Your Music Magazine

Israel’s Monotonix's live shows seem like the bizarre, pornographic doomsday celebration of some anarchist tribe, typically beginning with the drums being tossed into the audience and a full trashcan being tossed over the singer’s upper body.  What happens next is up to the will of the people.  Each member is in or above the audience, being carried or crushed, desperately maintaining control of their instrument.  The outstretched arms of fans are used as elevators, drum stands and a safety net when singer, Ami Shalev, eventually climbs something high and dramatically jumps off—first yelling something charmingly foreign like “all the strong boys come front to catch me!”  Amidst the chaos you’ll lose sight of the members, then spot them again for they are the most hairy and least clothed people in the room.  Spatially, their shows know no boundaries---in the front, in the back, on top of the bar, out in the street, but never, never on the stage.  You’ll know it’s over when the fuzzy guitar that’s been droning for the last 40 minutes ceases and Monotonix politely wave and start collecting their belongings.

What is the meaning of all this violence?  It’s not a musical expression of hate like that of GG Allin.  Conversely, both the band and the audience are joyously destructive.  Maybe it’s a meditation on selflessness, allowing those present to temporarily lose their ego and have fun.  Perhaps it’s empowering to see the success and celebration of three guys who are so below the curve in terms of talent and looks.  Or maybe it just feels good to get a little crazy sometimes.  In any event, Monotonix score points with rock and roll’s intangible elements: passion, bravery and grotesque charm.

Interview By Kevin Madness

Why don’t you use the stage during performances?
Ami: Never. You see, there’s no point.

How do you want to die?
Ami: In my bed because I am an ordinary guy.

You don’t seem like an ordinary guy when you play music.  Why is that?
Ami:  When I play music I’m not, but in real life I’m very ordinary.

You’ve injured yourself on stage before…
Ami:  I injured my knee during a show, but I was not on stage.

Are you more popular in Israel or the United States?
Ami:  The United States.

Do you play crazy shows like this in Israel?
Ami:  We don’t really play in Israel.  Ever.
Haggai: Personally I am embarrassed because then I go out on the street and I am afraid of being recognized.  I don’t want people to recognize me.  If it’s where I grew up and in front of the people I grew up with--I can’t be released.  It is something that I should work on with my psychiatrist.

Who were your musical influences when you started to play?
Haggai:  We really adored the old school rock.  We know a lot about the classic bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin, I’m sorry.

As a drummer, who did you look up to?
Haggai: I like Terry Bozzio very much and, of course, Mitch Mitchell.

How do you prepare yourself to get ready to play?
Haggai:  No drugs.  No alcohol.  No smoking.  Concentrating, concentrating, concentrating on fun.  It should be fun.  Without all that other stuff I mentioned, you can have more fun.

Do people ever think you’re drunk?
Haggai:  Yes, of course, but no we’re not.

If you had to compare Monotonix to something non-musical, what would you compare it too?
Haggai:  A soccer game.

But soccer games are slow and paced...
Haggai:  No, go closer and find how the team works. It’s more interesting than you think.  Or the wrestling, (Author’s note: several amateur wrestling matches preceded Monotonix’s performance) that is the best match-up for us.  It is really an inspiration, to be entertaining, to be a little aggressive.

Like athletes, I think you guys have good instincts.  You never know how the crowd is going to react, but you always roll with it.
Haggai:  That’s the Israeli Army, man.  In Israel we served many years in the army, but don’t forget, in the end it’s peace, not war.  We wish there weren’t any armies.