The Monochrome Set formed in London in 1978, after guitarist/vocalist Bid and guitarist Lester Square chose to leave The B-Sides (now Adam & The Ants) and start their own band. After being joined by bassist Jeremy Harrington and drummer J.D. Crowe, The Monochrome Set signed onto Rough Trade Label and issued three singles in 1979.
Later, Andy Warren left Adam & The Ants and replaced Jeremy Harrington as the bassist. They then released their first album Strange Boutique and several more singles. In 1982, they welcomed on board guitarist Foz, keyboardist Caroline Booth, and drummer Nick Wesolowski. It was in this year they released the LP Eligible Bachelors, which contained a song that would later become their first hit: “The Jet Set Junta.” A compilation was released in 1983.
Lester Square left the band around 1985, after which the band released a few singles and the LP The Lost Weekend, later disbanding. However, they reformed in 1989 along with keyboardist Orson Presence. In 1990 they released the album Dante’s Casino, Charade in 1993, Misere in 1994, and Trinity Road in 1995. They broke up once again in 1998. Bid formed another band, Scarlet’s Well, in the time before they reunited in 2011.