Mike Nipper describes the Monks very well in this obit for banjo player Dave Day. Their story is unique (American GIs form band in Germany after fulfilling their military duties; Germans go wild for them), their gimmick was one of a kind (um, they dressed like monks, complete with tonsures), and their music was a sui generis take on beat music that, strangely enough, like the Human Beinz’s “Nobody But Me,” foreshadowed techno with its “every instrument is a percussion instrument” attack and minimalist repetition. (Check out the video below of “Oh, How to Do Now” for proof.) One could also make a reasonable case for the Monks as precursors to punk, too.

The movie is as thorough a history of a mid-’60s beat group who released one LP 43 years ago as anyone could wish for. However, at 100 minutes, Monks could use some judicious editing; the band’s members are not inherently interesting enough to merit the in-depth interviews conducted, though hardcore fans will surely eat up every minute of it.

The movie would have benefited from showcasing more of the Monks’ music, which still sounds explosive and more vital than most of today’s rock. Hearing it, you can totally understand why this truculent, hypnotic, stripped-down (but still catchy) rock influenced the Fall and why Henry Rollins would want to reissue the Monks’ Black Monk Time album on his own label. One of their best-known tracks is titled “I Hate You” (which the Fall covered, fact fans)—an unprecedentedly blunt sentiment in a song during that time.

Seattle label Light in the Attic plans to reissue Monks material in 2009. As the kids sometimes say, hell to the yes.

“Oh, How to Do Now”

Monks: The Trans-Atlantic Feedback trailer