Montbéliard is a town in the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France, about 13 km from the border with Switzerland.
Named after the famous French poet, the band Charles Baudelaire hailed from the small town of Montbéliard. To be honest, it is the first time I hear about this town. I look at the map and I see it close to Sochaux. I remember a football team from that town. It is an area of France I’ve never been. Of course I’d love to visit someday.
It is the mid 80s when the band is formed. I know that by 1984 the band was already playing. I believe they started as post-punk band and little by little evolved to a more indie sound. That’s what I think after listening to the tracks available on their Soundcloud.
The recordings here come from different places. For example “Dead or Alive” is from a radio show called “Jean’s” on FR3 Besançon.
There are details, not too many for each of the songs:
- “Follow Me” and “Jimmy” were recorded in 197 in Besançon with Patrick Zamboni as the drummer.
“It’s Always the Same” was recorded at the Data studio in Héricourt with Gilles (probably the engineer? producer?) - “Sahra” which was recorded at a studio in rue de la Madelaine in Besançon. Again with Patrick as the drummer, and Kléo on violin.
- “She Played the Violin” that was recorded by Lionel Hermani in the studio of Radio France Belfort.
- “Les Fleurs du Mal” titled after the famous poem by Baudelaire, on this track there is credits for Jocko as the bassist, Laurent on guitar and Patrick Zamboni on drums.
- “Again and Again” which was recorded live when the band supported The Woodentops in Besançon in December of 1986 I believe at a venue called Cinéma something,
Then there’s “You’re Crying Too Much” that has no details at all.
The band has a Facebook page. That is helpful for sure. At the very end there is a press clipping. There I learn that the vocalist and guitarist is Lionel Beuque. He also plays the synth. Elie Breuillot was the drummer. Jocko was the bassist as mentioned before. Laurent Seigneur was the second guitar.
In their page there is a video, an excerpt, from the “Jean’s” show from January 8, 1986, where they play live. There is even an older video, of the band playing the song “Annabel Lee” in 1984 at FR3 Franche-Comté radio.
The only other little bit of info is that the band played at least one gig in 1984 at Audincourt.
What else is there to know about the band? Anyone remembers them? Did they put out any records? Did they tour with The Woodentops? Did they play many gigs? Would be great to find out more.
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