Got To Kill The Monkey

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the raw and gritty "Got To Kill The Monkey" by the Walter Trout Band from their 1992 album Transition, firing up the Zoo Freaks with its blistering blues-rock energy. This song is a fierce environmental and societal wake-up call, with lyrics like "I'm breathing Carbon Monoxide / Aluminium Chloride / Sky's fallin' down ain't nowhere to hide," painting a vivid picture of a world choked by pollution and corruption. The "monkey" symbolizes the destructive forces—greed, environmental neglect, and political apathy—that Trout urges listeners to confront. In a 2014 YouTube performance, Trout and his band deliver the song with electrifying intensity, showcasing its enduring relevance. Fans on SoundCloud have shared a live recording from a 2006 Tacoma show, praising its raw power and Trout’s searing guitar riffs, which capture the song’s urgent message. The track’s gritty edge and call to action resonate deeply with the Zoo Freaks’ rebellious spirit, making it a perfect fit for the station’s eclectic vibe.

Lyrically, "Got To Kill The Monkey" is a standout on Transition, blending Trout’s blues roots with a harder rock edge. The song’s refrain, “We got to kill the monkey before the monkey kills us,” is both a literal and metaphorical plea, addressing issues like toxic waste and societal decay. According to Genius Lyrics, the song reflects Trout’s frustration with humanity’s self-destructive tendencies, with lines about “barbecuing wienies at the local meltdown” delivering a darkly humorous jab at apathy. Fans on the Walter Trout Fan Club Facebook group often cite the song as a highlight of his early work, with one member noting in a 2020 post that its “ Hendrix-like intensity” makes it a live show staple. The Transition album itself, as discussed on MusicMeter.nl, is praised for its balance of furious rockers like this track and soulful ballads, cementing Trout’s reputation as a versatile artist. The Zoo Crew’s choice to spin this track taps into its timeless urgency, rallying listeners to shake off the “monkey” of complacency.

Walter Trout, born March 6, 1951, in Ocean City, New Jersey, began his musical journey on the Jersey coast in the late 1960s, inspired by a childhood steeped in music and culture. His mother introduced him to legends like Ray Charles and James Brown, and a pivotal meeting with Duke Ellington as a teenager sparked his passion for performance, initially as a trumpeter. As detailed in his autobiography Rescued From Reality, Trout switched to guitar and dove into the blues scene, moving to Los Angeles in 1974 to chase his dreams. There, he honed his craft as a sideman for icons like John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, and Joe Tex, absorbing the raw soul of the blues. From 1981 to 1984, he tore up stages as the lead guitarist for Canned Heat, touring globally. His tenure with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers from 1984 to 1989, following in the footsteps of Eric Clapton, elevated him to blues-rock royalty, though he battled personal demons offstage, as he shared in a 2018 Blues Radio International interview.

In 1989, Trout broke free to form the Walter Trout Band, launching a prolific solo career that’s spanned over 30 albums and countless tours across North America, Europe, and beyond. His first solo album, Life in the Jungle, was hailed by The Times as “the greatest album in the history of the blues-rock genre,” setting the stage for decades of critical acclaim. Despite a near-fatal battle with liver failure in 2013, which required a transplant and a grueling recovery, Trout’s resilience shines through in his music and live performances. Fans can connect with him on his official website, Facebook (118k followers), Instagram (10.7k followers), and X (14.4k followers). Devoted supporters gather at the Walter Trout Fan Club Facebook group and the official Walter Trout Fan Club, founded in 1994 for the Netherlands and Belgium, with an international branch since 1996 spanning 14 countries. These communities celebrate Trout’s enduring legacy, from tracks like "Got To Kill The Monkey" to his latest work, keeping the blues alive for Zoo Freaks and fans worldwide.