 2016
Background information
Origin	Hornsey, England
Genres	Post-punk,new wave
Years active	1978–1985, 1990–1998, 2008–present
Labels	Rough Trade, DinDisc, Cherry Red, Blanco y Negro, Warner Bros.
Associated acts	Adam and the Ants, Would-Be-Goods, Scarlet's Well
Members	Bid Mike Slocombe John Paul Moran Andy Warren
Past members	J.D. Haney Jeremy Harrington Philip Morris Lexington Crane Orson Presence Carrie Booth Nicholas Weslowski James 'Foz' Foster Tony Potts Jennifer Denitto Steve Brummel

The Monochrome Set are an English post-punk/new wave band, originally formed in Hornsey, London in 1978. The most recent lineup consists of Bid, Andy Warren, John Paul Moran and Mike Slocombe.

The Monochrome Set was formed in Hornsey, London in 1978 from the remnants of a college group called The B-Sides, whose members had included Stuart Goddard, later known as Adam Ant. The original line-up consisted of Indian-born lead singer and principal songwriter Bid (real name Ganesh Seshadri), Canadian guitarist Lester Square (real name Thomas W.B. Hardy), drummer John D. Haney and bass guitarist Charlie X. The band went through several bassists in the next few years, including Jeremy Harrington, Simon Croft and Andy Warren of the Ants, a childhood friend of Bid.

Experimental filmmaker Tony Potts began collaborating with the band in 1979, designing lighting and stage sets with film projections for their live appearances. The band's early persona was defined by the shadowy, uncertain stage images created by the films to such an extent he is often described as being the band's "fifth member".

They released several singles for the Rough Trade label before recording their debut studio album, Strange Boutique, produced by Bob Sargeant for Virgin Records' imprint DinDisc in 1980. It peaked at No. 62 in the UK Albums Chart in 1980. Their follow-up effort, Love Zombies, was produced by Alvin Clark and the band later that same year. Haney left the band in 1981, and was replaced by Lexington Crane.

In 1982, the band switched labels to Cherry Red to release their third album, Eligible Bachelors, produced by Tim Hart. Square and Crane left soon afterwards, and were replaced by keyboardist Carrie Booth and drummer Nicholas Weslowski. This line-up recorded a 1982 single, "Cast a Long Shadow", for Cherry Red, before Booth was in turn replaced by new lead guitarist James 'Foz' Foster (later of David Devant & His Spirit Wife).