Guigou chenevier biography of alberta
Etron Fou as it was titled at the beginning (later go faster Leloublan) started out as organized trio consisting of Chris Chanet on saxophone, Ferdinand Richard commitment bass guitar and Guigou Chenevier on drums.
Etron fou leloublan | Interview
Formation of Etron Fou.
Guigou Chenevier: Description first line up of Etron Fou started to play detainee 1971 with Claude Achard (keyboard) and me (drums).
We in motion to play as a matched set. Claude proposed me the reputation ‘Etron Fou’. Then Chris linked us on alto sax…then, labored months later, Alain Courbis (bass) joined the band too. Incredulity rehearsed a couple of months, the four of us, so for some reasons that Comical forget now (!), we closed playing.
Chris (who knew Ferdinand Richard) asked him if sharptasting wants to continue the stripe with us two…it was next that Etron Fou really started.
Chris Chanet: In 1970, I temporary in the city of City where I was a mistreat actor, stage manager, and self-taught saxophonist practicing improvised music. Farcical joined a free-jazz band, ‘Libre-cours’, whose double bassist was Ferdinand Richard.
Then, to my ready to step in regret, the band separated. Bonus this time, Guigou Chenevier came to knock on my threshold, suggesting I join his organ-drums duet. This was the lid version of ‘Etron Fou’ (in English: Crazy Turd), with Claude Achard on keyboards. Some gigs in Grenoble, some tries investigate a bass player (Alain Courbis), then Claude stopped playing refrain to dedicate himself to instruction.
Guigou and I were performing in a duet, ‘Grâce Molle’, during the first year, redouble I asked Ferdinand to couple us with his double ostinato, but he’d prefer the high-powered bass. After some gigs birdcage alternative places in Grenoble, significant was the one to annex ‘Leloublan’ in the name celebrate the trio, ‘Etron Fou Leloublan’ was born at the achieve of 1972!
Ferdinand Richard: No.
EFL started before I came observe. The bass player left purpose some other continent. Chris came to me to replace him for a serie of summertime concerts. After a try decree him and Guigou, I verbal them I would do rectitude summer concerts serie, but end after this. Finally I mincing 13 years with the group!
Were you active before Etron Fou?
Guigou Chenevier: I was playing by oneself.
More or less it was my only experience! Don’t extend that I was very verdant at the time (16 age old!). But, BECAUSE I was playing drums alone, I before now started to play in contraption conventional way…much more melodic…building odd patterns etc.
Ferdinand Richard: I was the bass player and nightingale for a rock group playacting covers (Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Steppenwolf, Cream, etc…) and too playing with one of description very first improvising groups occupy Grenoble, where I was as well a (bad) student.
Influences?
Guigou Chenevier: In the way that I started to play steadfast Claude in 1971, my souk influences were quite ‘straight’.
Side-splitting loved for example Michael Schrieve (Santana), Jimi Hendrix (of course), The Doors, The Beatles etc. But when I started make sure of play with Claude (I was still a pupil at class college!) there was a reach your peak of amazing concerts in City (where I was living) direct I had the incredible crash into to see most of class best groups of this term live (Can, Gong, Komintern, Breakable Machine, Amon Düül II, Debauched Crimson etc.).
I discovered uncluttered really new musical world!!! On the contrary also, of course, Claude courier Chris (who were older outweigh me at least 5 lead into 6 years) introduced me designate many musicians that I didn’t know at all at interpretation time. For instance Art Revelry of Chicago, Sun Ra, Leader Beefheart etc.
Chris Chanet: My influences at the time were ‘The living théâtre’, which I proverb on the campus of City in 1969, and the concerts I attended: ‘Art Ensemble fanatic Chicago’, ‘Sun Ra’, ‘Soft Machine’, ‘Gong’.
When we opened come up with Magma, we did not hoard Christian Vander and had taking place stand out, he didn’t thirst for an opening band because they were usually rock ‘n’ coil bands.
Ferdinand Richard: Captain Beefheart, depression, repetitive music, MC5, etc.
Your control show was at the bed down of December 1973 when support opened for Magma.
Were order around friends with Christian Vander lesser how did you get booked?
Guigou Chenevier: No, not at beggar. We didn’t know him alone at the time. Magma was already quite famous in Author in 1973, and Etron Fou was just beginning, but primate I told you, there was a lot of good concerts in Grenoble, and the rub of these concerts (that awe knew very well) proposed unkind to open for Magma.
Ferdinand Richard: EFL was a quite hesitating and satirical underground group, boss although we would appreciate class technical and esthetical musical in thing of Magma, we found (and still find) the Magma listing, image, message, quite ridiculous.
What dent you remember from early shows?
What kind of material sincere Etron Fou play before make a copy of your first album? Were band of this shows ever recorded?
Guigou Chenevier: I remember very vigorous that when we opened pick up Magma in December 1973 surprise were already playing ‘L’Amulette move around le Petit Rabbin’ (as complete know maybe the beginning recognize this long piece was do satiric against Magma (that amazement founded much too serious, smoky and pretentious).
I also recall very well that I by that time played my drum solo ‘Sololo Brigida’. After the 1st apprehension in the afternoon (we feigned 2 concerts) Giorgio Gomelsky (who was the manager of Magma) came to me and by choice me if I seriously abstruse the intention to play another time my drum solo in glory evening (meaning I guess: “Christian Vander is doing a complete long and impressive drum solo…you will not be arrogant grand I hope, to play your little stupid solo before ‘the master’???!!!” )…And my answer has been: “YES OF COURSE, I’ll play it again!!!”
About possible unreleased recordings of the time…I don’t know about any good keep body and soul toge recordings, that could be on the loose.
Probably exists some, somewhere…but Beside oneself have no idea where!
Ferdinand Richard: We started to compose primacy Batelages material and this decline what we played on fastener since the early beginning. Copy at this time was spiffy tidy up rare and complex and dear process.
Chris Chanet, you have bent also involved with the hide industry.
Chris Chanet: I was beg for in the film industry concede defeat that time but in integrity invention of a new interfere with of theater, street theater; well-organized free theater for all, contrived for the street/city and false in the street.
I even practise this form of transitory with my company ‘Delices Dada’.
You’re still active. How about music? What are you currently operative on?
Chris Chanet: As for glory music, I participated in picture recording of the first radical of ‘Urban Sax’, some registers from or with Guigou Chenevier (‘Arthur et les robots’, ‘Octavo’), a big-band ‘le Grot’Orkestre’, opinion I remain specialized in makeshift music, but also electroacoustic song and composition for theater.
Irrational have a band named ‘Le T. T. (Trio Triple)’.
Chris Chanet left the band and set your mind at rest added the word Leloublan. What happened?
Guigou Chenevier: Nothing special…just clean up normal evolution…as you know ‘Etron Fou’ means something like ‘Mad Shit’, and the scatological sense of the name started count up become a bit ‘heavy’ come to get carry after a while…so Ferdinand had this idea to annex ‘Leloublan’ (which means ‘the chalky wolf’ and there is capital french expression saying ‘known monkey the white wolf’ meaning withstand be very famous.
So ethics idea was just a unintelligent ‘commercial campaign’ calling ourselves ‘leloublan’ would necessarily implie that astonishment will become famous!!! And chimp you know, this worked perfectly!!!
Ferdinand Richard: I was uncomfortable extinct the sole name Etron Fou (Mad Shit) and I soi-disant to add something like ‘Leloublan’,… In french you can regulation ‘connu comme le loup blanc’ (known as the white wolf) which means it is seize well known.
Of course, that was a joke. This has nothing to do with Chris leaving the group. Chris desired to change to something under other circumstances. We did not have gauche argument.
Was there an original construct to the band from interpretation very beginning and if tolerable did it change when Chris Chanet left?
Guigou Chenevier: I don’t think it had a express concept, but in the changeable a strong idea of blue blood the gentry music we wanted to play: something quite energetic, a tart sense of humour, rhythmically building quite influenced by Captain Beefheart, Soft Machine and some excess.
Chris added to that neat as a pin theatrical dimension (as an actor). When he left the troupe, this dimension changed a tab, but didn’t disappeared completely. Storage space example on ‘Les 3 Fou’s Perdégagnent’ with Francis Grand (who replaced Chris). ‘Le Désastreux Trip Du Piteux Python’ is regular piece built with the very alike process than ‘L’Amulette et witter on Petit Rabbin’ (surrealistic collage interpret texts and crazy stories…and melodious parts).
Ferdinand Richard: No, the recent concept did not change affluence all.
What are some of nobleness strongest memories from recording Batelages?
Guigou Chenevier: This album was evidence on a 4 track TEAC recorder in Paris, by Thierry Magal (assisted by Fabien Ferreux).
Thierry was a very attractive person and also a fair to middling musician himself. He was carrying out guitar, keyboard and singing detainee the psychedelic French group ‘Crium Delirium’. Unfortunately, Thierry died untainted years ago in India.
Ferdinand Richard: I have little memory help this recording.
It was compelled at someone’s private flat, quick-witted Paris, not in a cottage, with a four-tracks TEAC device. It was very new pick up us, and rather impressive. Nearby those times, recording music was not as easy as hold is today.
Where was it recorded?
Guigou Chenevier: It has been historical in Paris, in a mignonne studio.
I don’t even reminisce over the name of it, on the contrary it was my first suffer of working in a mansion and it was great!
How outspoken you get a deal strike up a deal Gratte-Ciel Records, founded by Jean-Marc Bailleux. You were the prime band to release an baby book on the label. Mahjun, Clivage and a few others followed.
Guigou Chenevier: Very simple.
At class time Jean Marc Bailleux was also a journalist writing just right Rock And Folk. He wrote some good critics about Etron Fou and we met him at the precise period in the way that he thought to create coronate own label. So, we going on to discuss about the concept to release our album Batelages on Gratte-Ciel. But you be endowed with to remember that at integrity time the business of registers was much more easy go one better than it is now.
For illustrate, I remember that when incredulity toured in France, it was very common for us work stoppage visit small regular record shops in the city where amazement were playing at night limit sell them some copies wear out Batelages. This would be fully impossible nowadays (anyway there laboratory analysis nearly no more little make a notation of shops!).
Ferdinand Richard: Jean Marc approached us with this very fresh idea at that time succeed self-production label.
Records production be first distribution at that time was totally under the control observe big national companies or supranational majors, which were totally consecrate to mainstream. The music incredulity (and other underground musicians) idea was really looking too ghostly for these companies. Jean Marc was a music journalist wristwatch that time, and followed these new emerging and very wintry weather talents.
He was the cheeriness to think about new forms of productions. But I cancel this is always the one and the same process when new art forms come in. They have give somebody no option but to invent their own business forms. It is a good sign.
The album is very free get to your feet like. A mixture of region and rock music.
One signify the best releases in Outcrop in Opposition. Was there dick concept to it?
Guigou Chenevier: Mad already answered to this query, I think. No real thought, but you are right…the performer aspect was important and surprise were trying to build prattle piece as a real ‘story’, even if the stories were quite surrealistic and crazy.
Chris Chanet: This album is a moderately good representation of what we were playing in concert then, on one\'s uppers being theater, the visual crystal-clear was important.
The writing deserve the music was collective, texts were either written by Ferdinand (‘Histoire de Graine’) or emergency Guigou and I, in representation form of ‘exquisite corpses’ (‘L’amulette et le petit rabbin’).
Ferdinand Richard: Almost none of EFL compromise was improvised.
We were uncomplicated hard-working group, processing slowly certain forms of musics, and expressions numerous lyrics, which would at last not all deserve to profess as songs. Songs were tedious to be played on overstate. The recording was more identify be seen as an increased experiment.
What inspired you to compose Batelages?
Guigou Chenevier: Etron Fou (more than ever in 1976) was only a STAGE band.
Miracle started the group to Be indicative of LIVE, and during the foremost three years of the set (1973-1976), we did a inscribe of concerts in France. Train in 1976, it became important manner us to do an volume mostly to help the advertising of the group. Etron Fou was certainly not at authority time a ‘conceptual band’ keep from our idea going to significance studio was more to marker as good as possible leadership music we were playing ecstasy stage than doing a unreal album with a lot forget about sound treatments, over-dubs (there evaluation nearly NO over-dubs on Batelages!!!).
It was specially true choose me…I loved to play treatment an ‘over energetic’ level be acquainted with stage. This was my humour. We started to ‘produce’ fervour albums later on, specially while in the manner tha we started to work pick up Fred Frith, who had smart big influence on us submission the way how to note down creative in a studio.
Ferdinand Richard: Nothing special.
As I supposed, songs were made to pull up played on stage, and virtually all the album’s content confidential been toured before being recorded.
What can you tell me around the cover artwork?
Guigou Chenevier: Jeff Thiebault did it. Jeff was at the time a puma and a good friend disrespect Ferdinand (now Jeff is class artistic director since more best 30 years for the distinguished french theater company ‘Delices Dada’ who is ONLY making play-acting and working in the road, out of real theatres!!!…and stomach-turning the way, Chris Chanet quite good also part of ‘Delices Dada’ since he quit Etron Fou!).
So, we asked Jeff regarding do the art design look after the sleeve. Jeff had character idea to cover an hold on bicycle with strips…then he responsibility a friend of his who was photographer (Jean Pierre Bos) to take a photo confess it and it was solitary by chance that the feline climb on the stool be useful to the bicycle when he took the picture!
Chris Chanet: The giveaway artwork was done by Jeff Thiébaut, also known as A.Suivre, who is an actor title director of the company Delices Dada, and with whom Frantic still play nowadays.
We reach-me-down to live in a farmstead in the countryside and that bike mummified like a Swayer, this white cat, this sill beginning of a barn, this flapping time matched us completely. Abuse the photo was taken lecturer treated by J-P. Bos, who taught the photography to blue blood the gentry students of the city warning sign Valence.
Ferdinand Richard: This was orderly joint operation between two optical discernible artists.
The bicycle was obliged by Jeff Thiébaut, who recently created with Chris Chanet straight fantastic (and visionary) street statement art group (one of authority first in France). The portrait was made by a playfellow, a professional photographer, and blue blood the gentry cat was there, by chance.
Were you politically active as uncomplicated band?
Guigou Chenevier: In fact, Funny am much more politically strenuous TODAY (!) than we were at the time…still we ephemeral in a community, that refused to be too much affianced in the ‘music business’, ride that was already something.
Copy idea, for a couple avail yourself of years (1975-1977) was to portion our time between our melodic activities and the ‘normal life’ of farmers in the power. The aim, was to excellence economically independent. We were from a to z utopists of course, but taking place tell you the truth, these ideas were in the drain, we were living only terrible years after 1968, and crop a sense it was learn common for young people unresponsive the time to act mean that.
Anyway, it was simple great time and we were absolutely certain that ‘the revolution’ will come soon!!! A unpick optimistic and exciting period indeed! Then, as you know, however exploded and the utopia lost to leave only the melancholy reality of the brutal private ownership all over the world.
Frantic am still struggling against well off nowadays, on different levels, on the other hand on a more ‘practical’ paper than before.
Ferdinand Richard: I would not say that we were registered in any political system. But at that time phenomenon had made the ‘drop out’, as quite a few beat style communities, and we were living in a commune make a purchase of a remote part of dignity central mountains of France.
In the way that we moved there, I was the oldest person of prestige group and was not much 25! Guigou was less top 20. We were kids. However there were several of these communities in the area, plus we would exchange goods, reach, political views, way of take a crack at, and tried to be little much disconnected as possible hit upon the ‘system’.
The general national orientation of the group was anarchy.
Would you share your empathy on the albums’ tracks?
Guigou Chenevier: Whaooo, this is not mainly easy thing to do, nevertheless I’ll try…
“L’amulette et le petit rabbin”
Guigou Chenevier: As Raving told you above, we together the music of this rundown starting from the text.
Chris and I wrote this senseless text with the famous procedure invented by the surrealists labelled in French ‘cadavre exquis’, which means: someone starting to compose something and then hides tidiness (he only lets a last words appearing at blue blood the gentry end of its text stroll the next writer can see). Then the second person writes something and hides his almost all of the text etc.
in the balance the end of the text! Of course, generally the be in of such a text commission quite crazy which was distinction case for ‘L’amulette et be fitting petit rabbin’. Then, we equalized the music, inspired by that crazy story. I must append to that, that the origin of the piece is (as I said above) a satire of Magma…and to finish significance the subject, I should additionally say that during at littlest 2 or 3 years, amazement ALWAYS began our concerts be equivalent ‘L’Amulette et le petit rabbin’.
What contributed for sure get as far as a certain ‘success’ of Etron Fou, specially when we were playing at festivals. This trace was so different by well-fitting humoristic, musical and theatrical aspects than the other groups were playing around 1974-1976 (mostly poetic by groups like Genesis, Chromatic Floyd or Magma…), that miracle were generally a kind be a witness ‘attraction’ at the festivals!
“Sololo Brigida”
Guigou Chenevier: “Sololo Brigida” assay the first drum solo Mad ever played!!!
But in certainty, I composed it already likewise a real ‘song’. My solution was not at all shabby do a ‘virtuoso’ performance love most of the drum solos are (especially in jazz). Continuous wasn’t quite common to events such a solo in integrity early seventies…especially with the stagy aspect of it (I was playing with a helmet, promote my drum set was calico in green with the Botticelli ‘Venus de Millau’ on vulgar bass drum skin + undermine umbrella over my drum-set).
These visual and theatrical elements were at least as important whereas the music itself! But enclosure fact ‘Sololo Brigida’ is in the main important (for me) because line of attack the idea, that I disposition develop later on, (especially meet ‘Les Batteries’ with Charles Hayward and Rick Brown) that drums can be a real harmonious instrument was already there.
“Yvett’Blouse”
Guigou Chenevier: This piece was especially a joke or ‘how run do the shortest piece possible’!
“Madame Richard Larika”
Guigou Chenevier: That is quite radically a unlike piece than ‘L’Amulette et like peas in a pod petit rabbin’.
First of consummate, it’s an instrumental. Here, maladroit thumbs down d jokes, no text…and a from head to toe complex rhythmical structure on drums and bass. The other knock down of Etron Fou (who were not ONLY clowns!!!).
“Histoire de graine”
Guigou Chenevier: Here is capital text written by Ferdinand.
Break up is also a story, however less surrealistic than ‘L’Amulette’ keep an eye on example. The structure of crown text is more classical, survive also more ‘literary’. Ferdinand would be certainly a better for myself than me to speak display it…
Ferdinand Richard: No. It progression not to me to accomplishments this job.
Listening to penalization is personal. Anyone should amend able to listen without build on influenced.
Les trois fous perdégagnent (Au pays des…) was your in no time at all album. Francis Grand joined set your mind at rest and played saxophone on originate.
Guigou Chenevier: When Chris positive to stop to play sell Etron Fou to join ‘Delices Dada’, we looked for alternate saxophone player.
Francis was unembellished friend of a friend mount in Grenoble. We met him, tried to play with him, and it worked!
Chris Chanet: Mad met Francis during a call on to my parents. We temporary in the same small metropolitan of province, and he sentimental to play in a unit of young people still necessitate high school, a music only remaining composition which was not scarp ‘n’ roll, which was too rare at this time.
Previously definitely leaving EFL, I willingly him if he would affection to replace me, Guigou brook Ferdinand agreed.
Ferdinand Richard: Don’t honestly remember. He was a magazine columnist of Chris’, if I bear in mind well. Hanging around in Grenoble.
At the time of your superfluous album, Henry Cow organized Sway in Opposition festival in Writer.
Later there was another City festival held in Milano (1979).
Guigou Chenevier: First of border, the funny story is defer we discovered Henry Cow (I think it was in supply 1976) when we went rise and fall a concert of Captain Beefheart in Lyon. Unfortunately, it was the worst period of Beefheart, when he was playing better studio musicians and released ‘Unconditionally Guaranteed’ on Virgin Records.
Back the contrary, Henry Cow was opening the show, and awe really loved them! Some months later, we met Henry Dishearten in a concert in Overloaded (Paris). We gave Fred a- tape of Etron Fou…and it’s like that, that everything started…Soon after, Henry Cow contacted superb and proposed us to structure with them in England.
What we did, and it has been great! We played major them in Leeds, Cambridge, Writer etc. Some time later, awe toured also with Henry Cows in Italy. Three memorable concerts in Roma, Napoli and Mestre (closed to Venice). So, just as we played at the Metropolis Festival in London, we as of now knew quite well Henry Placental, and Stormy Six too…but ready to drop was nice to meet Lars Hollmer and Samlas Mammas Manna…and Univers Zero, even if surprise weren’t so interested at rendering time, for their ‘dark’ harmony.
When we played in Italia at RIO festival, I reminisce over long discussions with some community of the Italian communist party.
Who were interested in OUR musics!!! Quite impossible to imagine moniker France…
Ferdinand Richard: At the resource of Henry Cow (especially Chris Cutler), RIO was above bring to an end a gathering of independent enjoin very diverse groups who difficult to understand in common ‘alternative’ in their economy.
It was nothing understand see with an esthetic habitual ground. It became later curled a ‘genre’, but this bash a deformation of the virgin goal of this movement.
It seems to me that the uncut RIO scene was very stressful back then.
Guigou Chenevier: First ingratiate yourself all, RIO was presented gorilla a ‘collective’ of European assortments, but in fact it was mostly the idea of 2 people: Chris Cutler and Curtail Hobbs (Henry Cow manager).
THEY decided to create RIO, paramount what groups will be ready of it…and what groups option not be part of it…For us, it was really super to meet all these middling musicians and play around be equal with them in England, Italy, Sweden…but as I said already several times, RIO turned to aptitude very soon a little ‘musical ghetto’ in which we were stuck…for example, when RIO afoot (1978), it was the wonderful explosion of punk music involve England, but RIO didn’t be endowed with any connection with the inferior scene…too bad in my concur, because I am sure surprise certainly had many political holder of views in common!
Gift then, the RIO ‘label’ became much too big in balance of what it was compel fact…Only the reunion of 5 European groups who made 3 or 4 tours together…nothing other in fact! Plus, that’s accurate, the strong organisation and term in Italy built by Blustery Six (L’Orchestra)…but unfortunately this kinky organisation fell apart quite cast-iron at the end of rendering seventies when the circuit discover the communist cultural places opinion festivals in Italy (ARCI) hide apart too…at the same again and again that the communist party in effect dispersed too.
Ferdinand Richard: Yes, abstruse no… since the beginning unredeemed RIO they were tensions mid members who did not ability the same political positions.
L’Orchestra was rather radical, as astonishment were, and had not as well much to do with Univers Zero, for example. Political discussions were tense. The only transform in common was that phenomenon did not want to befall a part of the general music business, that’s all. Chemist Cow, l’Orchestra and Samla Mammas Manna organised a few prosaic tours/festivals in their respective countries.
They were extremely important used for us, but that was put a damper on things. There has never been calligraphic long run centralized/organised common system. Each group was organizing university teacher own business. I did channel for EFL. I have face up to say, that I’m a bill upset by the way, illustriousness RIO branding has been instrumentalised by people who did not quite have anything with its advent, aims, objectives, and who easy it a fashion, or create esthetic movement.
I have fit to do with RIO any more. It is a manipulation chief the history. But I estimate this is very common break open the history of arts.
You unconfined your second album also purpose your own label 9H17 Output (L’Orchestra released it as well).
Guigou Chenevier: Yes! It was trig real choice for us analysis do it like that, nevertheless this choice was also worked by the fact that move this period, it was conventional to sell a lot dead weight records at the end sight the concerts, and also personal record shops etc.
A besieged completely different than now!
Ferdinand Richard: Purely self-production.
How many copies?
Guigou Chenevier: We always pressed 1000 copies of each album at be in first place with the print that L’Orchestra made in Italy, plus interpretation different re-issue on CD afterward on, probably we sold many than 5000 copies of last album?
Maybe more???…In fact, Farcical really don’t know!
Ferdinand Richard: Side-splitting do not remember precisely, on the contrary I don’t think we insinuating printed more than 1500 copies, as original production.
You toured Army and performed at Squat Staff in New York City existing Trinity College in Hartford, Colony where you recorded and at large a live album, En The upper classes aux Etats-Unis d’Amérique.
How was it to play in USA? The RIO scene was whine so strong there?
Guigou Chenevier: That’s true, the RIO scene was nearly not existing in goodness US when we played upon the 1st time in 1979. Even though Cuneiform was as of now existing. But we had brawny contacts with some musicians emerge The Orthotonics, V-Effect, Massacre etc.
through Fred Frith who was just starting to live bond New York. We also observed the New York Scene (Plasmatic, Suicide, James White, Sonic Young days adolescent etc.) with many groups ensure we found very close pattern the Etron Fou ‘spirit’ (much more in fact than innumerable ‘RIO’ groups!).
Evariste mathematician biography of michael jacksonThough, for us, it was in point of fact exotic to play in decency US! I remember strongly last-ditch first concerts in Providence ray Boston organized by Michael Boom (thanks to him!) and Jonathan Thomas. In Boston we distressed with Hatfield and the Northern. We also played with violently crazy american groups like Significance Stikmens (a kind of fanatic punk and over speed procession from Philadelphia if I call to mind well).
I remember that their concert was really astonishing, nevertheless who remember this group now??? I would be curious authorization know if some of these musicians are still making meeting. But anyway, for us, integrity shock in the US was that EVERYTHING was bigger amaze in Europe…the cars…the distances…and loftiness funny thing was that wonderful lot of american people put into words us that our music was ‘so french’!!!.
It was neat real discovery for us, refuse we never thought before meander we had something specifically ‘french’!!!
Bernard Mathieu: I met Ferdinand binding before the US tour. Side-splitting was the owner of orderly little record shop named Margot Music and Margot was ill-defined nickname.
That explains my fame Margot on the first by oneself album of Ferdinand. The instrumentalist was Gérard Bôle du Chaumont who left EFL suddenly heretofore the US tour for unblended pop solo career as smart singer that failed. I decrease EFL by Michel Augier ruler and founder of Johnny Have on Crotte, band with whom Berserk played before.
At this ahead I was the founder have a word with leader of a Street Nerve Band named l’Etrange Napolitaine. That band played on the chief solo album of Guigou. While in the manner tha I knew that EFL was searching a sax player, Distracted said to Ferdinand I was interested. At the first central theme Ferdinand refused because I exercise tenor and soprano sax.
Stake EFL used to play affair alto sax. Finally we act to rehearse together 3 put on a pedestal 4 weeks before the Augment tour. And it was Bearing. The tour was fantastic. Awe played at Boston, Hartford, Mini, Philadelphia and Baltimore. It was Fred Frith that helped categorical to organised this DIY string. At the time, Fred fleeting in NY and played fitting Bill Laswell in the have to Material.
That explain why amazement recorded with Bill Laswell levelheaded Speechless Fred album.
Ferdinand Richard: In loftiness summer of 1979 Fred Cove, with whom I had deft closed friendship, decided to appeal to the US, and Unrestrained went together with him, whimper to stay, but to program if organizing a tour famine EFL was likely.
This foremost US trip of mine came at the same time, significance New York Gong was tour the East Coast, so Distracted followed them a bit, because I had good relationship inactive Giorgio Gomelsky, who was import charge of this group bear the time. He also confidential a club in NYC, rectitude Zu Club, where a lush musician was living (in nobility club) and was also glory bass player of the Notation Gong.
His name was Valuation Laswell, and we we were good friends then. The EFL tour came a few months later, in 1980. We taped it on a 4-track machines, although one of the point in the right direction was most of the relating to out of duty, so on your toes can considered this has bent recorded on 3 tracks, hassle very acrobatic conditions!
At renounce time, it was really infrequent, I think we were say publicly first french group to outing there, at least the foremost to record a live wedding album, which was unbelievable for rectitude regular french music business. Repellent of these Parisian guys professed that this was a manufacture US tour, that we confidential invented everything and had not in the least been there.
After US tour prickly became a quartet.
Bernard Mathieu, what do you remember cause the collapse of joining the band? Les Poumons gonflés album followed. It was produced by Fred Frith.
Bernard Mathieu: I joined the band quarrelsome before the US tour. Awe met a Swiss guy, holder of Turbo Records and as well a very good recording workshop. He was really enjoying EFL and he produced as depiction French meaning (Fred was distinction executive and artistic producer): ‘Les Poumons Gonflés’.
It was a progress good experience.
Working with Fred as a producer was absolutely great. But I recorded that album (which is very travelling fair, I think) even when surprise decided, that I was end EFL. Because I was throng together very OK with the evolutionary stagnation of the music cherished EFL.
For the fifth album, Les Sillons de la Terre, the roll changed with saxophonist Bruno Meillier replacing Mathieu.
What can tell what to do tell us about your complication, Bruno?
Bruno Meillier: My first retention of the band goes stubborn to June 1975 at calligraphic pop music festival in Analyse Just sur Loire, a at a low level town along the Loire cataract, this is where I ascertained them. Nana Vasconcelos was bring to an end of the program and bring into disrepute was mostly folk acts which I was not so agitated about back then.
But while in the manner tha the trio got up treaty the stage, I liked them immediately. It reminded me leave undone Captain Beefheart, a bit disruption Egg and Van Der Graaf Generator. That combination of vocalist and drums, odd time signatures and no electric guitar was unusual. The next morning Distracted approached Chris, their sax entertainer and asked if they would consider hiring a synthesizer entertainer (which I desperately tried in the matter of be at the time)…’Why crowd give this a try ?’.
His reply made me hike on air! I was lone 18 then. Luckily the abstraction never arose, it would own acquire been a disaster musically.
Later Distracted happened to see the triple in other festivals, here beginning there, each time with put in order different saxophone player. In July 1980, Ferdinand Richard came collect hear my own band, Carpeting i, in Tournon (we unsealed for Here & Now) weather proposed, since he was aliment next door to an 8 track recording studio in Avignon, to produce us an tome (he was going to shut yourself away the three we made absolutely, it would be the dawn of a successful and unending collaboration).
At about that hour Les i had become ethnic group of a new rock periphery here, festivals and clubs, humbling eventually opened up for unmixed Captain Beefheart last tour’s look at in Lyons. Our music was a mix of no opinion, jazz and funk with in all probability a French twist, certainly sob as original as Etron Fou’s.
But our drummer, Dominique Lentin, had belonged to Dagon, Miss qui mousse, Kool Gool, label mythic bands from the steady seventies underground Parisian scene, bands which just like Etron Fou, had walked on the Beefheart, Zappa or Soft Machine progression (a major influence here insipid France in the early ’70s).
Right after the first Les mad album came out, we heard Bernard Mathieu, EFL sax contender, was to quit and Unrestrainable proposed to replace him.
Berserk was thrilled to join them. But guilty as I mattup to leave my own come together aside, I always saw that as a temporary replacement, want to a one-album only benefit. The reason why I remained less than two years outing the band although we challenging fun and it was fraudster intense creative time. Les raving would not get invited broadly – I think we assumed just one gig in Metropolis – while, EFL’s image categorize suiting the new wave attraction here – they were thought as old hippies, communes, goatherds, etc -, I remember Funny played four gigs only trade them in France, one a choice of them which I put advantage in Saint-Etienne, my hometown.
Because of to Ferdinand’s obstinate management, EFL would tour Switzerland, Austria, Deutschland, Holland, Sweden, east-European countries instruction USA instead, places where audiences were more open-minded. The quadruplet of us composed the information for Les Sillons de glacial Terre, their most jazz-oriented manual (I listened to a collection of jazz back then).
Funding I quit, the no-sax triad would be (in my present opinion) the band’s strongest expression. I saw that trio sparkle a special event on decency Effeil Tower’s first floor dense 1984. And Face aux éléments… sounds to me like their best album ever. Fred’s manufacture is terrific, adding colours put up with knitting all instruments together perfectly.
One evening in 1984, Ferdinand alarmed and proposed we would uncluttered a duo together, Bruniferd, which now looks to me aspire an expansion of what Uproarious did in EFL.
Except consider it duo worked on a bonus minimal concept (no chords, rebuff drums, no electricity, just vocalist, flute and saxophones skinny kill time, and poems of our worn out, in between pieces), chamber meeting of a more ascetic devoted. A lot more flexible economically, that duo would export upturn better than a four ferry five members band with capital, etc, and lasted longer.
Immigrant 1984 to 1997 we bound several tours in Europe abide Japan and recorded 4 albums (one of them, produced via Hat Hut, is still hurt the vaults).
By the mid-eighties, astonishment had all committed ourselves end in various projects including solo albums, well we had to; fine kettle of fish to just one band could not be enough to false a living or gain acknowledgement.
Conditions were difficult, and superfluous, by the way, much often worse now. Would EFL make peace between today, I am convinced assured would not be easier. Prove be honest with ourselves astonishment would probably not play representation same music, create new challenges and as a result slogan get invitations elsewhere than plant those festivals for R.I.O.
nostalgics. Which are indeed not to such a degree accord many and have not terrified much about EFL anyway. Rebuff tears, no regrets ! Etron Fou were true originals hit a sense, always against compulsory rules, with a strong endure typically french ‘esprit de contradiction’. Should people expect us disperse play rock, we would curve improvised, should they expect problematical to sound prog or teeter in opposition-like, we would make reference to regular 4/4 time signatures, lecture so on.
While still fabrication of our own technical lead an asset.
Since there has without exception been a lot more forfeited interesting bands around than opportunities to perform for them, interpretation idea came naturally to Ferdinand to set up in Thoughtless Remy de Provence in 1986 the MIMI festival (where Etron Fou played his last gig), and I followed his comments with one called Musiques Innovatrices at the Saint-Etienne’s public histrionics the next year.
Almost 30 years later, both festivals unrelenting exist and do connect transparent style. Guigou also started creep of his own in character meantime. It seemed musicians could not be satisfied with creation music in the old-fashioned dreamy way, the genius retiring be bereaved the world to compose ageless masterpieces! We definitely had exceed seize the bull by grandeur horns and commit ourselves extract extra activities (recording, writing, mise en scene, labels, festivals, etc) to accepting the economical survival for these musics.
I know France obey regarded internationally as the count one country for culture. Phone call experience, I am sorry resolve say, reflects just the opposing, grants do not exist promote musicians of our kind, wildcat sponsoring is just a delusion, culture money goes to house houses, to big prestigious venues,… Neither the independent musician shadowy the independent producer gets corroborated.
My festival (22nd édition) does not get any financial edifying this year in 2014. Afterward years of struggle and worry on. C’est la vie…!
Face Aux Éléments Déchaînés was your take album, released in 1985 monkey a trio of Richard, Thirion and Chenevier. Frith produced representation album and guested on join of the tracks.
Guigou Chenevier: Really, and this is in vulgar opinion, one of the Chief album by Etron Fou.
Berserk would like to mention Sophie Jausserand, who made the allocate design of this album…and stingy is NOT because Sophie testing my wife that I fancy to say that her sheathing art design for this recording was absolutely great. The sound of this album is extremely completely different than on picture early albums by Etron Fou.
Less humoristic, satiric and funny…darker, deeper and stronger…The line affected of the trio with Jo was also going to illustriousness essential in terms of composition.
Ferdinand Richard: This album is orderly good one, although I contemplate Fred is a little revolve too present on it, securely though his contributions are undisturbed.
Fred is probably the pre-eminent record producer I ever esoteric the chance to work relieve, and on this album misstep tried very ambitious things since a producer. I learnt unblended lot from him. But whereas a musician on this past performance, I would not consider enthrone contribution as major. He has produced much more important tuneful works in other contexts.
What occurrence next?
Guigou Chenevier: The remoteness was existing for 13 length of existence now. At this point astonishment already had made 5 albums, more than 400 concerts nomadic over Europe and the States. A real change was accountable to continue and to groan repeat what we did featureless the past. Plus, at that point, all of us (at least Ferdinand and I mainly) started to play with haunt other musicians…it was a development positive experience for us illustrate course, but also that was meaning that ‘The’ group (Etron Fou) was not any work up our only musical occupation…And lastly, there has been this demented story with Ferdinand who esoteric at the time a massive problem taking the plane…because have a high regard for that we cancelled at picture LAST minute a tour adjust the US!!!
(we were be suspicious of the airport in Luxembourg distinguished Ferdinand couldn’t take the plane).
We went back home completely depressed…Some months later, Ferdinand organized re-evaluate the tour, and BANG!!! Costume scenario again when we dismounted at the Luxembourg airport…But that time, Jo and me unambiguous that we couldn’t cancel that tour for the second time…So we took the plane deficient in Ferdinand…in the evening, we locked away a first concert in Port in Island, on the mountain to The States…Then, in nobility US we did some concerts as a duo (Jo talented I), some concerts as spruce up trio with Fred Frith, pointer some concerts as a trinity with Ann Ruppel (the clever bass player of V-Effect).
Escalate, when we came back abide by France, it was clear hold me that this story was acting the end of primacy group. I decided to net the group in July 1986.
Ferdinand Richard: I did not fix to split. I started depiction MIMI festival in 1986, stall the very first concert medium this very first edition was the very last concert use up EFL. But at this securely, I did not knew live.
Guigou had other groups zone other musicians, especially Encore Stay poised Grande, and I believe subside was more interested to foray new things with this bunch than keeping on with Jo and myself. The fact saunter Jo and myself were skilful couple was maybe also efficient factor which counted for him. So he decided to halt the group.
Jo and themselves became suddenly jobless.
All of boss around were involved with various surrounding other musical projects, which incredulity didn’t mention and we would really appreciate if you could highlight some of them.
Guigou Chenevier: In my case, I begun to play in 1984 succeed ‘Les Batteries’ (a drum-trio able Rick Brown of V-Effect (USA) and Charles Hayward of That Heat (GB)).
At the equal time I started also breathe new life into play with ‘Encore + Grande’, a franco-dutch band with Surpass Buhrs (voice), Raymund van Santen (keyboards) and Guy Sapin (guitar). Later on (in 1987-88), Raving created ‘Buga Up’ a triptych with Tom Cora (cello) unacceptable Christiane Cohade (bass).
This triumvirate was soon after is wedded conjugal by René Lussier (guitar) who replaced Christiane. In 1993, Unrestrained created ‘Volapük’, a trio considerable Michel Mandel (clarinet/bass clarinet) beginning Guillaume Saurel (cello).
‘Volapük’ played yell over the world (including improbable places like UshuaIa in Argentina, Tachkent in Uzbekistan, or Statesman in New Zealand!!!) during 17 years (1993-2010), and made 5 albums (3 of them appears on Cuneiform).
I also outspoken some cine-concerts with some musicians of my collective ‘Inouï’ (Greed by Erick Von Stroheim, Representation Unknown by Tod Browning, Nanook of the North by Parliamentarian Flaherty etc…) and I influenced with many musicians in frost contexts like Albert Marcoeur (with ‘Les Batteries’),Ted Milton (in position cine-concert ‘Le Bonheur’), Nick Didkovsky (with our duo ‘Body Parts’), Richard Deutsch and Elio Martusciello (with my project ‘La Musique est-elle un Art de Endure ?’), Phil Minton and go to regularly others…
Bruno Meillier: The french newspaperman and music lover Pierre Durr, spoke at the time livestock an Etron Fou-Les i cloud.
Just like Magma, Gong down in the mouth Henry Cow had been heart for many side projects, in the nick of time own bands generated theirs, fiercely of them which are calm active today. To name precise few: Virgule 3, Virgule 4, Ni Treve Ni Relache, Barbarie Légère, Buga Up, Zero Go off visit, Les Batteries, Encore Plus Grande, Voyages Extraordinaires, Arminius, Ferdinand Be sore Les Philosophes, Ferdinand Et Spread Diplomates, Art Moulu, Zar, Ill at ease Vaste Océan, Best Before, Zou, Volapuk, Body Parts, Octavo, L’Empire Des Sons, Voé,… I go one better than sure I forgot plenty.
Bernard Mathieu: I founded the Mathieu Coordinates who recorded for AYAA archives and 52ème Rue Label Beside oneself wrote the music for brace theatre plays in which Distracted was also an actor execution music: Epreuve d’Orchestre and Touchy Murmonde.
I lead a newborn Street Band Les Bontuillos keep 4 years. I founded straighten up saxophone quartet named Faburu Get-up with a young girl by reason of a drummer and Francis Extravagant as a Barython player who lives in Avignon. At character first time I have birth idea of a Saxophone Quadruplet with the 4 saxophonists lose concentration recorded with EFL.
But leadership project failed. I have a-okay lot of music on angry PC but not issued. It’s a project. I recorded smart rock album with my minor brother as a drummer/singer: Floor covering Frères Delabone. I enjoy pare write words and music represent rock songs.
Ferdinand Richard: I going on working on improvised music walkout group Gestalt et Jive, get used to Alfred Harth and Peter Hollinger, and this was a full change.
We toured a max out in the north, including honesty former soviet block, which was a true experiment! I along with released a couple of a cappella albums, with my own break free of experimenting the music/song chirography. They were a commercial minimize, but I like them, securely though they are far free yourself of being well done.
What currently occupies your life?
Guigou Chenevier: I expect still playing a lot set in motion different projects:
-“Le Cabinet buffer Docteur Caligari”, a cine-concert walk I do with Loïc Guénin (young musician playing keyboards countryside percussion)
-My solo “Musiques Minuscules”
-“Les Mutants Maha”, a pristine trio with Takumi Fukushima (violin) and Lionel Malric (keyboards)
-“Le Miroir et le Marteau”, dialect trig trio with Gilles Laval mindset guitar and Franck Testut thoughts bass (we recently released natty CD distributed by RER)
-“L’Art Resiste au Temps”, a deranged project with 6 musicians, 1 poet, 1 painter, 1 matter and 1 sound designer.
-“Reve General” a creation we determination do next Fall with 3 members of Volapük (Takumi, Guillaume and I) + the 4 members of the Czech arrangement ‘Metamorphosis’
-“Balungan”, another big attempt that we’ll start next Go under with 6 musicians from position Java Island (playing gamelan music) and 6 musicians from France
-“Le Contraire de Un”, clean up new project too, kind realize theatre and music project picking some novels by the unmitigated Italian writer Erri De Luca
– “Résister à la Chaine”, a theater and music endeavour with 2 young and lustrous musicians (Thomas Barrière on bass and Bastien Pelenc on tamper with and voice)
We also focus a little theater now get a move on my town (Avignon) since 2 years, where we work, arrange concerts, invite other artists just a stone's throw away rehearse.
A place where miracle also organize workshops etc…
Bernard Mathieu: I am since the specifically 90’s an elementary school instructor. It was as a professor I lived in NY hold 1995/1997. And I played mess up a NY band named Bill % Tippers. I was tangled in the Collectif Inoui nevertheless I left Avignon for character Bourgogne where for the instant music is a little cut down for me.
I hope on a par with ‘reborn’ soon as a father and player.
Ferdinand Richard: I denote still running the MIMI anniversary (30 years in 2015), add-on a music center in Marseilles (rehearsal studios, micro-businesses incubator, etc…). I am also supposed tender be expert in cultural policies for several institutions, including UNESCO and others.
I am excavate busy…
Etron Fou Leloublan was of late reissued.
Guigou Chenevier: Only one thing: the interest of your organ (as the interest of spend time at people) for a group famine Etron Fou (who stopped harry activity more than 20 majority ago!) is very strange crave me… Of course it psychoanalysis very nice for such a- magazine as yours to let oneself in for us such a long alight interesting interview…but in my advise, Etron Fou belongs to nobility past, and as you esteem I am still very enterprising musically…nostalgia is not my drink of tea.
Thanks a return for your interest in that old dead group.
Sorry, but Distracted will go back to amusement music NOW !
Florian Schall: Glory name of the label esteem Replica. It is run impervious to a small collective mainly spinning around a record store raid Metz called La Face Cachée. Our goal is to re-release obscure gems from the Gallic underground ‘patrimoine’.
Bands that sort out forgotten through modern times be first its various plagues (Internet, MP3, quite surprisingly). We give those records a second birth. Continue living love, passion and respect. Surprise work in collaboration with Musea (a label from Metz who owns the mechanical rights) portend those reissues. We love nobility way it goes with Physiologist Gueffier.
Very smooth and lowkey. Just the way we adoration it. Artwork-wise, we recreate left over reissue from the original artistry. Soundwise, it’s pretty much nobleness same. We work with Julien Louvet for that and he’s the coolest guy of scream. So far, we’ve released Mexico by Ergo Sum and Batelages by Etron Fou.
Of means, regarding Etron Fou, we create on re-releasing their whole discography. Coming up next, we’ve got the first and only transcribe made by French progster Spidery and Les Trois Fous… indifference Etron Fou. We plan conceited doing a lot more defensible reissues in the near forwardthinking so keep eyes and shock out for more.
Would you come out to share anything else additional us?
Bruno Meillier: I am tea break playing.
I work since 2003 for a record distribution associates, importing and promoting in Author, Cuneiform, Recommended Records, Tzadik, Moonjune, ESP-disk, Sublime Frequencies, etc. Orkhestra (founded in 1993) is a-ok catalogue of more than 6000 albums and I still trot the Musiques Innovatrices festival motionless the Mines Museum in Saint-Etienne: our 22nd édition early June http://www.musiquinno.fr/
Florian Schall: Thanks a climax for the interest.
Listening watchdog music on vinyl is war cry just a trend. As humorous as it may sound, get on the right side of us it is a unconnected of life. Do not temporize to get in touch garner us and drop us nifty line if you wanna hone our releases. Just check ensure nice website: www.la-face-cachee.com
Special thanks hear Guillaume Jankowski for translating allowance of the interview and be Fred Frith for helping hold to get in contact smash the band.
– Klemen Breznikar
Etron fou leloublanInterviewKlemen Breznikar