Big Green Monkeys hurtled into the thick of the London music scene in 1998 with a debut gig at the Camden Barfly (in the good old days when it was at the Falcon).

Initially offering predominantly hard-hitting melodic punk in the vein of Green Day, the band has since developed a far more diverse sound, now as comfortable with piano-led ballads as it is with distorted guitar-driven punk.

The best display of this diversity is to be found on the band’s home-made debut album, ‘The Best and Worst of and All That Came In Between’.

What is the most unique thing about your band?

This is a massive cliché, but we really do have A LOT of different styles and costumes.

What has been your biggest inspiration (musical or otherwise)?

Pop music for being crap and making us think we can do better.

What other bands do you sound like?

Green Day, Tool, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Elton John, Ben Folds 5, The Offspring, Bobby McFerrin (from time to time!).

What’s your attitude towards mainstream music at the moment?

It has been worse!

How does the band go about writing its songs?

Individually, but phasing towards group writing.

How would you describe your band’s sound?

Quirky bubblegum pop punk with a hint of ginger.

Anything else you want to tell us?

I think the music says it all!

Email: sambiggreenmonkey@hotmail.com