Les Colocs
From left to right: André Vander Biest, André Fortin and Mike Sawatzky.
Les Colocs was a music group active in the 1990s, from Montréal, Québec, Canada. The group is known for the different styles used and the suicide of its founder André " Dede " Fortin.
The group had a strong influence on the development of the Quebec music scene and represents a milestone in the history of music Quebec
History
In 1990, André " Dede " Fortin and Louis Léger, in the group Cha Cha and the Chain Gang played together for several years, the group Les Colocs on the third floor of 2116 Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal. Yves Desrosiers, a friend Dedes proposes Marc Déry as a bassist and a drummer Jimmy Bourgoing. Louis learns the harmonica player Patrick Esposito di Napoli, and invites one to this group to happen.
In October 1990, the group meets for the first time in public on the Tallulah Darling as part of the international rock festival. Soon it leaves Marc Déry par the group to its own group to establish " Zébulon ". In a newspaper advertisement in Voir out is Serge Robert bassist and double bassist of the group. After a few appearances in late 1991 the founding member Louis Léger leaves the group, its place takes a friend Patricks name Mike Sawatzky one. He is the only member of the group that does not speak French as their mother tongue. From his accession several songs follow in English.
1992, the group at L' empire des futurs stars, a professional competition for music from Quebec, in part. The Colocs make it to the finals, but ultimately reject the participation, because they want to decide for themselves on their plate publisher. In the same year she signed a contract with the publisher BMG plate. In 1993, the group released their first album Les Colocs. It sells 150 000 times. In October 1993, the group receives three Félix including the discovery of the year.
The harmonica player Patrick Esposito of Naples died in November 1994 of complications from untreated AIDS disease.
1995 bring the Colocs their second album Atrocetomique out. It awarded on the evening of Independence referendum on October 30. The Souveränist André Fortin is badly shaken by the result ( 49.4 % for independence, 50.6 % against).
After Serge, lays verified by the Palace of Justice in Montréal on whose criminal past towards the manager of the group, Raymond Paquin Dede to leave him near the group although he had Serge commissioned to examine the finances. Serge Robert now takes on a solo career under the pseudonym Mononc ' Serge. He will be replaced the following year by the Belgian bassist André Vander Biest, which brings reggae elements in the musical style of the group. 1996 suffers the guitarist Mike Sawatsky a serious car accident and is two months in a coma.
In May 1998, the group brings out their third album dehors Novembre. André Vanderbiest supported André Fortin previously doing, Jimmy Bourgoing to force them to leave the group because of this with the musical innovations - such as the introduction of Klezmer and African reggae elements by the brothers Diouf - disagreed. The album is dedicated to the four years earlier died of AIDS group member Patrick Esposito di Napoli. As previously found on the album depressive and sad lyrics that are in contrast to the cheerful music. Some of the texts suggest strongly to the depressed and plagued by guilt Fortin's character. The album sold over 100,000 copies. In November, the Colocs win with the album the Félix for rock album of the year.
After the suicide of frontman André " Dede " Fortin on May 8, 2000, the group was disbanded.
The members of the Colocs and some supporters have the desire founder one last honor to prove by the production of the album Suite 2116 in 2001 made manifest.
Jean -Philippe Duval's film Dede, à travers les brumes, which was released in theaters on 13 March 2009, is concerned not only with the depressive side André Fortin, but also provides the creative and joyful living character of the singer and the entire group environment dar. the film's title comes from the song from the album Paysage Suite 2116 (written by Charles Baudelaire ).
2009 was found by André Vander Biest an unedited recording André " Dede " Fortin. The song was edited and released on August 3, 2009. A portion of the profit goes to the André Dede Fortin Foundation, which has made suicide prevention task.
On the performance of Colocs Poussières d' étoiles avec les Colocs ( stardust with the Colocs ) on 3 August 2009 participated ( within the festival Francofolies de Montréal) Mike Sawatzky, André Vander Biest, El Hadji Diouf, Karim Diouf, Benoit Piché, Joel Zifkin, Michel Dufour, Benoit Gagné, Guy Belanger, Justin Allard. la famille Botte, Marc Déry, Martin Léon, Sébastien Plante, Loco Locass ( the singer Dede Dede in the movie, à travers les brumes embodies ), Pierre Lapointe and Paul Piché part. A few days later the performance was presented again, this time at the Festival d' été de Beloeil with Antoine Gratton instead of Pierre Lapointe.
Discography
Music videos
Under the following eight songs, a music video was produced:
- Julie
- Passe- moé la puck
- Rue principale
- Dede
- Bonyeu
- Pis si au moins
- Tassez vous d' là
- Tout seul