Bérurier Noir

Bérurier noir is a French punk band formed in Paris in 1983 by Laurent "Loran" Katrakazos (guitar), François Guillemot (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.

Bérurier Noir
Bérurier noir (2005)
Background information
OriginParis
GenresAlternative rock, Punk rock
Years active1983–1989
2003–2006
LabelsLast Call, Wagram Music
Websitehttp://beruriernoir.fr/
MembersFrançois
Loran
Masto
Laul

Music and image

On the one hand, Bérurier Noir's songs were 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 (but still more reliable than a drummer) drum machine, which became an essential and arguably endearing part of their sound. The frequent use of a saxophone as of the mid-1980s 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 (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 (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 (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 4 December 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 City (in front of more than 50,000 people[1]) and in Belgium.

Discography

Studio albums
  • Macadam massacre (1984)
  • Concerto pour détraqués (1985)
  • Abracadaboum (1987)
  • Souvent fauché, toujours marteau (1989)
  • Invisible (2006)

Live albums
  • Meilleurs extraits des deux concerts a Paris (1983)
  • Viva Bertaga (1990)
  • Carnaval des agités (1995)
  • La Bataille de Pali-Kao (1998)
  • Même pas mort (2003)
  • L'Opéra des Loups + Chants des meutes (2005)

Compilations
  • Enfoncez l'clown (2003)

Singles & EP
  • Nada/Gloco (1983) (split EP with band Guernica, Bérurier Noir contribute four songs)
  • Macadam massacre (1984)
  • Nada 84 (1984)
  • Nada Nada (1985) (stand-alone release of the Bérurier Noir side of the split single Nada/Gloco)
  • Joyeux merdier (1985)
  • L'Empereur Tomato Ketchup (1986)
  • Ils veulent nous tuer (1988)
  • Nuit Apache (1988)
  • Split Bérurier Noir/Haine Brigade (1988) (split single with band Haine Brigade, Bérurier Noir contribute the song Makhnovtchina)
  • Viêt Nam-Laos-Cambodge (1988)
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References
  1. (in French) Press release on www.beruriernoir.fr Archived 2010-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
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