Les Petits Chats

Les Petits Chats (Little Cats) was a well-known Egyptian rock band from Cairo that was formed in the 1960s. It was fronted by Sadek Gallini and Wagdi Francis. The group has an important place in the history of Egyptian rock music.

This article is about the rock band. For the film about this rock band, see Les Petits Chats (film).
Les Petits Chats
OriginCairo Egypt
GenresRock music, pop
Years active1967 - 1980s
LabelsSono Cairo
Past membersGeorge Lukas
Ezzat Abu Ouf
Hayssam El Shallah
Teymour Kouta
Wagdi Francis
Pino Phares
Sadek Gallini
Omar Khairat

Background

The group was founded by Wagdi Francis. He started off playing bass but then moved over to vocals.[1] Sadek Gallini also sang lead for the group.[2] It was formed in 1967, just after the Arab-Israeli war. Besides Francis, the other founding members were Abu Ouf, Omar Khairat, Beirge Andreassian and Freddy Risz.[3] They rivaled The Black Coats, a group that included Ismaiel El Hakeem, who is the son of Tawfiq al-Hakim, the famous Egyptian writer. In addition to their own country, they also toured other countries which included Syria and Lebanon. They also had a massive cult following and were a visible part of the modern Egyptian culture.[4][5]

Career

1960s to 1970s

In 1971, Sadek Gallini and the group, The Cats had a single released on the Sono Cairo label, "La La Means I Love You" bw "With A Little Help From My Friends".[6][7][8] Omar Khairat left Les Petits Chats that year. He pursued his own direction which included composing music for the cinema industry and also television.[9]

1980s to 2000s

The group stopped performing in the 1980s but made a comeback in 2009.[10]

Later years

The group reunited in 2016.[11]

Founding member Wagdi Francis died on 12 April 2017.[12] According to Egypt Today, the band was to perform on October 20 with an orchestra at Cairo Opera House in his memory.[13] The line-up in October was Sobhy Bedeer and Sadek Keleeny on vocals, Ezzat Abu Ouf on keyboard, Pino Phares on guitar. The new members playing with the group were maestro Nayer Nagui, and bassist Deyaa Badr.[14]

Film

In early October 2015, a trailer for the documentary Les Petits Chats was posted online. In a week, it attracted 60,000 views. According to Cairo Scene, film would take a closer look into the lives of the band members around the time of their popularity as well as prior to and post that period. Also to be looked at was the line up changes that took place over the years before. Cairo Scene also mentioned that the film was to premiere at the Arabian Sights Film Festival in Washington DC on 16 and 17 October.[15]

It was announced in the July 20, 2017 issue of The National that the 2015 film about the band which was directed by Sherif Nakhla was to be screened at Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed on Saturday 5 August.[16] Nakhla is the step-son of one of the band members.[17]

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References
  1. ahramonline, Thursday 13 Apr 2017 - Egyptian musician Wagdi Francis, founder of Les Petits Chats band, dies
  2. Hebdo Al-Ahram, 08-02-2017 - Sadek Gallini : Le chat botté du rock égyptien - Amr Zoheiry
  3. The National, February 25, 2016 - Music review: Why a cover band, Les Petits Chats, rocked Cairo in the 1960s and 1970s Maha El Nabawi
  4. Cairo Scene, 16/10/2015 - 'Les Petits Chats': A Film by Sherif Nakhla on Egypt's Legendary 60s Band
  5. Egypt Today, Tue, Oct. 17, 2017 - Les Petits Chats brings back the 70s
  6. Discogs - The Cats (9) – La La La Means I Love You
  7. Popsike - auction details > Very Rare Arabic Egyptian Funk 45 The Cats La La La Means I Love You 31-71363
  8. MusicStack - The Cats Discography - La La La Means I Love You
  9. Egypt Independent, May 25, 2010 - From kittens to cats: Les Petits Chats reunite on stage - Louise Sarant
  10. The National, February 25, 2016 - Music review: Why a cover band, Les Petits Chats, rocked Cairo in the 1960s and 1970s Maha El Nabawi
  11. Hebdo Al-Ahram, 08-02-2017 - Sadek Gallini : Le chat botté du rock égyptien - Amr Zoheiry
  12. ahramonline, Thursday 13 Apr 2017 - Egyptian musician Wagdi Francis, founder of Les Petits Chats band, dies
  13. Egypt Today, Thu, Sep. 28, 2017 - Les Petits Chats to perform at Cairo Opera House
  14. Egypt Today, Tue, Oct. 17, 2017 - Les Petits Chats brings back the 70s
  15. Cairo Scene, 16/10/2015 - 'Les Petits Chats': A Film by Sherif Nakhla on Egypt's Legendary 60s Band
  16. The National, July 20, 2017 - WATCH: Warehouse421 to screen three free films at Mina Zayed
  17. Midwest Films - Les Petits Chats, Filmmaker Statement
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