Although cited by more than one Rock journalist as "The future of music", New York's MONSTER MAGNET have had difficulty in breaking away from their cult status finally breaking through in 1999. The band's 'Spine Of God' album has an almost reverential status amongst the Stoner community although, in truth, MONSTER MAGNET's sound is as much reliant on 60's Garage and Psychedelia as it is 70s Doom. The band was forged in 1989 and went through numerous tags such as HEROIN MULE, NIPPLE TANK, WORLD OF PILLS and GRINNING GIBBON before settling on the name of a 1960's toy MONSTER MAGNET. Vocalist Dave Wyndorf had previously fronted SHRAPNEL, an act that had released a 1984 mini album for Elektra.

Previous to MONSTER MAGNET the individual band members had paid their dues with a succession of ad hoc Stoner-Psych bands. Original vocalist Tim Cronin had operated in the 80s with acts such as THE SMOKING PETS and SKY LAB before founding DOGS OF MYSTERY in union with guitarist JOHN McBAIN, previously with bands with such unlikely titles as EXISTENTIAL MOPED and (apparently) STEAMING RECTAL MUCUS. Prior to DOGS OF MYSTERY the Cronin / McBain axis had a formative 1987 band, in league with EXISTENTIAL MOPED bassist Tom Diello, entitled PINQUE PHLOID. This act, wherein Cronin took on the stagename 'Trash Twister', issued one demo tape 'A Fat Dick Named Charlie' before evolving into DOGS OF MYSTERY.

With DOGS OF MYSTERY McBain and Cronin released two tapes. 'And Therin Lies The Rub' and 'Metal Head Of Robeson'. The band line up was fluid, especially for live gigs, at which Cronin took command of the drums, which sometimes found a local drunk by the name of Pocko utilising a bullhorn for lead vocals. Jim Norton of THE SHOCK MUMMIES and Hardcore act CRUCIAL YOUTH was one of DOGS OF MYSTERY's many bassists and through his connections landed the band a gig supporting JANE'S ADDICTION. The group had recently enrolled guitarist Dave Wyndorf, their newest recruit having declined an offer to manage the band and suggesting a musical union instead. As such, DOGS OF MYSTERY opened for JANE'S ADDICTION citing a line up of Wyndorf and McBain on guitar, Norton on bass and Cronin on drums.

Pre DOGS OF MYSTERY Wyndorf had been running a comic store and demoing on a 4 track recorder as LOVE MONSTER during 1988. He would also be fronting a Punk band PIGS IN SPACE which featured Jon Kleiman on the drums.

The Wyndorf, McBain and Cronin trio would also become involved with both ACID REICH and Metal band RIPPING CORPSE at this juncture. An early ACID REICH recording, the instrumental 'Needlefreak' would later be credited as a MONSTER MAGNET tune when it appeared on the 'Sugarcube Caravan' compilation tape. DOGS OF MYSTERY morphed into a covers band KING FUZZ for a brief time before becoming MONSTER MAGNET.

The initial incarnation of MONSTER MAGNET was a trio with both Cronin and Wyndorf sharing lead vocals. A brace of demos was recorded and surfaced in the form of 'Forget About Life, I'm High On Dope' and 'I'm High, What Are You Going To Do About It?' From these sessions the 7" singles 'Freakship USA' and 'Murder' also emerged. MONSTER MAGNET's first impressions on the international Rock scene came with the delivery of a 1990 five track eponymous EP for the German Glitterhouse label. In order to build a unit capable of performing live the band duly became a five piece with the addition of bassist Joe Calendra and drummer Jon Kleiman, both just having left THE SHOCK MUMMIES.

As a quintet, the group recorded the 'Tab' album, actually a series of extended jams, but this release would be held back. It was only when 'Spine Of God' was released and MONSTER MAGNET's profile suddenly escalated that 'Tab' found a release in 1993. With an increase in live work Cronin decided that he was struggling on stage and so opted out. Wyndorf took over lead vocal duties as Cronin stayed with the group supervising lighting and special effects.

'Spine Of God', released in February 1992, was crafted at at Subterranean Sound in Longbranch, New Jersey, and featured a cover version of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's 'Sin's A Good Man's Brother'.

McBain departed after a nationwide tour guesting for SOUNDGARDEN and prior to 1993's 'Superjudge'. He would later figure in the Seattle acts HATER with SOUNDGARDEN's Ben Shepard and Matt Cameron and DEVILHEAD, again with Shepard. In 1997 McBain forged a new act WELLWATER CONSPIRACY issuing a debut self titled album the same year that boasted cameo appearances from former Shepard and Cameron. MONSTER MAGNET filled the gap with ex-DAISYCUTTER man Ed Mundell.

The following year MONSTER MAGNET contributed their version of 'Black Celebration' to a DEPECHE MODE tribute album. A side project comprising of Mundell, Kleiman and Calendra would also be instigated in June of 1998 with John Garcia of KYUSS repute adding lead vocals. These tapes have yet to transpire. SADDAR BAZAAR covered 'Longhair' in 1999 as a single.

MONSTER MAGNET added guitarist Phil Caivano, previously bass player for SHRAPNEL and frontman for BLITZSPEER, for live work to promote the commercial breakthrough 'Powertrip'. 'Powertrip' truly elevated the group from the status of a cult underground act to major status. With the 'Space Lord' single breaking out all over radio the band toured heavily, acting as openers to such heavyweights as METALLICA, MEGADETH and AEROSMITH. Caivano was announced as a full time band member previous to recording the 2000 album. The same year Caivano produced New Jersey Punks ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN's 'Don't Touch Me, I'm Electric!'album. MONSTER MAGNET toured Europe in late 2000 as guests to QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE.

Mundell also operates the high profile side project THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX. Drummer Jon Kleiman bowed in with his own Rockabilly Garage venture THE RIBEYE BROTHERS, in league with Tim Cronin on the 2002 Meteor City album 'If I Had A Horse'. To top it all fans learned of a MONSTER MAGNET inspired 'supergroup' on the horizon billed as GALLERY OF MITES and cutting an album for Meteor City. Alongside MONSTER MAGNET personnel Jon Kleiman, Ed Mundell & Tim Cronin GALLERY OF MITES boasted a nine man strong line up including Tommy Southard of SOLACE, Dwayne from BLACK NASA, Stu of HALFWAY TO GONE and Mike and Jim from LORD STERLING.

In 2001 an eponymous album emerged credited to LOVE MONSTER. The album was in actuality MONSTER MAGNET demos culled from a 1988 session. The group also contributed 'Silver Future' to the 'Heavy Metal II' film soundtrack.

MONSTER MAGNET, breaking a lengthy period of silence, would also have new material featured on the March 2002 'WWF Forceable Entry' compilation issued by Columbia Records donating 'Live For The Moment'. The group would also figure on the BLACK SABBATH tribute 'Nativity In Black II', donating a rendition of 'Into The Void'. The band would also "celebrate" their departure from A&M Records with a month long trek of the States billed as the 'We're Free' tour.

Both bassist Joe Calandra and drummer Jon Kleiman left the fold in early 2003, the four string position soon being re-occupied by LORD STERLING's Jim Baglino whilst ex-CHROME LOCUST man Micheal Wildwood took the drum role. In extracurricular activity, Dave Wyndorf busied himself on making music with ex-MȪTLEY CRÜE drummer TOMMY LEE and producer Scott Humphrey for the ICE CUBE movie 'Torque'. Wyndorf, alongside other MONSTER MAGNET personnel, also revealed he had commenced work on a further side venture dubbed COMA.

The band would file a press report announcing they were to work with producer Joe Barresi for a new studio album billed as 'Radiation Day' but by September had switched both titles and producer, opting to go with Scott Humphrey on the newly named 'Monolithic Babies' - subsequently 'Monolithic Baby!'The sessions included cover versions in UNICORN's 'There's No Way Out Of Here' and ROBERT CALVERT's 'The Right Stuff'.

A preceding single, 'Unbroken (Hotel Baby)' added a cover version of the VELVET UNDERGROUND classic 'Venus In Furs'. In the midst of the album recording drummer Micheal Wildwood was let go. He would be superseded by the RAGING SLAB credited Bob Pantella for April 2004 European tour dates allied with Sweden's THE QUILL and Norwegian Rock 'n' Rollers GLUECIFER. 'Monolithic Baby!' debuted on the German charts at number 13. A limited edition CD/DVD edition featured the uncensored promotional videos for 'Unbroken (Hotel Baby)' and 'The Right Stuff', interviews plus two live tracks, 'Monolithic' and 'Radiation Day' filmed at the London Astoria.

Putting in an appearance at the massive 'Sweden Rock' festival in June, Dave Wyndorf was invited onstage with Space Rock pioneers HAWKWIND to sing 'The Right Stuff'. On the 12th of November MONSTER MAGNET embarked upon a further US tour sharing a billing with MELISSA AUF DER MAUR and headliners H.I.M. December headline dates saw support from New York City rockers SLUNT. After seven years service, guitarist Phil Caivano exited in March 2005.

MONSTER MAGNET drummer Bob Pantella hooked up with A THOUSAND KNIVES OF FIRE to session on their debut album 'The Last Train To Scornsville' and for live work in May. European gigs in February and March 2006 saw Swedish retro-Doomsters WITCHCRAFT as openers. However, the tour came to a halt as, according to an official management statement, "On the evening of February 27, Dave Wyndorf... was hospitalized due to a drug overdose."

Raised during 2006, ULTRA ELECTRIC MEGA GALACTIC featured MONSTER MAGNET members guitarist Ed Mundell, bass player Jim Baglino and drummer Bob Pantella alongside singer Brandon Sweeney and slide guitarist Duane Hutter. The group debuted live on October 3rd at Wonderbar in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Dave Wyndorf returned to the studio to re-commence work on album tracks in April 2007, eventually cutting material at Sound City Studios, American Studios, The Sunset Lodge and Hydeaway Studios with Matt Hyde acting as producer. '4 Way Diablo', featuring a cover version of 2,000 Light Years From Home' originally by the ROLLING STONES, emerged in October that same year. Vinyl editions added an exclusive track 'Tomorrow's Sun'. '4 Way Diablo' hit no. 51 on the Swedish charts and no. 81 in Germany. Also arriving was a compilation '20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Monster Magnet'.

Phil Caivano returned to the band just upfront of 2008 European tour dates. The following year Dave Wyndorf revealed the band's lack of touring activity had been due to his addiction to the sleeping aid prescription drug Benzodiazepine.