Thanks so much to Nicolas Glorion for the interview! Les Enfants Terribles, from Tours, France, released a single and an album on Midnight Music just about when the 80s were ending and the 90s starting. Interestingly enough their music wasn’t released on French labels but on Midnight Music from the UK. They wrote superb guitar pop tunes, catchy and exciting, and deserved to be much bigger. If you haven’t heard them before, now it is a good time to fix that! Hope you enjoy the interview!
++ Hi Nicolas! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Still based in Tours? Still making music?
Actually, I am living most of the time near Orleans, important city in the center of France, and still playing music with Xavier, this is « Les Enfants Terribles » 2018 style…we’ll probably talk about it more, later…
++ Are you still aware of the guitar pop scene in France these days? Is there anything lately that have caught your ear? What would you say are the top 5 French guitar pop bands ever for you? And where in a ranking would you put Les Enfants Terribles?
Over all the bands definitely ! (hahaha)…well, actually in France, the bands which interest our ears are not numerous….but the most important ones are influenced by American and English music ;
Rodolphe Burger, The Liminanas, Feu Chatterton, Narrow Terrence, Bertrand Cantat (with DETROIT), Cats on Trees, The Inspector Cluzo….
that’s the bands of the moment…..about the 5 ever ones….brrr….difficult, well, personally, I must confess that I have been very touched and amazed by NOIR DESIR, OBERKAMPF, ORCHESTRE ROUGE & TAXI GIRL…..I have other ones, of course, but those ones, I still listened to them…..
++ Let’s start from the beginning. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?
In the beginning of the seventies, we had TV program almost the same as Top of the pops in England, but that was not the same bands than in UK..(laughing….)
I remember precisely french bands as MARTIN CIRCUS & ANARCHIC SYSTEM…….and on the radio stations, there were « hit parades »…I don’t know why, but I remember precisely having heard PINK FLOYD’s « have a cigar »….I have a deep focus on this song….and also, variety music as ADRIANO CELENTANO, ADAMO, THE RUBETTES….ouaouh , with their hats and incredible look….many bands at this time were dressed the same way, as with a Uniform, I remember this very well….KRAFTWERK & DEVO did the same later….it was like gangs, see ? In the Walter Hill Movie « warriors »…everybody had the same uniform….I was wonderin’ why…..
about instrument ? My mum made the same « program » for us all (we were 6 brothers and sisters, I was the youngest) : Piano ! …the lessons were too « mechanical»….I have souvenir about it, piano has more leaded me to appreciate the « sound »…more than the practice of it…
++ I read some of you were before in Acid Brains? Care telling me a bit about this band?
Acid Brains is our birth……Another Country our adolescence, Les Enfants Terribles our adulthood…………….things can be evoked as simply as this !….at each step, something happened…..Xavier came in Another Country, and Les Enfants Terribles can be described as the transition from Larva to Chrysalis.
++ And what about the band Another Country? Is that why you named the Les Enfants Terribles album with that name?
Our engagement for albums contracts was linked with the « almost » obligation to have a « french named band »….we decided to choose « Les Enfants » as a wink to the English people knowing their consideration for Jean Cocteau….and we decided to name the album « Another Country » as our French public can understand this transition…..My opinion is that it was really not necessary….but that was almost the « sine qua non condition » for our engagement with Midnight Music Records…
++ Were any of you involved in any other bands?
No, not at all….Xavier & me just participated to a « one shot gig » in March 1986. It was « Avant Première » of Julian Temple’s movie « Absolute Beginners » with David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, Sade, Ray Davies, Robbie Coltrane…..the radio station who was organizing the evening asked Didier, our first manager with Jean Daniel, to add a surprise….a mixed band, interpreting 5/6 songs from the sixties, etc…we did it, with other guys from 2 other bands…played « Ziggy Stardust », « you really got me », « honky tonk women », etc….really good fun…that was kinda first experience singing for me…..
++ Were you all originally from Tours?
Yes, Tours and its suburbs
++ How was your city at the time? Were there any bands that you liked? What were the good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?
Tours was an asleep, sanitized and almost « under control » city….because of the Mayor, a very conservative man..(watch on Wiki, his name was Jean Royer, stark and dour man, very famous about his law about Censorship in France 1975…..). There were some bars, and concert places, but during the eighties, some of them were closing, it was not so easy to play gigs….and also, it became as a prejudice for the bands to play several times in the same perimeter too often…..
People from Tours were not in the state of mind to see the same band 4 times in 2 months…..question of mentality, education…..Tours is not, very simply a « rock’n’roll city »…see what I mean ? Not as RENNES or LILLE…..Paris is another story….
++ When and how did the band start? How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?
Olivier & Antoine (Drummer and guitarist) were in same lyceum…they started to play for fun in September 1984….I was working on a radio station with Jean Daniel who was studying at the University with Sophie, Olivier’s sister ; Jean Daniel told me one day that, Olivier has told her sister to ask Jean Daniel if he knew a bass player….I was at that time, playing the Bass at home, I just was loving it, but not playing in a band….Jean Daniel gave me the info, and one Wednesday afternoon, I came to Olivier’s house, and met him and Antoine, and we started playin’..Mid April 1985, Acid Brains was born…..we played our first gig on « Music’s day » 21th June 1985, Us 3 and Jean Daniel on Keyboards, who starting then , managing us , but no more playing, he was very busy with University…..what a gig…..it was the improbable meeting of Jesus & Mary Chain with Pink Floyd….so much noise…..it was fun, and we were totally free in what we’ve been doin’…crisis of laugh all night long…..
++ Were there any lineup changes?
Xavier joined the band in January 1986, then, we became gradually better in our way to write songs, that was very sensible in our evolution, Xavier brought its fineness and delicacy……Emmanuel was the singer until early 1987….and we decided to fire him….more because he was mostly « strangling the cat » than singing, than for his attitude, and his treason….we also were very attentive to the comments of our friends, and fans too….. : they told us after gigs : music is good, but « there is a problem with the singer »….we also couldn’t stay deaf to those critics longer….and so, it happened ….
++ What’s the story behind the name Les Enfants Terribles?
As I mentioned it before : just a change to be in the views and perspectives of Nick Ralph, Midnight’s music boss, he wanted us to be « French » in our name, to signify that we were a French band with French identity, etc…..He asked us during the recording of the album to « start thinking about writing songs in French »…………we did before our split, one song ! Called « En Couleurs »……an unreleased one…..I don’t ever saw the point with this desire to hear us singing in French…..we have french authors, singers…..ok, but the history of pop/rock music is universal….I have heard recently a Turkish band playing rock and singing in their language, with the add of traditional instruments, their culture…it was perfect ! Because they have assimilated the story of rock music, coming from United States and England….this is it, as Baseball is born in America, and Rugby in England….
++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?
The Ideas were coming from all of us, periodically, with main influences from Guitarists, which were working very much together…it was so important this work of cohesion between Xavier & Antoine….almost as a second type of work in the process of writing songs : them 2, Us 4….
++ You were around in the late 80s, but whoever listens to your music might categorize you as a C86 band even though you were from France. What do you think of that term? Do you like it? Were you fan of the bands from this period?
Every time you write a note of music, you can be criticised….history as taught us that we were all coming from somewhere …..necessarily, you have influences…. in music as in literature or science, etc….The « C86 » format is another « crea-invention » of people who absolutely need to put you in a case..because if they don’t, they will feel lost, without repairs…….and that’s it…..some bands classified as it ? Well, I used to like The Bodines and The Mighty Lemon Drops….but there’s a problem : Mighty lemon drops were sounding so much like Echo & The Bunnymen that it becomes difficult to put them on a case !!!!!!!
I used to like them, and I still do…that’s music…..
++ And who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?
You mean sound of bands influencing us ? The Chameleons, The Bunnymen, definitely, we reclaim it, and we will always….The Chameleons could have been bigger than U2 and Simple Minds at this period….I will always wonder why The Chameleons haven’t had access to a great great public….it’s almost a mystery not to understand the beauty, the cleverness of their music…..a complete mystery….Easterhouse also….could have been bigger than all bands in UK at this time….. »Contenders » their first album is as the Bible for me, same as The Clash albums….everything is inside it….everything…..
++ Something that is definitely uncommon and cool about you is that your music was released by an English label, Midnight Music. It wasn’t normal for that to happen at the time. How did you end up working with Midnight Music?
I don’t know everything about this story…..We signed a contract meaning 5 albums during 5 years…it never happened….We have been told that, Nick Ralph, the English boss of Midnight Music records wanted to have as an originality, a french band on his label…….also, the french label manager Fred Delahaye was very much insisting, as I have been told too, as we were signed on the french part of the label (Midnight Music France)…..at the end, the promotion, marketing of the album has been a total disaster, because it has been released in french shops almost at the same time as the band was splitting… !!! I finally , and personally don’t know what happened really…also, our manager (Philipp), after having been working on the band in the first years, was strangely working very much, since the recording of the album, to have a definite job inside Midnight Music Structure… ! And he had it , then 2 years later moved to Geffen Records…..it seems, logically, that, managing the band had been a perfect launching pad for his professional career…….
++ And how was your relationship with them? Did you ever meet them? Travel to the UK? or them to France?
Fred and Yohel , the french managers from Midnight France were kind guys…..but what we know about their relations with Nick Ralph about us, was reported by Philippe…..so, it was troubled, strange….some news were hunting the previous ones….it was difficult to know what was happening….
++ Were there any prior recordings, perhaps demo tapes, to the “Paths of Glory” single? Or were these your first recordings?
In March 1986, we did a 7 tracks live session filmed in Rehearsal by Jean Daniel ; later ,
I converted it in MP3 format….all songs are from Another Country period, wit Emmanuel on vocals…..never released on other format….
In April 1986, we released a 100 copies tape with 3 track studio on A” side (mistakes-killing time-bobby’s gone), and 4 tracks live on B side, limited edition…all copies have been sold….I don’t have it anymore….
In August 1987, we went to London, and recorded a 4 track e.p that was supposed to be financed and sold in auto-production way, but we printed only 50 copies in Vinyl format, the first contacts with Midnight music were beginning, and so, we didn’t go forward. The project was to print 1000 copies, and to sale it by our own way….
++ This record came in both 7″ and 12″ formats. That means the label was really trusting in you. How did that work out? And what format do you prefer personally, 7″ or 12″?
the label did the same work for all the bands, the 7”inch only A side format was an interesting idea, with unique European price : 10 Francs, 1 Sterling pound & 3 Deutsche Marks….this is obsolete now with Euro money…hahaha….so , it was not a good marketing idea……
I have so many 7 inches….I like this format, as a little pearl….12” format is cool too…it’s the main place to listen to the unreleased tracks, live versions and covers….that was the good times rolling…..
++ I’ve always been curious about the photo on the cover, where was it taken from?
Path of Glory cover ? It’s Burt Lancaster in Robert Siodmak’s movie « the Killers »…photo has been taken at the moment of the impact of the chair in the window…..that’s the story of the cliché as I have read it…I just liked it so much……we chose with great enthusiasm…
++ How different was recording the album compared to the single? What do you remember from the recording sessions in London? Where did you stay? Were they short and easy or the opposite? What sort of drinks and food was consumed during those days?
We were at the Hotel, near Euston station, the English food was absolutely disgusting, we deciding to be on a fish ans ships mode, with some beers, sugar drinks….it’s interesting question, we normally should have a lot of souvenirs about the recording, but finally not ; what I remember most, is that we were feeling the time passing very slowly….a very big wait…..I was waiting Olivier to finish his « take »…..had to wait because he had to do it again, etc…..it’s same as it seems for the actors making a movie : they are on the location 10 hours every day, but they play their role only 20 minutes…………a huge Wait this recording……………..
++ The selection of photography for your work is really cool. I’m also curious about the photograph on the album cover, where did you got that from?
Philippe selected it from Life Magazine in the 50’s…I think it’s Arizona desert with young Mexican kids playing with guns.
++ Some songs from the single are included in the album, were these rerecorded?
No, it’s the same recording….one format we didn’t had is CD single….too costly….pity, because on Vinyl version, there is one track which will not be released on CD, « My reddened face »….I like this track very much..
++ As far as I know you only appeared on a compilation called “Contresens” that was put together by FNAC. It is a superb one, with the best bands of the period. How did that compilation happen, do you remember? Was there a presentation gig perhaps too?
Les Inrockuptibles were the new magazine in Mid 80’s, and they decided to do something for Rock scene in France, on the same model as NME , melody Maker and Sounds who have provided so many free singles, e.p, etc…..So, they wanted to do one of the first compilation about the french alternative Pop-Rock scene and they did it successfully I think….Principle is cool and simple as ever, 2/3 great names, and a dozen of new bands, starting to be reknown not only in their cities, but in all the country….Headliners were GAMINE & ETIENNA DAHO, very famous french singer who worked with American band THE COMATEENS….alos there was a band named SHREDDED HERMINES, believe it or not…they were about to be very great, sounding as R.E.M….really great band …I don’t know about them since a long time…pity…
No gigs presentation, but good promo in the musical press….it participated to give credibility french music abroad….particularly in England, but also in Belgium, Germany, Holland, etc……
++ Did you appear on any other compilations?
Yes , one about the city of Tours, with only bands from the city…it’s called « 25 years of rock in Tours »
++ And are there any remaining unreleased songs by the band?
Of course ! From Another Country’s period, at least 10 songs, and from Les Enfants Terribles’s period, we have 12 songs and the 2 covers we used to play (The Who & Jesus and Mary Chain)….
++ I have many favourite songs, but I will pick one in the hope you can tell me the story behind, what inspired it. Care telling me in a few sentences what’s the story behind “In a Room like Yours”?
I cannot , sorry ! Because the lyrics have been written by Emmanuel, and it’s very personal as it seems…we’ve talked about it one time, it was I think, about a place which changes the way you see, live life….I liked the rhymes, the way it was written….i decided to change nothing singing it after Emmanuel did it so many times…..the faces , the bodies, the moon……those words means many for me…Emmanuel and I are very different….I have the weakness to think that, he would have never behave the way he did if he hadn’t be 20 years old….. we all change with time…..I think he did…..but in 1987…..
++ If you were to choose your favourite Les Enfants Terribles’ song, which one would that be and why?
Ex Aequo , Bobby’s Gone & Koubla Khan….the first one has many qualities I think, and also, it’s our part of engagement in this horrible conflict in Northern Ireland which have lasted more than 80 years…the abomination of what « men » can do to other « men »…this is one of the darkest sides of UK, and there is so many……Koubla Khan had all the potential to be a very strong song if we could have been lucky to play it more often….heavy, loud and melodic….I have been very concerned and amazed about Orson Welles’s « citizen Kane », and the story of William Randolph Hearst…..
++ I mentioned the album and the single, am I missing any other release by the band? Any demo tapes?
The first one, from March 1986 only.
++ And why do you think you didn’t get to release more records? And how come there were no French releases by the band? That’s quite strange, isn’t it?
The band just split in 1990 after a terrible gig….the releases no more preoccupied any of us..
++ Was there ever interest by other music labels? Perhaps big ones?
What is funny, rather than strange is that, most of the french labels didn’t wanted to sign us because we were singing in English, and our style of music was too much English too…so when Midnight Music’s opportunity came on, we did it, and by the way, it was a kind of pride, because with our style of music, we were feeling good in this situation…..we had also the opportunity to have edition contract with Island Records, but it didn’t happened.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many? What was the farthest you played from your town?
We didn’t play thousands gigs….. but the choice we did was both simple and ambitious ;
being guests for the English/American bands on tour in France, and so it deserved to the french public to discover us, when they came to see and hear this kind of music….
++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?
With all bands we have played with, contact has been wonderful…some talkings, drinks, etc….it’s a great luck for us, we have learned so much, and be so lucky to play with The Woodentops, TV Personalities, The Wild Swans, 10 000 Maniacs, And Also The Trees, The Beloved, Miss Be Heaven, …anecdotes ? ….hmmm….I would say that I have felt sympathy and respect from English and American musicians….considering us as a kind tiny french band….
++ When and why did the Les Enfants Terribles split? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?
March 1990, the last gig was in Beaune….the concert has been awful….we had a session drummer this time, he has « scuttled » the gig….we don’t know why….anyway, this became the end of 5 years that I will never forget, but something ended….
++ What about the rest of the band, had they been in other bands?
Yes, Antoine wanted since a long time to play heavier kind of music…he entered a band named DISTANT WINTER, playing 5 strings bass, even harder than Lemmy from Motorhead…..hahaha…..it was a mix of Pearl Jam, White Zombie & Guns ‘n’ Roses….they released an album in 1996 if I remember well….Olivier has played with Emmanuel, the « Iscariot singer » we had until 1987….music was a copy/stick of The Apartments, The Smiths or even James….with Emmanuel as the « strangling cat leader »….hahaha…I prefer to laugh about this….
++ Has there ever been a reunion? Or talks of playing again together?
Since 2011, Xavier & I have been working together in a very irregular mode…until 2015, where we decided to take a drummer, and working tracks with a unique target : play a gig on 21st June 2016….just for pleasure, and then…we will see….
so, between January 2016 and June 2016, we had at least 20 rehearsals … and…..small « miracle » occurred, in April 2016………. Antoine called Xavier as he was coming from Paris to Tours, Xavier told him we were playing with Eric (the drummer)….Antoine came to our place, I said him ; « take the guitar, we’re going to play Bobby’s gone »…..he took one of the Guitar there, in the studio…..and we played it in one f*****ing and amazing shot…….
there is a recording of it…..26 years after our last gig, we were 3 of the original band, with Eric on drums….it’s a true story….and it happened only one time….Xavier and me have …..diplomatically approached Antoine to play again….but he does not want to play music anymore…that’s it…..
++ Did you get much attention from the radio?
In Tours, yes, In Paris too when « path of glory » was released….we had a « rotation » on some indie Radio-stations….but the influence and power of the radios is totally insignificant in France, compared to the American system….in Your country, Radio are like kings and Queens…(that’s my opinion particularly when I look and listen for example, the work done by a radio like KEXP in Seattle)………………..and it’s wonderful, really…..pity that our country doesn’t work as yours…..
++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?
you must know that , Until 1985, in French press, there was not any weekly Musical Magazine…..later, « LES INROCKUPTIBLES » came….By the way, We had some articles….but not a lot…..globally, there were announcements for the gigs, but the articles were for the « big bands »……
++ What about from fanzines?
…..and logically, what was possible to read about local bands was essentially in Fanzines…there has been, and that was good, a real « fanzine explosion » around 1983, most about the alternative movements, punk Rock, Cold Wave, etc….we had some articles in some local fanzines where we had our gigs….but most of them were « dying » after some years of existence…..even sometimes after some months….it’s typically from France….
++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
Everyone in the band had its own sensibility, so, better it will be to ask individually about our feelings….
well, personally, I can say some things I have in my soul….Jean Daniel has been the connecting key with Oliver and Antoine, so it’s essential, and also he has worked to obtain us those precious guests appearances with bands, and to my opinion, the most « memorable one » is the gig we had with The Wild Swans in Tours….it was in our city, with our first fans, and with this band which is a huge part of Pop Music story in England….So, maybe this moment is a prodigious highlight in my soul….the biggest ? If I say « the biggest », I rank other ones down, and I don’t want it….we had many biggests highlights in our souls I think…..
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