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2.3 Compilation albums

2.4 Other appearances

2.5 Dr. Robert Albums

3.0 References

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The Blow Monkeys Wiki Information

The Blow Monkeys are a British pop band of the 1980s that started out, in 1981, as a new wave-oriented act, with the first single, "Live Today Love Tomorrow", released in 1982. They subsequently turned into more commercial pop rock hit makers, and finally became a dance group, shortly before splitting up at the beginning of the 1990s.

In late 2007, the original band members reunited, releasing a new album and going on tour in 2008.

THE BLOW MONKEYS TICKETS

EVENT	DATE	AVAILABILITY
The Blow Monkeys Tickets 10/11	Oct 11, 2025 Sat, 7:00 PM
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Career

Fronted by lead singer, songwriter, guitarist and piano player Dr. Robert (born Bruce Robert Howard, 2 May 1961, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland), the group formed in 1981, upon Howard's return to the UK, after spending his teen years in Australia. The other members were Mick Anker on bass guitar, Neville Henry on saxophone, and Tony Kiley on drums.

In 1984, they released their debut album, Limping for a Generation , characterized by a dark mood, and a mix of pop rock and new wave, but their first hit came two years later, in 1986, with "Digging Your Scene", from their second album, Animal Magic (which reached number 21 in the UK Albums Chart). The single attracted attention for its smooth pop-soul stylings and succinct topical lyrics (dealing with the AIDS-fuelled backlash against gays). It peaked at number 14 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 7 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. In addition, it reached a high of number 12 in the UK Singles Chart, number 24 in Italy and number 25 in Germany.

In January 1987, She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter , the band's third album was released; it reached number 20 in the UK, thanks to its biggest hit, "It Doesn't Have To Be This Way", which reached number 5 in the UK (and number 28 in Italy), although it never charted in the United States. However, it did feature in the film, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol .

Another noteworthy track, "You Don't Own Me" was used on the platinum selling Dirty Dancing soundtrack.

Outside of the group (though actually included on their fourth album, Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood ), a successful single release by Robert Howard was "Wait", that featured early Chicago House diva, Kym Mazelle, on female lead vocals. The record was an early British recording in the subgenre dubbed UK garage. The track reached number 7 in the UK chart. It would later re-appear on the Blow Monkey's first greatest hits compilation album, Choices - The Singles Collection , their highest-charting record, reaching Number 5 in the UK Album Chart in 1989.

The band called it quits in late 1990, shortly after the release of their fifth album, Springtime for the World (an EP of the same name also came out, collecting all three singles from the album). After briefly recording with Dee C. Lee as Slam Slam, Dr. Robert went solo. He contributed to Paul Weller's solo debut album, and co-wrote material with both Weller and Lee. Another notable collaborator was Beth Orton.

On 18 November 2007 the original band members announced the reunion of the Blow Monkeys, as well as a new album Devil's Tavern and a tour in 2008. The album was funded by the pre-orders placed by fans. The release date for the album was 8 September 2008. Q magazine reviewed the album by saying "Their first album in 18 years still finds the frontman in fine voice, Robert continues to sound like he dresses only in velvet and smokes cigarillos".

In June 2009 the band release a special edition double digipack CD & DVD of their performance at the legendary 100 club in London. It features the original band performing 15 songs including "Digging Your Scene" "It Doesn't Have To Be This Way" & "Wait" as well as other tracks from the bands earlier work along with a few new tracks from "Devil's Tavern"

Discography

Singles

"Live Today Love Tomorrow" b/w "In Cold Blood" (1982)
"Go Public" (1984)
"Man from Russia" (1984)
"Atomic Lullaby" (1984)
"Wildflower" (1985)
"Forbidden Fruit" (1985)
"Digging Your Scene" (1986) (UK Singles Chart: #12; U.S. Billboard Hot 100: #14; U.S. Dance Club Hot Play: #7; Germany: #25; Italy: #37; Netherlands: #37)
"Wicked Ways" (1986) (UK Singles Chart: #60)
"Don't Be Scared of Me" (1986)
"It Doesn't Have to Be This Way" (1987) (UK Singles Chart: #5; Italy: #44; Netherlands: #29)
"Out with Her" (1987) [UK Singles Chart: #30]
"Celebrate (The Day After You)" with Curtis Mayfield (1987) (UK Singles Chart: #52)
"Some Kind of Wonderful" (1987) (UK Singles Chart: #67)
"This Is Your Life '88" (1988) (UK Singles Chart: #70)
"It Pays to Belong" (1988)
"Wait" (1989) Robert Howard and Kym Mazelle (UK Singles Chart: #7)
"This Is Your Life" (1989) (UK Singles Chart: #32)
"Choice?" featuring Sylvia Tella (1989) (UK Singles Chart: #22)
"Slaves No More" featuring Sylvia Tella (1989) (UK Singles Chart: #73)
"Springtime for the World" (1990) (UK Singles Chart: #69)
"La Passionara" [Remix] (1990)
"If You Love Somebody" [Remix] (1990)
"The Bullet Train (2008)

Albums

Limping for a Generation (1984)
Animal Magic (1986) (U.S. Albums Chart: Number 35)
She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter (1987) (UK Albums Chart: Number 20 / U.S. Albums Chart: Number 134)
Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood (1989)
Springtime for the World (1990)
Devil's Tavern (2008)
Travelin' Souls - Live! at the Legendary 100 Club Limited Edition CD & DVD (2009)