Newcastle melodic punk trio MONKIE MIND are back with Ignite, a fiery new single and music video that is out now through Canadian label People of Punk Rock Records.
The track is the band’s first new music since their 2021 self-titled debut album, and it opens a fresh chapter for the group. It is also the first release to feature new bassist David Randle.
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Randle joined long-standing members Lee Wright on vocals and guitar and Martin Paynton on drums earlier in 2026. He replaces Michael “Olga” Algar of The Toy Dolls, who has left the band.
The line-up change comes at a busy time for the group. With a new label partner in People of Punk Rock Records, the band now have a home that can help carry their music beyond the UK club circuit where they made their name.
Formed in 2018, MONKIE MIND bring a slice of California-style melodic punk to the North East of England. Their sound draws on the likes of Green Day, Stiff Little Fingers and The Offspring, mixing big hooks with a raw, fast-moving edge.
The band run on a strong DIY ethos. Constant gigging and solid songwriting have helped them build a devoted following across the UK, and they have shared stages with The Dickies, China Drum, Random Hand and Popes of Chillitown along the way.
Ignite is built around the things the band love most about the genre, as frontman Lee Wright explains.
“The goal has always been to make music with widespread appeal and songs that are super catchy without losing that raw, energetic punk edge,” says Wright. “Ignite encapsulates everything we love about melodic punk – big sing along choruses, tight rhythms, and pure energy.”
The accompanying music video was filmed live at Bloc+ in Glasgow, one of the city’s best-known small venues. Rather than a staged performance, it captures the band in their natural habitat, giving a taste of the high-energy shows that have won them fans up and down the country.
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Ignite is published by Wipe Out Publishing and is the first in a string of new releases from MONKIE MIND. Further singles are set to follow before the band release their second full-length album in 2027.
For a band that has always relied on word of mouth and time on the road, a new line-up, the backing of a Canadian punk label and a fresh run of music make this an important moment for MONKIE MIND. Ignite is out now via People of Punk Rock Records.
