Report :
FRENCH METAL: what awaits us (2011-2013)
(
ADRANA
, NIGHTMARE
, ABINAYA
, RED MOURNING
, FURIOUS ZOO
, IRMINSUL
, KARELIA
, EVIL ONE
, KILLERS
, SHANNON
, LYZANXIA
, VELLOCET
, SATAN JOKERS
, ARES
, HEMORAGY
, SYRENS CALL
)
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Publishing date : 2/18/11
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Author : metalmp
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Approximate translation of the file
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I asked myself the knowledge question which means that a ACDC, a IRON MAIDEN, a METALLICA, a BON JOVI, a DEF LEPPARD, a KISS, a SAXON, a SCORPIONS, a MOTLEY CRUE, a MOTORHEAD, a DREAM THEATER, a RAMSTEIN… brief, of how certain knowledges groups do to become the sacred monsters that they are today.
All started with galères, sacrifices, days to the dry bread and to water. All have in common this love of the music, art without which they could live and only nothing seems to be able to impair.
As the sings KOB on his album Close To Dawn, " Fame and glory is the only thing they need " …
All arrived to build an empire and to have of big true responsibilities. For beyond – or thanks to – the adoration that can carry them tens of thousands, indeed millions of fans, beyond life henceforth "easy" and without financial difficulty, these groups are before all of true businesses, employing, for certain, tens of on time complete people. It is necessary, to pay them, to do the matters... One effectively must speak here of Music business, two paradoxical words of appearance but of which the association is nevertheless, more and more, a reality.
what these groups do not have in common, it is their nationality… To Become a giant of the Heavy Metal relief of something else that owing to English or being American. Germans, Brazilian, Switzerland, Australians, Swedish one, Canadians and many other again succeeded in this statute of "essential formation".
on the other hand, what all have in common is a square extremist organization, a worked planning with the same precision that the one that a Swiss clockmaker brings to his work. Each knowledge with exactness which will do his group, where it will be located in the two, indeed three, years to come: preparation of an album, recording, post production, promotion, repetitions or turned, nothing is left at random, even if certain concerts or other happening can be signed "in last minute" (understand six or eight months in advance). Is
How that possible? By a common will of the musicians and of a management, first of all. What would be IRON MAIDEN without Rod SMALLWOOD ? METALLICA without Cliff BERNSTEIN ? What would have been LED ZEPPELIN without Peter GRANT ? Same manner that behind every big man hides himself a woman, it does not exist any big group without big to manage. Is
That it necessary to hear by "big"? It is simple: businessman warned, leader of charismatic men, lawyer and implacable negotiator, eager worker and especially, visionary organized and enlightened.
I asked myself the question: "And in France? How do they, how organize themselves all these groups that try to live of their music? How do they see the future, how the do they foresee? They know, they try to force the destiny?" The idea had to germinate somewhat and, especially, I was going to obtain the necessary responses?
I contacted some 70 French formations of all horizons, of the Hard Rock the most traditional one to the Hardcore the most brutal, more former formations to the most recent, more noble hopes of the national scene to its formations the more undergrounds, going groups as VULCAIN, ADX, NIGHTMARE, KILLERS, SATAN JOKERS to EVIL ONE, HURLEMENT, KARELIA, SYRENS CALL, IRMINSUL or ADRANA, while going through RED MOURNING, LOUDBLAST, BROKEN EDGE, LYZANXIA, DYSLESIA among of others (I did not succeed coming into contact with TRUST and GOJIRA) and I put them a unique question:
"Which are your projects for the years to come: recording of albums studio and/or live, concerts, participation to festivals, DVD, movement abroad… ideal is evidently a projection more vast and possible distant (3 to 5 years) in order to talk about future."
If the groups that I had the timeliness to cross have, for a very big majority, replied quickly - as certain that I never met, besides - of others took a little more time. In two weeks (a first wave of 30 questionnaires was sent January 9 2011), 30% of the groups had replied. On the 32 ask sharp, from January 10, by the bias of the pages myspace of the groups, 8 only – 25% - had read my message to January 31! This figure, this reactivity lack, is in itself significant of the interest that some carry to the possibility to be contacted, some can be the motive. Worse again: on these 8 groups, 2 gave themselves the penalty to reply me!
I deliver you here a summary, an analysis of the body of the received responses. As much to get up the sail right away: one finds of all. Our formations do not see the music of the same manner: some aim professionalism and see far while of others live with the passing of water. Certain are full of hopes, of cynical others. The hope is also vivace as difficulties seem insurmountable… And, to the view of the two mentioned figures higher, all do not grant the same importance to the communication and to the current tools of communication. The most ambitious one are connected to the web or update their sites (web, pages myspace, facebook…) to the Newspaper, and reply quickly, of others read their messages when they have the time or when they there think. Let's consider equally that certain contacted formations simply can maintain themselves in life but not more to be active on the market, using the Internet to leave a track.
A group, a true one, has two principal activities: to compose and play. The composition, creative often violent phase and intimist, is a true work of team, each drawing one in its resources to supply the collective effort and to swoon itself to the listens result live. The creation, thus accepted by every member of the group, solders the musicians in this spirit of sacred union (in an ideal world, agrees). This first step is followed by a recording period. Confined in studio, the musicians must allow their creation to touch the public. One enters then into an achievement phase more or less painful, a phase of delivery of the common work. If, in repetitions, each admires the common body, the studio can be the place where the egos enter in conflict, each having the possibility to concentrate on its parties and neglect the importance of the one of the others (in the worse one worlds, agrees)… and thus to endanger the permanence of the group.
any formation will say it: to play on scene, in front of a public is simply vital. This is the reason to be of a group. Play to transmit and to divide emotions together and with a public. Obtain the recognition of this public is not only flattering, she is equally the motor that allows doing better again and in advance.
It is therefore natural and normal that all the groups, to rare exceptions near, foresee that in the three years there will be concerts and recordings.
If the immediate future (six months, all to the more) seems clear for the major party, some take the things, notably the concerts, as them come. "In general rule ARES is more concerned by what will happen next week than in three years" (Dan, ARES). Of others, on the contrary, as LYZANXIA recognize that if it is necessary "to be active to survive in music, we will be it more and more with the years that arrive" and if it is "difficult to say where we be in five years, a thing is sure, we work very hard (…) to continue to live" (David POTEVIN). This report, as well as the reality of the market of the disc, are major elements in the taken decision. Thus, Bruno DOLHEGUY foresees it to engrave a new CD with his group, KILLERS, without date sets up, precise that "it is clear that with the current sales, it not there absolutely any urgency". Ditto for Patrick RONDAT that does not seem in a hurry to record.
David POTEVIN (LYZANXIA) has a realistic approach and a little more aggresive: "We perfectly have knowledge of the problems linked to the market of the disc and to the culture usually, but one cannot lower the arms and leave do." Without lowering the arms for as much, the seniority of Bruno in the circuit explains certainly this speech a little more upset and more cynical. David does not have, for his part, interest to discourage itself since, besides the recording of a new CD of LYZANXIA, it has number of other projects with ONE WAY MIRROR and PHAZE 1 that both of them have an album to promote this year, what's more activities of production than manages the musician.
All is not so morose nevertheless. Some keep faith and optimism. Thus EVIL ONE it will move themselves very often to defend its recordings, current or to come. 2011 could have seen the group to support SAXON flasks Sleeve, but exterior events came to cancel this stay. The Franciliens, that knew a very important change of line-up at the beginning of year (with the integration to the song ofAlexis, singer of HURLEMENT) will participate nevertheless to the festival of the convention of Fismes of March 6 (French among others meeting poster DER KAISER, MESSALINE, ROZZ, BLACK HORIZON or EXISTANCE), and will carry proudly the French colors to the German festivals Headbangers Open Air (July, with VULCAIN) and Swiss True As Steel (October). Their passage to the HOA will be followed by a German turn in company of TORTURE SQUAD as well as of an escapade in Poland. EVIL ONE will go even to turn, afterward… to Brazil, before returning in its earths to propose, in 2012, a new album followed by a national turn. The continuation equally already is foreseen, with a doubled album of a CD of returns... Brief, EVIL ONE view far and organizes itself consequently.
To The ray "support of a foreign size", the native of Grenoble of NIGHTMARE will leave as for them to support their new album while opening for SABATON, in the month of March in the European framework of a turn that will take them in Spain, to the Portugal, in Germany, in Italy and even in Slovenia in order to present and defend their new CD, brightened of a DVD, that the group has just published.
Provident, equally, RED MOURNING already planned a turn to promote his new appeared album in January, and emmet the wish to play a new time to the Hellfest (besides, if the festival of Clisson encounter of the success, this is in left, equally, thanks to the projections and anticipations of the organizers of the festival, able to announce, at the end of an edition, 90% of the poster of the following year, heads of posters incluses…) And if the hardcoreux itself See also to invest theElysée Montmartre in 2013, they remain realistic: Their need more immediate is to find a turner in order to be able to play in France and in Belgium, to the minimum.
The Parisians ofABINAYA, if they foresee not again album, launch themselves for their part, from the months of March, in a turned mini through the territory, an epic that will take them Paris to Marseilles while going through Grenoble or Nice in order to sit their growing reputation. Ilsprofiteront equally of this year to visit the Hungary, Germany and Belgium. Nevertheless, nothing beyond the summer 2011 seems today foreseen...
OF others see the things in a manner both different and supplementary, as the manuscript Dan, the bass player ofARES : "If it is (the French metal) according to any destined likelihood to remain confined in the underground, we noted that it was completely possible that a non specialized public can prove itself more receptive, and sometimes more objective, in any case less unexcited, that the purist." The bottom is the same: quelqu'il can be, it is necessary to be going to look for the public, to touch it thanks to the contact that offers the scene. Obliterate has them priori, equally, for well often, this public connait only which the media propose him.
For number of other formations and artists, the planning remains more annual. Rare are those that already imagine 2012: if SATAN JOKERS foresees go out two albums in the ten eight months to come, a new CD (mi 2012) and, during the first part of the year 2011, a best of in English (I imagine with Renaud HANTSON to the song), the singer/drummer hopes equally go out a CD of his other project, FURIOUS ZOO, in the current of the year, but thinks, in a manner doubtless more realistic, that it will be Rather ready for 2012.
The thrasheurs ofHEMORAGY, as for them, wish to publish a new album every other year: their fourth one should thus see the light of day in 2012. Nevertheless, in the matter of the concerts and turned, nothing is planned in advance, the trio taking the concerts as they come. This rhythm of an album every other year applies equally to the stoners of VELLOCET, that, logically, should propose their new disc in the current of this year.
Of his side, the trio of the Oise IRMINSUL wishes, before to be able to propose a new album, transform itself in quartet, adding a guitarist in order to fill out his sound. The CD should, for his part, arrive at the end of 2012 or beginning 2013, deadline.
If the market of the CD is in perdition, it leaves of even for the one of the DVD. Nevertheless, leave a track of his music passes aujourd’hui equally by the picture. The pop video no longer suffices, of as much as the transmissions devoted to the Metal are almost nonexistent in France. Rather than to waste money in an inefficient support, some prefer to invest in the recording of a DVD relating a performance live. SHANNON have just go out his in January (and is the only group to envision the realization of a pop video in the current of the first part of the year 2011), the one of NIGHTMARE must see the light of day in the month of February, VULCAIN the foresees to the vicinity of the months of April, EVIL ONE (obviously on all the foreheads!) envisions to propose it in bonus of his album of 2012.
Those that are in studio know that an album go out in the six months. After? Well often, too often, nothing is foreseen… Or little. SYRENS CALL will bring his contribution to three compilations, which will participate in left for the promotion of his last appeared album in 2010, as well as a concert in Belgium. The biggest project of the from Lille one, nevertheless, remains the finalisation of their studio of recording, that will give to the quintette a little more of liberty to repeat and to record, so as, according to Sébastien, their drummer, "not more to propose an album every four years".
Of The expectations, hopes, projects but to the final one nothing, or little, of concrete one. The groups seem often delivered to themselves, entering in action when the occasion presents itself. It is maybe there that the cradle injures: that frames these formations? Which management there does it have to push them, the coacher, to accompany them in their gaits? TRUST it would have exploded as this was the case if it not had been surrounded as it was it in 1979? The eager work of Bobby « dollar » BRUNO opened gigantic doors to Bernie and his band as early as 1980, and, despite certain questionable choices, TRUST remainder the only group of Hard Rock French has to have unhook the legend statute. It leaves of even for GOJIRA that, aujourd’hui, can praise itself to be the only group of at our place to be able to be recruited as guests of METALLICA and play before them on the American boards. Beyond the report that it does not exist in France to manage that succeeded in be done a name, it seems that rare are the groups benefit from this accompaniment type. I had contacts only with the managements of VULCAIN/MR JACK, KARELIA, NIGHTMARE and the universe Renaud HANTSON (SATAN JOKERS, FURIOUS ZOO). Outside of these actors that communicate in the name of the artists that they represent, the major party of harvested the news here originates directly concerned musicians. How, from that time, a group can it concentrate completely at once on his music and on its matters? The thing adorned delicate, of as much as it is unthinkable for number of artists to consider their art, their music as a simple one produces "commercial". Nevertheless, the past survival of a formation well by the realization of a sales – and, as much as possible, of a profit – resultant of the sale of this same art. Promote an artist and his music should be the work of the to manage, not the one of the creators themselves, for that to find a concert raises often journey of the fighter. Side managérial, the very big majority of the groups lives "to the small week". It is well spent the time where VULCAIN, taken by Elie BENALI in the 80' s put to trample the boards of Bercy in guest ofIRON MAIDEN, and reached even to seduce the English public. To party TRUST, yesterday, and GOJIRA, aujourd’hui, how much are they at really to have known to convince foreign publics, not French-speaking? KARELIA, big supported by SCORPIONS, could seduce a part of the German public, but the Alsatian ones are they rather present scenically on the national territory?
Buses to attain the envied statute of "star", it is essential to have, what's more of an intransigent and organized, provident and imaginative management, the direction of the sacrifice. This is well of that of which it is a matter when it is necessary to leave in turned. A concert from time to time is not sufficient, when well even this concert is an event. Did the French specialized press relate the concerts of ADX and VULCAIN in end of past year? Not (in contrast to certain webzines, of which METAL INTEGRAL). On the other hand, she naturally covered with other spectacles, more salesmen, and that seems well normal. It is choices to do, and therefore renunciations. Nevertheless, the musician must show himself. Move itself, and show itself again so that his growing reputation. The couple there withstands not often, and, more than the musicians, it is generally the family that clinks glasses (bad game of words, I know, but I assume!) Nevertheless, as the says the adage, one has nothing without nothing. The destiny does not come to look for the talent. It is necessary to provoke it, to go to his encounter, to have a posted ambition. Of course, of no will be accused of' to have the long teeth, to be sharks. And then? This is as well as the things always worked. How many groups of the NWOBHM to the potential gigantic one are they again standing aujourd’hui? A single one, two living others of their back catalog and of their reputation. METALLICA would it be the same group if the decision to turn Dave MUSTAINE had not been taken? IRON MAIDEN would it have the same impact if Paul DI’ANNO had not been done éjecter? Certainly not. And the groups, at to take these essential decisions were not alone…
The true question is knowledge if, aujourd’hui, in France, it exists a person to even to be able to manage manner pérenne a group? Being given ambient cold intolerance of the actors of the market of the music, it seems although no. I hope nevertheless to be mistaken me and see a day this person go out of the shadow so that, at last, France can see an of its groups to represent it through the planet. For for their part, the most ambitious formations clearly post their intention to be done connaitre by concerts, albums, of other concerts in having for objective to be able to live of their music... The three years that come (to ask a projection on five years was a little too ambitieu on my part. ..) will be years of challenge for the body of the hexagonal metal. If, at last!, one or two group succeed piercing and "to do the buzz" version big format, can be France will be, from the standpoint so artistic as managérial or commercial, more better seen of the foreigner, and thus more taken to the serious one. For that, there remains a lot of works, a work to which one each, with its means, can - with pride - to participate and bring his contribution: organize concerts and/or there attend, tow, write, manager,promouvoir, sell, buy the CD, support the groups of a manner or of another... all is to be taken for, today, all still remains to do.
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