In August of 2004 in the basement of a Gross Pointe home, Monkey Grinder
had it's first practice. Original members, Chris Trimpe, Dave Monroe,
Niall Sullivan, and Shelby Hansen got together and Formed MonkeyGrinder.
Eight years later Monkey Grinder has become known as a hard working, high energy band, playing all over Southeast Michigan, and making stops in West Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio. Playing Bars, Casino's, Resorts, Motorcycle events, Fairs, Festivals, Conventions, and Private Parties. The band has worked hard to provide its' audiences with dynamic and interactive shows. "Once you're there, we want you to want to stay and have fun" seems to be one of the bands mantras.
Since those first days family, work, and life's priorities have help shape and change the bands line up to what it has become today.
Current band members have, at one time or another, shared the stage with the likes of Cinderella, Winger, Warrant, REO Speedwagon, and .38 Special. Monkey Grinder was asked by friends, The Bret Michaels Band, to open for them in the summer of 2008 and has shared the stage with them on several occasions since.
In the summer of 2008,
Tri-County Beverage offered their support to Monkey Grinder and since
have developed an outstanding partnership using Labatt Blue as a
promotional tool for the
band, the distributor and the venues in which
Monkey Grinder play.
Word has spread so much that Monkey Grinder members have obtained
endorsements from the likes of Detroit Custom Drum Company, Lance Kellar
Tattoo Studios, MyStar Cables, Mental Case Cases, Spector Basses and
Aurora Strings.
2010 and 2011 were very big years for the band. Taking the next step and becoming a regional band and sharing the stage with many national touring acts. Taking the show on the road to Maryland, Ohio, Indiana.. Casino shows, Many fiestivals, a few weddings..
In these years the band played and shared the stage with the likes of Bret Michaels, Lita Ford, Whitesnake, Tesla, Gary Hoey, Buckcherry, Puddle of Mudd, P.O.D., Papa Roach... it has been one heck of a couple of years. And it just keeps getting better.
Dale McKenzie -
Guitar
Current members inculde:
Shelby
Hansen - Vocals/Guitar
Nick
McLemore - Vocals
Tom Mann - Guitars/Vocals
Tom Penucevski - Drums/Vocal
Dietrich Bonawitz - Bass
"We believe that being in a working band means you not only need to sound good to your audience, but you are there to ENTERTAIN it. The venues hire bands to get people to the venue, keep them there, and when they leave at the end of the night, they'll remember the great time they had. They'll want to go back and see that band and they'll remember the bar they saw them at. That's what we have set out to do. We want to make sure everyone has fun, after all, that's what entertainment is right?" -Shelby Hansen
