The Monks of Doom formed in 1986 while the members of the band were still the rhythm section for the band Camper Van Beethoven. At its inception, the band consisted of Victor Krummenacher on Bass and Vocals, Chris Pedersen on Drums, Greg Lisher on Guitar and Chris Molla on Guitar and Vocals. By the end of 1986, following a fall Camper Van Beethoven tour opening for REM, Chris Molla was expelled from Camper for a perceived lack of commitment, and subsequently failed to show up for Monks' engagements and so was replaced in that band by David Immergluck, at the time a guitarist for the Ophelias. By the time the first Monks record came out, David was a full time member. This line-up remained consistent until the band's demise in 1993.
For the most part, the band only did California shows promoting the first two records, with the exception of a week's worth of East Coast shows with Jonathan Segel in April of 1989 promoting "Cosmodemonic" and JES' "Storytelling" album (same musicians, including the Wrestling Worms guys). With the demise of Camper Van Beethoven in 1990, the Monks were free to do more extensive tours around the United States, which they did until they finally broke up in 1993.
David Immergluck continued playing the guitar for other bands, mostly as a studio musician. He's worked for the Counting Crows, Papa's Culture and John Hiatt and has even gone so far as to do shows with some of these bands recently.
Victor Krummenacher formed the band Fifth Business (one single, "Prince of Lies" 1994 Magnetic) in Aug.1993, which lasted until Oct. 1994 when he disbanded it in favor of A Great Laugh, which still exists. They have recorded one CD so far, "Out in the Heat" 1995 Magnetic.
Greg Lisher plays guitar with A Great Laugh nowadays, although still living and working in Santa Cruz.
Chris Pedersen lives in Petaluma, CA. and is playing drums in a death rock band called Spinal Tarp or something.
