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Tapage *

Tapage

      TAPAGE { aka Tapage Nocture } is, since 1984, french alternative press doodler (Kanaï, On A Faim, Le Démoniaque, Alerte Rouge, Kakofony, SDF, Opus Incertum, Est∼Ce Bien Raisonnable?, Guérilla Urbaine, Violence, Desseins, Noir & Rouge, Réflexes, Viandox…) with or without his favorite character Peutit Keupon ; Also a montage∼collage creator in various vinyl & graphic productions (Haine Brigade, Bérurier Noir, Kochise, Les Kamioneurs du Suicide, Raymonde & les Blancs Becs, Cartouche, etc.) ; and of course arghtivist of Lyon eighborhood, passing through Ménilmontant & Montreuil (East town & suburbs of Paris) → Keep aware & awake…

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NOMEANSNO *

NoMeansNo

      NOMEANSNO → In 1979 (at age 25), Rob Wright returned to his family’s home in Victoria after studying in Calgary. John, Rob’s younger brother by eight years, played drums in the school jazz band, and the two were inspired to play punk∼rock after seeing D.O.A. perform at the University of Victoria.
They began rehearsing in their parents’ basement, and took the name Nomeansno from an anti∼date rape slogan on a graffitied wall.
NoMeansNo recorded its earliest material in the months that followed on a TASCAM four∼track recorder, with Rob playing electric guitar & bass, John playing keyboards & drums, and both brothers singing. Some of these recordings were issued as their first two self∼released 7”s, the “Look, Here Come the Wormies / SS Social Service” single (a 1980 split with Mass Appeal, whose recording lineup featured both Wright Brothers), and the “Betrayal, Fear, Anger, Hatred” EP of 1981. Year when the brothers began performing live as a bass&drums duo. Some songs they were playing at the time were included on their debut album “Mama” self∼released in 1982. That same year, John played with the local band Infamous Scientists, that disbanded in 1983, and their guitarist & vocalist Andy Kerr joined NoMeansNo few months later. The “You Kill Me” EP (published in 1985 on Undergrowth Records) confirmed the power∼trio formula and their second album —and first with Andy Kerr— “Sex Mad” (initially edited on 1986 by Psyché Industry Records) further expanded the band’s experimental progressive punk darkest sound. In 1988, the trio signed with Alternative Tentacles and issued two releases recorded with producer Cecil English : “The Day Everything Became Nothing” (EP) & “Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed” (LP). The tours began to follow & grow one another…

• 1989, pivotal year, see the release of the album that would propel them into the upper international underground spheres → “Wrong” !!! Their extensive touring in support of the record is documented on the “Live+Cuddly” album, recorded in Holland in 1990. The 3 compadres no longer needed to do odd jobs on the side, while remaining totally independent and out of the commercial circuits…

• In 1991, NMN released a collaborative LP with Jello Biafra “The Sky Is Falling and I Want My Mommy”. Shortly thereafter, they issued “0 + 2 = 1”, their fifth album and final release with Andy Kerr whom emigrated to the Netherlands. He went on to release two LPs with Hissanol (a collaboration with Scott Henderson of Shovelhed). He subsequently released a solo album in 1997 before forming the duo Two Pin Din with Wilf Plum of Dog Faced Hermans in 2005…

• The Wright brothers focused on their side project → The Hanson Brothers. Rob began performing solo as Mr. Wrong, appearing as a character dressed as an authoritarian priest. John became a member of D.O.A. for several years. The brothers also continued to expand Wrong Records, their own imprint. In 1993, the siblings assembled material for a sixth Nomeansno LP and recorded “Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?” as a duo…

>>> It was at this exact time that the compilation Mr. Right & Mr. Wrong “One Down and Two to Go” was released → That now ! a N G R r ! just repress in a special double∼vinyls version∼expansion in 2027 <<<

• Tom Holliston joined NMN for touring in support of «Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?», and second drummer Ken Kempster joined later in 1993 to complete their first four∼piece lineup. Kempster went on to tour sporadically with NOMEANSNO over the next four years.

•
Holliston & Kempster debuted on
“The Worldhood of the World (as Such)” in 1995. Then the eighth studio album (2xLP) “Dance of the Headless Bourgeoisie” in 1998. And in 2000, the band issued its final Alternative Tentacles album “One”. The band left the label of Jello Biafra in 2002 and began slowly reissuing their back catalogue through Wrong Records. NOMEANSNO continued touring extensively, but ultimately took six years to release their next & last tenth album “All Roads Lead to Ausfahrt” released in August 22, 2006 by the label AntAcidAudio…

• The band toured frequently in the years that followed, but ceased recording albums. They next released two EPs “Tour EP 1” (aka Old) & “Tour EP 2” (aka Jubilation). NoMeansNo continued performing live through 2013. Tom Holliston continued to perform with the Showbusiness Giants and release solo albums, while John Wright began working as musical director for the all∼robot rock band Compressorhead. In 2015, Nomeansno was inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame. They played an acoustic set at the awards ceremony, and a Ramones cover set (with Byron Slack on drums) on New Year’s Eve, which became their final public appearances. Holliston announced his departure from the band in August 2016. On September 24, John Wright announced the band’s official retiremente.

• Fall 2023, PM Press published the band’s authorized biography “NoMeansNo : From Obscurity to Oblivion : An Oral History”, written by radio host Jason Lamb. In 2023 John Wright’s solo project DEAD BOB issued the album “Life Like” and toured in its support with a live band featuring Ford Pier and other great friendly musicians… Since 2024, No Means No returned under the BATwings of Alternative Tentacles…

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M.K.B. *

Messageros Killers Boys

      The history of the MKB aka MESSAGEROS KILLERS BOYS is closely linked to that of the writer, poet, singer, publisher & director F.J. Ossang. A colorful character, the man adds the fusion of genres by using, for example, his band to write the music of his films… Didn’t  he start his adventures by creating his own publishing house Céeditions Tracks which he also used to release the first two albums of MKB Fraction Provisoire ?

• In a self∼proclaimed style of Noise’N’Roll, the men & woman (originally from Toulouse) flirt with an industrial music whose goalkeepers would be Punk & New Wave. Moving to Paris in 1982, FJ Ossang loses its south∼west partners but gains new friends in the persons of Lucrate Milk. So much so that their drummer (Gaboni) joined MKB and the two groups recorded a split album in 1984. It was not until 1986 that the “historic” crew found their way back to the capital and once again incorporated the group of their charismatic leader. And even after a dozen albums under his belt, the dark & tortured universe of the MESSAGEROS KILLERS BOYS remains as original as it is impenetrable : a true UMO (unidentified musical object) viceral, labial, sublethal, vital !

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LauL *

LauL

     Bass player of the ill∼in∼the∼head quartet Lucrate Milk, Then reinforcement of the duo provo Bérurier Noir, LAUL is as active on stage (clown, tightrope walker & backing vocalist, scenographer) as he does backstage with his markers. Record after record, badge after badge, he builds a unique visual identity for the most unhinged of frenchies alternative rock bands. He also lends his inspiration to the lowest bidders of this epic era : Ludwig Von 88, Les Endimanchés, Les Négresses Vertes, Les Nonnes Troppo and a few others will pass under his ferocious & funny pencil strokes. A bold line at the service of serious subjects…

• A clumsy juggler, an uncertain tightrope walker, a wobbly stilt walker, a grotesque acrobat, a tinnitus musician, or a twisted sculptor, depending on the part of the body that LauL wants to bump into, eh eh !

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Ivan Brun *

Ivan Brun

      Born on October 27, 1971, IVAN BRUN is a comic book creator, painter and musician. After studying at the École Nationale des Beaux∼Arts in Lyon between 1989 & 1994, he joined the collective Organic Comix, whose main activity is the production of giant comic∼strips during various cultural events. This practice led Ivan to develop a painting work between 1993 & 2000 ; For his exhibitions, he created the paintings in a limited time on recycled materials…

• Between 1994 & 2000, IVAN BRUN played & sang within hardcore∼punk combo COCHE BOMBA. At the same time, he published comic strips in various zines. He self∼published in 1996 in Lieux Communs, a collection of sequences delivering a sociological approach to urban planning and the population of the suburbs. In 2004 he released the comix album Otaku, speculative fiction made in collaboration with the screenwriter Lionel Tran. Then Les Éditions Tanibis edited the collection of short stories Lowlife. Since fall 2005, his silent stories were published in the monthly magazine L’Écho des Savanes. They were reunited in 2008 and 2010 in the albums No Comment and War Songs…

• Ivan Brun is a master of the narrative without words. He uncompromisingly shows the characters whose lives are limited to the satisfaction of the darkest instincts, as well as those who have been cornered by the dead∼end reality of the postmodern world. With fury and determination, he unveils the mechanisms that govern our world. He doesn’t play at hiding messages. He knows that we are perfectly aware of our situation, but that we prefer not to think about it. Some out of fear, others out of convenience. That’s why the author grabs us by the neck with one hand and punches us in the face with the other. He confronts us with the harsh reality of everyday life and gives us no absolution. Let everyone put their ideas in order and take a stand. Or not.

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F.J. Ossang *

F.J. Ossang

     Frédéric∼Jacques Ossang, alias F.J. OSSANG, arghtist’s name of Jacques Plougeaut, born august 7th 1956, is a french (global stateless) poet, writter, singer & film director…

• After a childhood in the Cantal (south center of france), he joined Toulouse in the mid∼1970s. In 1975, he began his arghtistic arghtivities, first writing very personal poetic texts and publishing a literary magazine, Cée (1977∼1979, co∼edition Christian Bourgois). He also creates the Céeditions which publish texts by Stanislas Rodanski, Claude Pélieu or Robert Cordier. At the same time, he created the punk band DDP («De la Destruction Pure»)…

• He left for Paris around 1980, where he studied cinema at IDHEC «I didn’t know what to do, so I tried the contest». His friends from Toulouse joined him to Paris, rebuilding MKB Fraction provisoire (also nicknamed Messageros Killers Boys) with Jack Belsen, Mr. Nasti & Gina Lola Benzina. Olivier Pronto Rushtonski arrived in 1986.
His cinetographic studies
(from 1982 to 1984) allowed him to make three films :
♥ a «leaflet∼film», La Dernière énigme (1982), 13∼minute short film in black&white → with multiple literary, political and cinematographic inspirations marked by quotation effects, among others : the situationnists, William S. Burroughs, Machiavel, Lénine…
♥
Zona inquinata or «Life is just a dirty cow∼boy story» (1983), 21∼minute short film in black&white → the story of love, revenge, death and resurrection of Capitaine Mort, starring the poet Robert Cordier in the role of the Texan and Lionel Tua who plays his first role in the films of F.J. Ossang…
♥ his graduation film, L’Affaire des divisions Morituri (1984), 81∼minute feature film in black&white and colours → with Lionel Tua in the role of the journalist Tanzani, Philippe Sfez in the «bookmaker de la Mort», the crew members of Lucrate Milk in urban gladiators and F.
J. Ossang him∼self in the role of Ettore, the gladiators poet∼leader. «My punk∼side is to mix everything».

• After thoses 3 debut films, he leaves Paris and travel while continuing to shoot & write, many… His first major novel, Génération Néant (published only in 1993) presents itself as an impressive series of themes addressed at full speed, both literary and cinematographic ; poetic texts rub shoulders with passages from roman noir… His next novels (for example Au Bord de L’Aurore) are more like notebooks inspired by his various journeys at Madrid, in Chili, New Zeland… He has also published numerous texts of contemporary poetry and has worked on a book on William S. Burroughs. His book Landscape et Silence was selected by theSalon du Livre Jeunesse de Montreuil (Children’s Book Fair) in 2000, within «Lectures adolescentes» (Teen readings). Otherwise his short novel Le Ciel éteint (2000) is the original text from which the screenplay of his short∼film comes Ciel Éteint ! (presented at Cannes in la Quinzaine des Réalisateurs 2008). For his other short∼film Silêncio of 2007, the music is by Throbbing Gristle. Influenced by silent cinema and expressionism, the cinema of F.J. Ossang demonstrates a fascination with genre films that blends with a number of elements of different styles to form a fairly personal combination. Thus, he can approach anticipation and science fiction as in Le Trésor des Îles Chiennes, or film noir & road movie in Docteur Chance while maintaining a high standard in terms of photography and framing, which are one of its trademarks.

«F.J. Ossang has, from his first short∼film, laid the moving foundations of a dark universe pierced by a blinding light, where the genre film is constantly remembered in order to better distance itself from it. Traveling, leaving, geting lost : Ossang’ cinema gives itself the appearance of drifting, but never abandons its ultimate course : ecstasy.»

• Even if it seems that F.J. OSSANG stopped his musical (Noise’N’Roll) arghtivities since his last appearance in 2007 with his friend Mr. Nasti, under the nickname Baader Meinhof Wagen… He still doesn’t give up >>> nor in his writings, erasures, cracks, decrease in intensity >>> nor in his images, not wise, of faces, in rage, cinephage → the last news date from the beginning of this year with a new short∼film Tombe des Rêves… Total impatience !

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COCHE BOMBA *

Coche Bomba

      COCHE BOMBA → Fucking fighting hasta la victoria ! No frills, no borders, always in excess ! Beginnings fall 80, under the name Care Bears >>> Early 90, first attacks hubbub brouhaha COCHE BOMBA, mierda ! Tons of conciertos crossing europeansn, americans, asiatics, océanics areas…

• Hardcore∼Punk∼Thrash ? Full speed in hurry, always with panache ! Crude, gruff, bushy, distorted, quirky, for the peachy punchy enthusiasts ! Never down, sometimes lukewarm, always struggling !

↓ Drawings & pain∼tings → Ivan Brun

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GRr041 *

• NOMEANSNO ♥ Mr. Right & Mr. Wrong
One Down and Two to Go

| Compilation : Double LP 12” ( BLACK ) 150gr. VINYLS 33rpm

→ In waiting for that you could order it directly online via LaDistroy ← 25€ + sheeping
→ Come visit my itinerant info$hop  at one of these dates ← 20€ cash

Others releases
! a N G R r !
vinyls, etc.
← ↑ ↓ →

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GRr040 *

• MESSAGEROS KILLERS BOYS
hôtel du labrador

| LP 12” ( RED ) 150gr. VINYL 33rpm

→ You could soon order it directly online via LaDistroy ← 15€ + sheeping
→ Or you can visit my itinerant info$hop  at one of these dates ← 12€ cash

Others releases
! a N G R r !
vinyls & books
← ↑ ↓ →

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HEIMATLOS *

HeimatLøs

      In a french musical landscape that had been confined to british influences, HEIMATLØS opened up horizons in October 1983, determined to push the brutality further and to search a field of influences still unexploited in France. Four Paris suburban amigos formed this unique, pioneering & original band. Very quickly the band’s influences became international, from the United States of America & all over Europe, becoming part of the vast and flourishing HardCore scene. Heïmat-Los does not sacrifice subtlety for fast tempo, creates and refines a very personal and distinctive style : melodies with slavic accents & dramatic soulful tunes behind an absolutely aggressive & deep drums & bass playing & sound…

• Its internationalist approach is manifested in many aspects → First the name : Heimatlos means “stateless” in german. Also the lyrics written in a slew of different languages. Then, ears full pricked up to the american, german, scandinavian, italian, eastern european, brazilian effervescence… The group discovered a gigantic network of exchange & mutual aid worldwide with tons of bands, fanzines, labels, distributors, concert organizers, autonomous spaces… An abundant scene called “HardCore”.

• All of this contrasts with the french punk movement which is resolutely centred within national borders. Recognition came much more from abroad, (in particular from Germany & Belgium) where they were invited several times to play and where their recordings were better received than in France. Paradoxically it was at the exact time when a real HardCore movement began to emerge in France that the band, which was moving towards an even richer & more complex style while having become capable of offering lightning stage performances, broke up in September 1988. HEIMATLOS, not content with having been a precursor, it is definitely one of the most important french groups recognized far beyond their borders…

• So in september ’88, Heimatløs splits definitivly following the sudden departure of Jean∼Claude (aka Blitz). Quickly François (aka Speedyperit), Norbert (aka K.Z.) et Serge (aka Sergio Loco) dedice to keep up the adventures with Tears Of A Doll { It had been decided from the beginning that if one of the members left the group, HEIMATLØS will stops }. They are recruiting François Truillet on bass (who also later played with Copywrong) and Denis Nydeu (ex. Kromozom 4) as second guitarist. At the beginning the band covers songs written or drafted at the time from Heïmat-Løs. But presto Tear Of A Doll will become the most intriguing & musically challenging french post∼hardcore combo…