BERURIER NOIR, CONCERTO POUR DETRAQUéS

Print
View full size

Bérurier Noir's second album.

More info

Here's something a little different for you folks today... Up on the slab is a classic record by French punk band Bérurier Noir, a dirty, politically charged cult band who formed in 1983. Though the band went through several lineup shifts throughout the 1980s, adding and detracting members, the rhythm section remained a cheap, driving drum machine, giving them a more thin and aggressive edge.

The band, who refused to make any sort of profit during their tenure, split in 1989, reforming in 2003 to release a DVD. Since then, the reactivated Bérurier Noir has played several shows in Europe, and released a brand new record in 2006.

This particular release is the band's second album, hailing from 1985. This version was released on CD just a year later, tacking on the Joyeux Merdier 12'' at the end, and kicking off with a previously re-recorded single version of early standout "Nada," the original which appears on their debut record, Macadam Massacre. It would be the fourth version the band had recorded. Here's the breakdown:

Bérurier Noir- Concerto Pour Detraqués LP/CD
1. Nada 84
2. Petit Agité
3. Vivre Libre Ou Mourir
4. Conte Cruel De La Jeunesse
5. Le Renard
6. Les Rebelles
7. Porcherie
8. Commando Pernod
9. Les Éléphants
10. Fils De...
11. Hélène Et Le Sang
12. Il Tua Son Petit Frère
13. La Mère Noël
14. J'Aime Pas La Soupe
15. Vive Le Feu
16. Salut À Toi

Bérurier noir is a French punk band formed in Paris in 1983 by Loran (guitar), François (vocals) and Dédé (drum machine). They called themselves "noir" (black) for the color of mourning (because their first concert was planned to be also their last) and for anarchy and "Bérurier" after the character from the novels of Frédéric Dard. Instead of being an end, the success of their first show inspired them to continue. A cult band, Bérurier Noir were loved by a generation of youth and feared by concert organisers for the riots that followed their shows.

On the one hand, Bérurier Noir's music was clearly derived from British punk rock as far as music and lyrics were concerned. Most of their songs were short, aggressive and usually based on a couple of basic power chords. Their lyrics reflected the typical concerns of punks such as the rejection of consumerism, politics and traditional social order and the anger felt by disaffected youth, tramps and outsiders in general. On the other, they added some interesting innovations. Their rhythm section consisted of a cheap drum machine, which became an essential and arguably endearing part of their sound. The frequent use of a saxophone as of the mid-eighties also set them apart from most other punk rock bands.

They would regularly appear on record sleeves and on stage wearing clown outfits, mock police uniforms or pig masks. Their shows were a unique and highly festive cross between a punk rock concert, a grotesque circus and an anarchist rally.

History and line-up

By 1985, the band had grown to include François Guillemot (vocals), Loran (guitar), Pascal kung fu (saxophone), Helno (backing vocals), Laul aka Bol (backing vocals), la grande Titi (backing vocals), la petite Titi (backing vocals).

By 1987: François Guillemot (vocals), Loran (guitar), Masto (saxophone), Helno (backing vocals), Laul aka Bol (backing vocals), la grande Titi (backing vocals), la petite Titi (backing vocals).

By 1989 : François Guillemot (vocals), Loran (guitar), Masto (saxophone), la petite Titi (backing vocals), Jojo (fire breather and backing vocals).

The band refused to make a profit and also to work. As a result, they lived precariously. In 1989, after three farewell concerts at the Paris Olympia, they disbanded. François later formed Molodoï and "François Béru et les Anges Déchus", Loran formed Ze6, Tromatism and later A.D. (Division de la horde).

On December 4, 2003, they reunited for the release of a DVD documenting their career. The concert took place in the context of the Transmusicales in Rennes. They have since played other concerts, in Quebec and in Belgium.

Partial discography

Nada (K7)

Ils veulent nous tuer (K7)

Meilleurs extraits des deux concerts a Paris (K7) (reedited between La bataille de Pali-Kao)

Macadam massacre (1984) - EP 10 titles

Concerto pour detraqués (1985) - LP 10 titles

L’Empereur Tomato Ketchup (Bondage Records) (1986)

Abracadaboum (1987) - LP 10 titles

Viêt-nam-Laos-Cambodge (1988) - EP 10 titles

Souvent fauché toujours marteau (1989) - 10 titles

Viva Bertaga (1990) - LP live du concert d'adieu 16 titles

Carnaval des agités (1995) - LP live 20 titles