Visitors

Visitors formed in 1974 in Antibes, France, when producer Jean-Pierre Massiera partnered with Claude Lemoine to assemble a studio ensemble for a science-fiction-themed rock project.

Massiera learned guitar in Argentina and returned to France as a teenager. He formed the instrumental group Les Milords in Nice in 1962, then joined guitarist Pierre Malaussena in Les Monégasques, a quartet that recorded for Pathé-Marconi and accompanied singers including Gérard Brent. Massiera subsequently established Studio d’Enregistrement Méditerranéen in Nice, where he developed the tape effects and recording techniques featured on the 1968 Les Maledictus Sound album Attention. He added electronic effects to the 1971 album Chico Magnetic Band. In 1972, Massiera established the 16-track Studio 16 at La Fontonne in Antibes with assistance from his younger half-brother, guitarist Bernard Torelli.

The Visitors ensemble reunited Massiera with Brent, who sang and played guitar alongside vocalist Marc Attali, bassist Marc Rolland, drummer André Guiglion, and lead guitarist Torelli. Other contributors included Hammond organist–synthesist Jean-Claude Tarin and keyboardists Yves Revol, Jacky Bernardini, and Jean-Pierre Stretti.

The sessions also reunited pianist Francis Lockwood with his younger brother, violinist Didier Lockwood. Francis settled near Cannes around 1970 as pianist for an American patron, while Didier joined him in Vallauris in 1971. The brothers played together in Abracadabra, a jazz-rock group led by Francis. Didier also studied violin at the Calais Conservatoire and joined the orchestra of the Théâtre Municipal de Calais at thirteen.

Massiera composed the extraterrestrial-themed material with a contribution from Francis Lockwood on “Nous.” He and Lemoine recorded the ensemble at Studio 16 in the spring of 1974 for a self-titled album on Decca.

1980–81 Reformation

Massiera and Lemoine revived Visitors in Paris in late 1980 as a five-piece rock group intended for recordings and stage appearances alongside Les Rockets, the futuristic rock band produced by Lemoine. He recruited singer Bernard “Willy” Lignac, bassist Rosaire Riccobono, drummer Donald Rieubon, guitarist Patrice Helleringer, and keyboardist Bernd “Zeus B.” Held.

Lignac and Rieubon previously belonged to the 1969 lineup of Labyrinthe, a Bordeaux–Paris rock group. Rieubon remained with Labyrinthe as the group became a backing ensemble for Dick Rivers. Held came from the German progressive-rock band Birth Control and connected with Lemoine through the 1978 Rockets recording “On the Road Again,” for which he introduced vocoder effects. Lignac also collaborated with Massiera at Studio Jean Jaurès in Paris.

Lemoine planned a stage presentation with matching futuristic costumes and electronic props. Italian record executive Maurizio Cannici introduced Lemoine to illustrator Victor Togliani, who designed the group emblem and costumes. Massiera and Lemoine recorded the new Visitors lineup at Studio Jean Jaurès in Paris for a second album on Rockland Records.