NIKI MONO
History
Arriving in Brussels from Ostend, her city of birth, in 1983
she joins Micky MIKE's SNOWY RED. For one year she will take part in the ventures
of one of Belgium's foremost electro-groups, and in 1988 she even resurfaces
at Mike's side when SNOWY RED makes a remarkable come-back.
In 1984, after seeing her on stage with the band, Winston TONG
(Member of TUXEDOMOON) convinces her to work with him, not merely as a back-up
singer but as a sidekick with a role of more vital importance. He speaks very
highly of her: "I knew immediately that Niki possessed the same qualities
that people told me I have, and I imagined that the two of us alone on stage
would be quite hypnotic". Together, they record the single 'Theoretical
China' in London and during their tour in Japan Niki conceives the solo-12"
'The Hunger' released on Les Disques Du Crépuscule. After laying down the tracks
for a subsequent album, she parts company - for various reasons - with TONG.
In 1986, she writes the soundtrack for a video by Paris-based
WONDERPRODUCTS. Coupled with cover versions of sixties standards rendered by
various members of MINIMAL COMPACT and TUXEDOMOON, it is released on Crammed
Discs under the banner 'Fuck You Dreams, This Is Heaven'.
That same year she travels to another universe: together with
David TIBET (CURRENT 93), Himar Orn HILMARSON (PSYCHIC TV), Peter NETSAH (LAI)
and James FOSTER (THE MONOCHROME SET) she creates 'The Aryan Aquarians': a musical
journey "to the land of the Aryan Aquarians, where all things are bright
and beautiful, right and logical, where love and hate are totally integrated
with other forms of human expression ...". The album release (on Laylah
Anti-Records) coincides with a wonderful week of rock'n'roll extravaganza.
Beginning 1988, Niki joins THE NEON JUDGEMENT on their European
tour, providing vocal support to the duo's electrified tales of sexual angst
and manhood in distress. When this undertalking comes to an end, she can be
heard saying "I'd rather be a prostitute than ever work as a backing singer
with any band again. People tend to see me as some sort of vocal mercenary,
and that's not what I want to be. It's time to get out of my cage and show my
own real hunger".
In 1988 a maxi single "Dauda and the crow" and 1989
an album has been released by Antler Records under Niki Mono as a solo project.
(Including musicians like Jah Wobble, Peter Principle, ect.) The band toured
Belgium, Italy, Germany and Zagreb in 1991. After my plans to stay and live
in Zagreb went up in smoke (because of the war) I decided to live on the island
of Tenerife where I still live today.
In 1991, she is back with X10, a musical project featuring
Marc VERHAEGHEN (THE KLINIK), Marc ICKX (A SPLIT SECOND) and cult experimental
Vidna OBMANA.
In 2004 Winston Tong has re-released the CD "Theoretical
Chinese" with "The Hunger" and an extra bonus track.
To my disappointment and without my agreement I found out that
this extra bonus track was the song "Dream Assassins" written by myself
and previously released in 1989 on the solo album "Contradictions are a
luxury".
In 2004 David Tibet has re-released "The Aryan Aquarians" CD.
2005 a German band "Blood Dead and Sexy" covered
the song "A secret gardener" from the previously released project
"The Aryan Aquarians".
Release of biography of "Tuxedomoon" will probably
be end 2005 beginning 2006 written by Isabelle Corbisier. Web www.tuxedomoon.com
.
08 December 2005 Release of compilation CD and book, a tribute for John Lennon
called The Clone KPW project, for which I have recorded "Give peace a chance".
www.klootperw.com .
Niki Mono is currently working on songs for a new CD.
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