Black Monk Time

by Thomas Edward Shaw, Anita Klemke

A memoir by monk bass player, Eddie Shaw, it is the other story about Hamburg and Germany in the 1960s. Shaw claims that the British Invasion and groups like the Beatles were the result of long hours in the beat clubs of Germany and Hamburg. The monks played in the same club as the Beatles had played before them - The Top Ten Club in Hamburg. The "Beat" culture was strong. According to Alan Dein of BBC, the Hamburg scene started with groups like the Beatles and "ended with their reaction, the monks." They knew the same people, but that is where their shared experiences ended.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

397 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

But the lp gets a billion stars.

[Dutch Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've heard the Black Monk Time album and ever wondered "what?" or "why?" then this book is for you.
If you haven't heard the album -a strange and potent blast of psychedelic minimalism featuring Shaw's bellowing bovine bass - find a copy and get your ears ready for a bizarre mix of the B52s, Devo, and Krautrock, but somehow recorded in 1965/66. Then find this book to learn more about these musical maniacs. A helluva story.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun memoir of a sub-rosa 60's band that should have been bigger than Jesus.

[Ron Anderson]

One of the best books that I have read about what it is like being in a rock band.

[Distress Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just saw the Monks doc, so I thought I'd add this. The book is much better than the film at capturing the life on the road, and the transformation by German ad execs of a bunch of goofy ex-GIs into the anti-Beatles comes across as natural as it is spastic (and an unintended commentary on the change in US/German relations). Plus Shaw can spin a pretty good story for a bass player.

[captain america · Rating 3 out of 5]

that "anti-beatle" tag was added for this edition, probably to sell more copies. fuck that. this book stands on its own --although there's quite a bit of shaw's life in it as well since its not only a "music" book.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best pop biography EVER

[Mary]

I seem to be catching up on my music lit these days ....

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating.

[Francis Bashore · Rating 3 out of 5]

German love, german intellectualism, dumb/entertaining writing, punk as fuck