Monkey Pilot
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Monkey Pilot

Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan | Established. Jan 01, 2008 | MAJOR

Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan | MAJOR
Established on Jan, 2008
Band Rock Funk

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Music

Press


"GOLDEN MELODY: Best Band award goes to Monkey Pilot"

Taipei, July 6 (CNA) Taiwanese rock band Monkey Pilot beat its competitors Saturday to win the Golden Melody Best Band award for its album titled Big Child at the 24th Golden Melody Awards. "Rock 'n' roll!" the band's lead singer Tony Wang said during his acceptance speech. "Thank you God, thank you my family, thank you judges for your kindness," he said. Monkey Pilot was competing against Lie Gramophone for Future Primitive, io for Is the World Crazy, Or Is It Just Me?, Matzka for 089, and My Skin Against Your Skin for its album of the same name. (By Christie Chen and Lee Hsin-Yin) - Taiwan News


"GOLDEN MELODY: Best Band award goes to Monkey Pilot"

Taipei, July 6 (CNA) Taiwanese rock band Monkey Pilot beat its competitors Saturday to win the Golden Melody Best Band award for its album titled Big Child at the 24th Golden Melody Awards. "Rock 'n' roll!" the band's lead singer Tony Wang said during his acceptance speech. "Thank you God, thank you my family, thank you judges for your kindness," he said. Monkey Pilot was competing against Lie Gramophone for Future Primitive, io for Is the World Crazy, Or Is It Just Me?, Matzka for 089, and My Skin Against Your Skin for its album of the same name. (By Christie Chen and Lee Hsin-Yin) - Taiwan News


"Monkey business"

TAIPEI TIMES Friday, May 08, 2009, Page 14

Monkey business

By Alita Rickards

When Monkey Pilot (?????) gets on stage, it’s easy to see how the group’s warm, fun energy draws the audience in. It doesn’t matter who plays before the band, Monkey Pilot is relaxed and exudes an easygoing vibe. The music has a Seattle-grunge feeling initially reminiscent of Soundgarden, which rocks out into heavy metal guitar noodling at times. Add to that charming lead singer Tony Wang (???) with his “Get on up!” James Brown funk voice, and you have a sound that gets the crowd up onto the dance floor grooving and rocking.

Wang’s physical presence — tall, broad, large — combined with his powerful voice and passionate performance brings the crowd to life. Erin Wang (???) plays drums provides a kicking, energetic rhythm, with John Chen (???) on guitar, Yao Yu (???) on bass, and Zane Yang (???) on acoustic guitar.

All five come from different musical backgrounds: hard rock; alternative and metal; funk; and blues and reggae. When they play a show, they like everyone to dance and “get crazy,” said Wang. “We want to talk about life, hard life, easy life — funny things.”

In Taiwan it can be difficult making money from playing in a band, but the members of Monkey Pilot dismiss the idea that one should focus on making money first and having fun later. “If for 10 years you only think about money then your mind is like dead water — you have money but don’t know what is fun,” said Wang.

To avoid this mental stagnancy, the band has come up with a Monkey Pilot philosophy based on early space exploration programs, when monkeys were launched into space as a prelude to manned space flight. According to the Monkey Pilot conception, monkeys don’t know fear — they only know that if they go somewhere and do something they will get a banana.

The basic message the band tries to get across is that you don’t have to be perfect at anything in order to do it, said Wang. “[W]ith no fear you have power, you can do it and be good at it.”

The secret, said Wang, is not to think too much: “Whatever goes on, the monkey feels fine.” - Taipei Times


"Monkey business"

TAIPEI TIMES Friday, May 08, 2009, Page 14

Monkey business

By Alita Rickards

When Monkey Pilot (?????) gets on stage, it’s easy to see how the group’s warm, fun energy draws the audience in. It doesn’t matter who plays before the band, Monkey Pilot is relaxed and exudes an easygoing vibe. The music has a Seattle-grunge feeling initially reminiscent of Soundgarden, which rocks out into heavy metal guitar noodling at times. Add to that charming lead singer Tony Wang (???) with his “Get on up!” James Brown funk voice, and you have a sound that gets the crowd up onto the dance floor grooving and rocking.

Wang’s physical presence — tall, broad, large — combined with his powerful voice and passionate performance brings the crowd to life. Erin Wang (???) plays drums provides a kicking, energetic rhythm, with John Chen (???) on guitar, Yao Yu (???) on bass, and Zane Yang (???) on acoustic guitar.

All five come from different musical backgrounds: hard rock; alternative and metal; funk; and blues and reggae. When they play a show, they like everyone to dance and “get crazy,” said Wang. “We want to talk about life, hard life, easy life — funny things.”

In Taiwan it can be difficult making money from playing in a band, but the members of Monkey Pilot dismiss the idea that one should focus on making money first and having fun later. “If for 10 years you only think about money then your mind is like dead water — you have money but don’t know what is fun,” said Wang.

To avoid this mental stagnancy, the band has come up with a Monkey Pilot philosophy based on early space exploration programs, when monkeys were launched into space as a prelude to manned space flight. According to the Monkey Pilot conception, monkeys don’t know fear — they only know that if they go somewhere and do something they will get a banana.

The basic message the band tries to get across is that you don’t have to be perfect at anything in order to do it, said Wang. “[W]ith no fear you have power, you can do it and be good at it.”

The secret, said Wang, is not to think too much: “Whatever goes on, the monkey feels fine.” - Taipei Times


Discography

2008
”Grass Song” in the TV drama
Debut EP, “My Guitar”
Second EP, “Summer Day”
2009
Third EP, “1998”
2010
Debut Album, “My Guitar”
2012
Second Album, “Big Child”

Photos

Bio

Coming from five different musical backgrounds ranging from Hard Rock, Alternative, Funk, Blues, Reggae and even Metal, Monkey Pilot was form in 2006.  Everyone’s favorite music style is not quite similar; however, Rock n Roll is the only genre to represent Monkey Pilot.   It is also the very same factor of everyone’s diverse music backgrounds that contribute and enrich their music.  Authentic and avant-garde, bold and sophisticated, persist and humorous, daring and no compromising…, all in all one could easily trace all sorts of contradictions and conflicts in their music.  All of these elements are the perfect mojo as well as bonds for them as a band.  Sponsored by Taiwan Information Office, Monkey Pilot released debut EP in 2007.  Retro style of 60’s rock and easy lyrics to depict mundane urban living of Taiwan.  Monkey Pilot was also the guest band to perform their debut EP in a major concert hosted by Taiwan Information Office.  Now they are on tours of all live houses around Taiwan, such as Riverside, The Wall, Underworld, Join-us, Room335 and Lao-Nuo.

 

"We cannot define nor represent Rock n Roll, yet it is only Rock n Roll makes five individuals to become Monkey Pilot as a whole.  Only Rock n Roll shall grant us the strength to live the most out of our music life!”

            一 They are people who truly live within music. 

Band Members