Les Sans Culottes
Encyclopedia
Les Sans Culottes is a French language rock band from Brooklyn
, New York
. They perform original material as well as covers of French rock songs and French-language reworkings of some classic American rock songs. Their name is a reference to the citizen soldiers
of the French Revolution
.
music of the 1960s, particularly artists such as Serge Gainsbourg
, Françoise Hardy
, France Gall
, Jacques Dutronc
and Nino Ferrer
. The band made its debut in April 1998, at Freddy's Back Room, a neighborhood bar in Prospect Heights
, Brooklyn. The original lineup was singer-frontman Ferrand, vocalists Kit Kat Le Noir and Gigi Soleil, drummer Albert Camembert, bassist Jean Luc Retard, keyboardist Beau Pantalons, and guitarist Luc Panatalons - aka Le Marquis!. Retard quit following this first show (only to return the following year), thus inaugurating a long list of over 25 lineup changes over the next ten years. Vocalists Ferrand and Kit Kat Le Noir are the only remaining original members.
In 2005, the band's guitarist and drummer attempted to start another French language band with some former members and others and to call themselves "Les Sans Culottes". The original group brought a trademark infringement claim in Federal Court in Manhattan which resulted in a court order barring the new group from using the name of the original group. The new group eventually reformed as Nous Non Plus.
In June 2008 Les Sans Culottes embarked on a 10-city US tour with The Detroit Cobras.
In July 2009 the band played its first ever shows in France, performing at La Feline and L'Opa Bastille in Paris and at the 18th annual F'Estival des Musiques d'ici et d'ailleurs in Châlons-en-Champagne.
In October 2009, bassist Francoise Hardly (aka Jeanaté) left the band to join The Detroit Cobras and was replaced by Sid Vichyssoise.
The band is currently at work on its seventh album.
Their song "Allo Allo - I love you" of the album "Fixation Orale" was selected as the background for Nexus S Ad (published on Dec 2010).
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. They perform original material as well as covers of French rock songs and French-language reworkings of some classic American rock songs. Their name is a reference to the citizen soldiers
Sans-culottes
In the French Revolution, the sans-culottes were the radical militants of the lower classes, typically urban laborers. Though ill-clad and ill-equipped, they made up the bulk of the Revolutionary army during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars...
of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
History
The band was formed in 1998 by Clermont Ferrand after he travelled to France and developed a deep interest in French pop and yé-yéYé-yé
Yé-yé was a style of pop music that emerged from France, Québec and Spain in the early 1960s. The term "yé-yé" derived from "yeah! yeah!" The style expanded worldwide, due to the success of figures such as the French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg....
music of the 1960s, particularly artists such as Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
, Françoise Hardy
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
, France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
, Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc is a French singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and actor. He has been married to singer Françoise Hardy since 30 March 1981 and the two have a son . He also has been a longtime songwriting collaborator with Jacques Lanzmann...
and Nino Ferrer
Nino Ferrer
Nino Ferrer was a famous French – Italian singer, actor and jazz musician.- From prehistory to jazz :...
. The band made its debut in April 1998, at Freddy's Back Room, a neighborhood bar in Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Prospect Heights is a neighborhood in the northwest of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The traditional boundaries are Flatbush Avenue to the west, Atlantic Avenue to the north, Eastern Parkway to the south, and Washington Avenue to the east...
, Brooklyn. The original lineup was singer-frontman Ferrand, vocalists Kit Kat Le Noir and Gigi Soleil, drummer Albert Camembert, bassist Jean Luc Retard, keyboardist Beau Pantalons, and guitarist Luc Panatalons - aka Le Marquis!. Retard quit following this first show (only to return the following year), thus inaugurating a long list of over 25 lineup changes over the next ten years. Vocalists Ferrand and Kit Kat Le Noir are the only remaining original members.
In 2005, the band's guitarist and drummer attempted to start another French language band with some former members and others and to call themselves "Les Sans Culottes". The original group brought a trademark infringement claim in Federal Court in Manhattan which resulted in a court order barring the new group from using the name of the original group. The new group eventually reformed as Nous Non Plus.
Nous Non Plus
Nous Non Plus ' is a faux-french indie rock band based out of New York City. The band consists of Céline Dijon , Jean-Luc Retard , Bonnie Day , Cal d'Hommage , Professeur Harry Covert , Morris "Mars" Chevrolet , and François Hardonne...
In June 2008 Les Sans Culottes embarked on a 10-city US tour with The Detroit Cobras.
In July 2009 the band played its first ever shows in France, performing at La Feline and L'Opa Bastille in Paris and at the 18th annual F'Estival des Musiques d'ici et d'ailleurs in Châlons-en-Champagne.
In October 2009, bassist Francoise Hardly (aka Jeanaté) left the band to join The Detroit Cobras and was replaced by Sid Vichyssoise.
The band is currently at work on its seventh album.
Their song "Allo Allo - I love you" of the album "Fixation Orale" was selected as the background for Nexus S Ad (published on Dec 2010).
Albums
- "Les Sans Culottes" (1999, Escargot-Go Records)
- "The Ennui and the Ecstasy" (2001, Escargot-Go Records)
- "Faux Realism" (2002, Aeronaut)
- "Full Frontal Crudité- Live in Paris" (2003, Digital Club Network)
- "Fixation Orale" (2004, Aeronaut)
- "Le Weekender" (2007, Vibratone Records)