The Bad Penny (beta)

For all the love and attention that psych-rock is getting these days – mostly courtesy of and directed toward newish bands like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Osees and Ty Segall – there’s still a dearth of appreciation and respect for some of the bands that established the heady, colorful sound in the first place. They include 13th Street Elevators, Love, Captain Beefheart and – perhaps more than all the rest – Strawberry Alarm Clock.

The band that formed in 1966 in Glendale, California, is perhaps best known for its prime placement in the über-cult 1970 classic movie Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, directed by sexploitation pioneer Russ Meyer and written by Roger Ebert based off a bizarre and beyond-campy story they both wrote. Strawberry Alarm Clock’s best-known song remains “Incense and Peppermints.”

Strawberry Alarm Clock has undergone lineup changes and breakups over the years but is roaring back with a new single, “Monsters.” The song sees an official release tomorrow with the B-side “White Light,” and The Bad Penny couldn’t be more proud to premiere both a day early. The record release of “Monsters” marks the first time a Strawberry Alarm Clock song has appeared on vinyl since the band’s initial stretch from 1966 to 1971.

“Monsters” will also surface next Friday on Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies, a Big Stir Records collection of spooky, silly and scintillating Halloween-theme songs that buries “Monster Mash” and its soundalikes in the dirt. Rather stunningly, the current incarnation of Strawberry Alarm Clock features five original members: drummer/ percussionist/ vocalist Gene Gunnels, drummer/vibes player/percussionist/vocalist Randy Seol, keyboardist/vocalist Mark Weitz, bassist/rhythm guitarist/vocalist George Bunnell and guitarist/flutist/producer Steve Bartek.

Without further ado, “Monsters” is here:

To hear “White Light” and the radio version of “Monsters,” go here.

Strawberry Alarm Clock lyricist/collaborator David Glück, who joined the group in 1969, said in a statement: “The lyrics explore the lingering impact of fear, trauma or anxiety — both in childhood and adulthood. It begins with classic childhood fears of monsters in the dark, hinting at a deeper, perhaps metaphorical threat. Despite being told to dismiss these fears as childish, the feelings persist and evolve over time.”

He continued: “As the song progresses, the fear becomes internalized and projected onto someone else — possibly a loved one, authority figure, or even the self — revealing how deeply rooted and unchanged these fears have become. The repeated refrain ‘it’s still the same’ underscores a sense of inescapability, showing that time hasn’t healed the emotional wounds. The final verses turn personal, suggesting betrayal or transformation in someone close, who now embodies the very fear the narrator tried to outgrow.”

In announcing “Monsters,” Big Stir alluded to more Strawberry Alarm Clock activity brewing for next year. But in the meantime, pre-order the “Monsters”/”White Light” single here. Pre-order Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies: The Big Stir Records Halloween Grimoire here.

This entry was posted on 10/02/2025 at 8:00 am and is filed under Exclusives with tags psych-rock, Strawberry Alarm Clock. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.