Ludwig von 88 is a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 punk rock

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

 and alternative rock

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band mostly active in the 1980s and 1990s, and which gained an important success in the underground scene of its country. The band has not released any new material since 2001, but has not disbanded and is thus officially still active. Their music is quite similar to that of influent French punks Bérurier Noir

Bérurier Noir

Bérurier noir is a French punk band formed in Paris in 1983 by Loran , François and Dédé . They called themselves "noir" for the color of mourning and for anarchy and "Bérurier" after the character from the novels of Frédéric Dard...

: two-fingered and distorted guitar chords and drum machine

Drum machine

A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...

 as a drummer. Their lyrics evolved along their career from nonsensical and often juvenile humour to something more serious and sometimes social and political.

The band had different line-ups, among which the most famous from the late 80’s featured Karim Berrouka on vocals, Nobru (real name Bruno Garcia, his new pseudonym is Sergent Garcia) on guitars, Laurent and then Charlu on bass, and Jean-Mi on programming.

They made their reputation through endless and delirious shows performed by disguised musicians. Among their notable stage clothing: cycling jerseys, diving suits, Mexican

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 ponchos and various funny headgear.

Some of their songs are satires on stars like Louison Bobet

Louison Bobet

Louis 'Louison' Bobet was a French professional road racing cyclist. He was the first great French rider of the post-war period and the first rider to win the Tour de France in three successive years, from 1953 to 1955...

, Nicolae Ceauşescu

Nicolae Ceausescu

Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...

, Maria Callas

Maria Callas

Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...

, Jacques Chirac

Jacques Chirac

Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...

, Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster

Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....

or deal with more serious topics like war: "Libannais raides", "Hiroshima"; drugs: "Le Manège enchanté", "Kaliman"; and misery: "LSD for Ethiopie", "In the Ghettos" — always with irony.

Albums

• Houlala 1986
• Houlala II "la mission" 1987
• Ce jour heureux est plein d'allégresse 1990
• Tout pour le trash 1992
• 17 plombs pour péter les tubes 1994
• Prophètes et Nains de jardin 1996
• Houlala III "l'heureux tour" live, 1998
• La révolution n'est pas un dîner de gala 2001

Singles, 45 rpm, EP

• "Live?" 1985
• "Les trois petits keupons" 1987
• "Louison Bobet for ever" 1987
• "Guerrier Balubas" 1988
• "Sprint" 1988
• "Sardellen Filet" 1989
• "L.S.D. for Ethiopie (We Are The World)" 1990
• "New Orleans" 1991
• "In the Ghettos" 1993
• "TAMERANTONG" 1993
• "Hiroshima (50 ans d'inconscience)" 1995
• "Le crépuscule des fourbes" 1996
• "La sacrée grole" 1997
• "Ludwig von 88", live 1997
• "St-Valentin" 1998

Compilation albums

• De l'âge du trash à l'âge du zen 2004
• De l'âge de la crête à l'âge du bonze 2004