A French scene report,

Manu from Paris, France The movement quite disappeared by the end of the 90’s. But since 2000 the genre knows a strong revival through bands, associations, gigs, record labels… For instance, The Meteors were back in Paris this winter after about 10 years. 90’s famous band Banane Metalic are back on stage with a new record. So many bands are evolving again in a rather dynamic French scene bands featuring names like The Monster Klub, a psycho punkabilly band, that opened for the Meteors this year, Lucky Devils, opening for Batmobile in Paris, Tight Fitting Pants, a young combo from western France or Astro Zombies multiplying shows in France and abroad.

As many countries in the world the past five years would have been the time for rock music to sound again in France. Through oldies comebacks, through genre revivals and through the emerging of fresh new bands more or less inspired. However it is difficult to bridge the different underground scenes that are represented here at NYC Drop Dead festival. Indeed are the different part of the underground scene quite isolated here in France. The psychobilly scene

Even if psychobilly is a mix of many influences coming mostly from 60’s garage, rockabilly and punk, psychobilly fans have always been claiming being apart and been proud of it. But maybe what makes psychos different from punk is the link to the past and the rockabilly, hillbilly and rock'n'roll legacy that is highly claimed. Therefore, if punk was a break off with what was previously existing, psychobilly is not. So even if that musical genre and attitude came alongside the punk explosion the mixing with the punk audience has never been obvious.

The Lucky Devils © The Lucky Devils The case of the French bands Les Wampas, Washington Dead Cats and Happy Drivers illustrate this. Being first part of the psychobilly scene in France in the 80’s those three bands then evolved toward the French punk rock alternative scene. As soon as those were signed, they were considered as lost by the psychos because joining a politically involved scene etc.

Astro Zombies are nowadays about to be the most well known French band and already appeared in Callela meeting, Speyer festival, Satanic Stomp festival, etc.

Banane Metalik © psychopix-hell.com Always independent the psychobilly scene is never the less starting a strong bridging with the horror punk scene in Europe. Mostly under the leading of German label Fiend Force that recently made bands such as Mad Sin or Nekromantix appear on a famous This is Horror Punk compilation.

The Astro Zombies © The Astro Zombies

It aroused the creation of new bands, leaded by Parisians Violet Stigmata. Leaded by Nico, the project is born in the late 90’s. With inspiration from Christian Death to Madre del Vizio they magnificently carry on the inheritance of Neva. The band already released several albums on legendary French label Manic Depression. They propose a strong identity and a noticeable sound that made them famous far beyond the limits of France.

Psychobilly French label Pure and Proud signed Californian band Plan 9 and Astro Zombies are about to open a show for the latest line-up of The Misfits. But the gap still exists between communities. Between what could be described as the gothic part of the punk scene, namely batcave and deathrock, and the psychobilly scene everything has quite to be done. The audiences of several gigs this year confirmed that impression. And that’s a bit sad because the two scenes are almost in the same situation. Maybe the gothic rock scene is weaker, but not so far. Only psychobilly bands are older and more deeply established into their own scene.

The Monster Klub © The Monster Klub The gothic rock, deathrock & batcave scene.

The 80’s saw the emerging of many post punk, batcave and cold-wave bands in France. Many of them becoming quite legendary within the scene although none of those bands break through the scene to reach a rock star status like The Cure for instance. Only Indochine managed to win a large audience, far beyond the underground limits, but not far beyond the limits of France (they sing in French). Anyway some of those bands were really good and really contributed to the scene richness like Marquis de Sade already in early 1979, Les Tétines Noires, Clair Obscur, Trisomie 21, l’Orchestre Rouge, Ausweis, Norma Loy or Corpus Delicti. As for psychobilly, it was hard for gothic culture to compete with the specific French alternative punk scene that was much more successful.

Jacquy Bitch © Jeanne Saint-Julien The eighties brought a much more underground era. Although some bands continued to carry and support the spirit of the French gothic rock. Clair Obscur never stopped releasing records. Some new bands appeared like Land of Passions (today known under the name of Popoï Sdioh). At this time, legendary batcave French name Neva became the symbol of the surviving of the genre. Its leader, Jacquy Bitch nowadays continues a quite successful solo career. As the rest of the world, the gothic genre revival stroke France in the 2000’s, in the tracks of the “success” of mainstream dark music. So gothic was back, most of the time under a new metallic and electronic form that had not much to do with the roots of the genre. But this impulse together with the renewal of the rock’n’roll attitude (emo, indie rock) gave enough inspiration to see the gothic rock scene back from the dead.

Violet Stigmata © Violet Stigmata They gave sense again to French deathrock and gothic genre. Violet Stigmata are now followed by a bunch of fresh new combos like Trespass. They are one of the oldest of these French bands and in activity since 2000. After looking for a stable lineup and working on a sound of their own they nowadays begin winning people’s heart.

Trespass © Trespass

Sleeping Children, deathrock band from Paris emerged in 2002. The band made a quick break through and already appeared in many festivals in 2005. Deadchovsky, icon of the French batcave revival, knew an even quicker success. Promising bands start rising more and more such as Eat Your Make-Up, deathrock from Lyon, Joy Disaster a post punk trio with modern sound from Nancy, that will be appearing at the Undercover of Darkness festival 2005, Katzenjammer Kabarett and their deathrock cabaret sound or Zorch Factor a voodoo spooky inspired post punk band from Paris.

One can also notice the come-back on stage of several famous names like Wallenberg, already active in the 80’s and now back with a new album and a new lineup. Conclusion…

Deadchovsky © Jeanne Saint-Julien

Even if strongly established, these French underground scenes always know a lack of means. Record labels are rare and not strong enough to support all the scene. The public is involved but represents quite a few people. Still France does not have great events like festivals and it is not so easy to find places to play. So nothing to compare to United States or Germany. But people involved have the faith. And maybe that’s the price here to stay independent, proud and uncompromised. Manu, June 2005

Katzenjammer Kabarett Joy Disaster © Joy Disaster

© Jeanne Saint-Julien

Some French places…

Although its relative weakness the underground scene has some regular places to meet at. Les Caves Saint-Sabin near Bastille hosts DJ Nash’s and Blood Doll Society’s Bloody Bat parties since a couple of years. Those parties are among the best deathrock, batcave and gothic rock parties in France. Concerts also happens from time to time in this particular place. This original medieval cellar turned into a nightclub gives parties a special mood that really fits the music.

Les Caves Saint-Sabin before the crowd…

If there were one place and one party to discover in France. That would be here.

Since 2004 and thanks to the healthy impulse of the french label Manic Depression, parties and concerts started to be organized at Le Glaz’Art, an independent musical and art venue that opened its doors to the darkest side of the scene. The past monthes let us see on stage The Phantom Limbs, The Vanishing and Miguel and the Living Dead, supported by French local band. Three great gigs that maybe would have never exist without this place and the good work of the organization. Le Glaz’Art before the storm…