ABOUT

"Tom Monks is Sidcup's multi-instrumental musical tornado, who crafts chaotic power-pop stitched from baroque'n'roll, snarky Mercurial harmonies, overdriven jazz-funk, and cabaret doom metal.

His debut solo album, 'Loading...' - written, performed, and produced ENTIRELY on his larry (par a handful of tough-enough guests) - is a maximalist kitchen-sink explosion. The singles - from the Wings ft Seinfeld groove of Out Of Hand and Another Guy's Merseybeat, to the disgusting keys of Clone Zone - barely scratch the surface.

Onstage he's uncontainable, whether as a frontman or sideman. He's played a lifetime of shows, sharing stages with Nine Below Zero, Peter Doherty, The Yardbirds, Laurie Wright, The Molotovs, Dr. Feelgood, and well over a THOUSAND others - earning the crown of King of Lamorbey & Penhill.

A key face of London's mod revival, he often interchanges his sharp attire with spandex unitards and ballet shoes. This would break anyone else's mod cred. It just expands his.

Tom throws his life, CD collection, and wardrobe in a blender and slams the lid down with a Guinness, culminating in unhingedly catchy songs and crowds wondering 'is he okay?' upon seeing him onstage. And the most worrying thing? He's fine."

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"An immense talent"

- Dennis Greaves, Nine Below Zero

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"Like Jools on the piano"

- Noel Gallagher

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"A masterclass in how to play any instrument and make it look effortless"

Andy Furmage, eraX sound art

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"National treasure"

- The Iron Horse, Sidcup

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"Insanely talented"

- The Birds Nest, Deptford

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“In the late 90's, I was a toddler browsing a seaside gift shop, and begged my dad for a toy accordion on display. I got home, figured out The Simpsons theme, then intensively dived through my family's and neighbours’ record collections.​

Swiftly graduating to a Bontempi, my parents sent me to weekly lessons - where I learnt how notes work with each other, any Beatles song I wanted, and was eventually forgiven for not being able to sight read.

When I was 10 I joined a local youth big band. This was ideal as unlike other chances for musical sprogs to play, I didn't need sheet music - just to learn the crucial licks and progressions and then vibe it. I absolutely loved it. Before I finished my GCSE's I had already been thrown in front of packed crowds at The Barbican, Lords Stadium, the IndigO2, and the Royal Albert Hall.

Lugging a Yamaha stage piano as a hypermobile 14-year-old became a mission, culminating in dragging it from Sidcup to Trafalgar Square during the morning rush hour only to be told "we don't have any inputs left; you have to use our one."

I furiously stormed to Denmark Street, bought an electric guitar, and fell in love with rock, blues, punk, rock & roll, the new wave I grew up on, and whatever appealed in my local HMV while it still existed. Having a portable instrument allowed me to explore my local music scene - developing my craft and identity, and beginning collaborations instantly.

Once I got a driving licence, I dusted off my keyboard and had a brief stint with classic rock cover bands to make some dosh on Saturday nights. Although playing my heart out to territorial drunkards screaming 'play sweet caroline', and 'you're far too young to know the most famous music ever' eventually destroyed my soul, I figured out how to faithfully reproduce sounds I'd hear and admire in famous records, expanding my palette beyond previously conceivable.

Searching for a purpose, I found myself at a jam night at the The Pelton Arms in Greenwich, which turned out to be a Nine Below Zero warm-up gig. I was instantly blown away by the musicianship and emotional expression, and started to attend the jams on the regular purely to learn; absorbing licks, techniques and tunes from some of the most seasoned and accomplished players I'd ever seen.

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​One thing lead to another, Dennis signed the adoption papers and I coated Nine Below Zero’s latest album ‘Avalanche’ with some ivory, rotary, analog and plucked sonic vibrations in the creative paradise of Glenn Tilbrook's 45RPM Studios. We went on to tour the album, playing rammed venues from the intimate to the prestigious, all over the UK and Europe, and it's an honour to continue to be a part of the 5+ piece line-up's of such an iconic group.

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Amongst the tour dates, I'm pursuing my own creative ventures - the album's done! And a few songs - Another Guy, Clone Zone and Out Of Hand = are out there now. In late 2022 I had the unfathomable honour of headlining Danson Fireworks, the biggest event of its kind in the South East, to over 23,000 people. My sonic urges are carefully juggled amongst writing and recording in the studio with various outfits - and sometimes even as a producer.​

So yeah! That's about it so far. And no, I don't know how to play Sweet Caroline. I've not even plugged in my keyboard yet and you've already spilt beer over it. Leave me alone."

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"Whimsical wizard"

- Ashley Stacey

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"Seriously who IS this guy half my age and HOW does he play this stuff?"

- Nathan Persad

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"Ridiculously talented"

- Grant Judges, The Aim

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"Just a bundle of energy, talent, charisma and massive stage presence all wrapped up in one utterly lovely human being"

- Calli Malpas