Biography of Monster Magnet

Throughout most of the 1990's, Monster Magnet has struggled against the prejudices imposed upon image and sound by alternative rock fashion nazis. However, thanks to that movement's decline in recent years and the band's persistence, their fourth album Powertrip achieved gold sales status with the help of the massive hard rock hit, "Spacelord." They have also become one of the most successful and influential bands of the burgeoning underground 70's- influenced metal scene, frequently called "stoner rock". Dave Wyndorf was already a rock and roll veteran by the time he formed Monster Magnet in 1989. The New Jersey native grew up listening to every imaginable style of late 60's and 70's rock'n'roll and his primary influences range from the raw proto-punk of the MC5 and Stooges to the space rock of Hawkwind, with some classic seventies hard rock thrown into the mix. Drawn by the New York punk scene, Wyndorf formed his first band Shrapnel in the late-70's. Also featuring future producer Daniel Rey on guitars, the band released a few unsuccessful singles and albums before splitting up in the early 80's. After years of struggle in numerous bands and clubs, Wyndorf (now playing guitar as well as singing) began assembling Monster Magnet with fellow New Jersey natives, vocalist Tim Cronin, guitarist John McBain, bassist Joe Callandra and drummer John Kleinman. Fusing all of their punk, space rock and psychedelic influences, the band developed an sludgy, feedback-heavy hard rock sound. After releasing their self-titled six-song e.p. through Germany's Glitterhouse Records, Wyndorf assumed all vocal responsibilities, while Cronin retreated to a "behind the scenes consultant" position - much like that of John Sinclair for the MC5. Monster Magnet eventually caught the attention of independent label Caroline, and entered the studio to record their first full-length album, 1992's impressive and highly original Spine of God. The sessions also yielded a number of very long space rock jams which would later be issued as Tab, in 1993. Besides touring in support of the album, the band filmed a video for their first single "Diet Pill," which helped attract major label attention. Even as they signed a deal with powerhouse A&M Records however, Wyndorf fell out with and fired guitarist John McBain, who was replaced by Ed Mundell. 1993's Superjudge was a stellar major label debut for Monster Magnet. Though the band chose to sacrifice some of their trademark feedback, it served only to accentuate their muscular metal riffs. Unfortunately, the group's classic rock sound and attitude was highly unfashionable at the time, arriving at the height of the post- Nirvana alternative boom, and the album sold poorly. The band, and particularly leader Dave Wyndorf, were therefore under a lot of record company pressure when they began recording 1995's Dopes to Infinity. The result was an album which, though still quintessential Magnet, exposed an obvious attempt at polishing the band's sound. While it yielded a top ten rock single in "Negasonic Teenage Warhead," the album sold only slightly better than it's predecessor. Mentally and physically exausted after over a year of relentless touring behind an album which did little to advance their career, the members of Monster Magnet tried to lick their wounds and recover in the summer of 1996. Disillusioned, but still determined, songwriter Dave Wyndorf eventually exiled himself to a Las Vegas motel room in order to compose the songs for the band's next album. All of the vice, greed and hedonism of "Sin City" would infect the songs included in the band's next album, 1998's Powertrip. By returning to their roots in everything loud and raw, Monster Magnet scored one of the year's biggest hits with "Spacelord," and eventually earned their first gold album. ~ Ed Rivadavia