Univers Zéro is a Belgian chamber-rock/Zeuhl ensemble that debuted with a 1977 self-titled Atem release (later retitled 1313), followed by the 1979–84 discs Hérésie, Ceux du Dehors, and Uzed. Musically, they evolved from an acoustic neo-classical sound to the hi-tech avant-rock style of their 1986 Cuneiform release Heatwave. Bandleader Daniel Denis released two Nineties solo […]
Cos was a Belgian avant-jazz-rock band that released four albums on IBC between 1974 and 1979, followed by two 1983–84 titles on Lark. Keyboardist Charles Loos (Abraxis/Julverne) appears on the first and third albums, Postaeolian Train Robbery and Babel. Former Placebo keyboardist Marc Moulin produced their 1976 release Viva Boma, which features sundry instrumentation from […]
Aksak Maboul (or Aqsak Maboul) was an avant-garde Belgian group that made the 1977–79 albums Onze Danses pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l’âme des Bandits. Musician Marc Hollander headed the project with revolving door UK/Continental talent, including members of Placebo, Cos, and Henry Cow. Members: Marc Hollander (clarinet, drum machine, percussion, alto […]
Placebo was a Belgian jazz-funk band that made the 1971–73 albums Ball of Eyes and 1973, followed by a 1974 self-titled release on Harvest. Keyboardist Marc Moulin made a 1975 solo album, Sam’ Suffy, and did subsequent stints with Cos, Aksak Maboul, and Telex. Members: Marc Moulin (Wurlitzer, clavinet), Nic Fisette (trumpet), Alex Scorier (saxophone), […]
Machiavel are a Belgian rock band, first active from 1974 to 1982. After their 1976 self-titled EMI debut, they hired longstanding vocalist Mario Guccio and released the popular 1977/78 albums Jester and Mechanical Moonbeams. Musically, they evolved from symphonic/hard-rock to streamlined new wave. Members: Marc Ysaye (drums, vocals), Roland Degreef (bass), Albert Letecheur (keyboards, 1974-79), […]
Tuxedomoon was an American art-rock band from San Francisco. They started as an avant-garde performance act in 1977 and released one single and two EPs during 1978/79. Their first two albums, Half-Mute and Desire, appeared on Ralph Records in 1980/81. After a sequence of 1982/83 titles on the Belgian Les Disques du Crépuscule, they released […]
Polyphonic Size was a Belgian synthpop project centered on vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist Roger-Marc Vande Voorde, with lyrics supplied throughout by Dominique Buxin. Between 1979 and 1982 the project released four EPs and a cluster of singles, mostly on the small-press Belgian and French labels Sandwich and New Rose, which also issued the 1982 debut […]
Solis Lacus was a Belgian jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album in 1975 on IBC. Members: Michel Herr (electric piano, keyboards, percussion), Richard Rousselet (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion), Robert Jeanne (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone), Nick Kletchkovsky (electric bass), Bruno Castellucci (drums, percussion), Félix Simtaine (drums) Background Solis Lacus (Latin for “Sun Lake”) formed in 1974 […]
Shampoo was a Belgian jazz-rock band that made the 1971 album Volume One on Disques Motors. They merged with the Dutch vocal trio Hearts of Soul for the 1973 single “All of Us” and the 1974 album We Love the Policeman. Saxist Giorgio Chitschenko hailed from Mad Curry. Members: Luk Smets (keyboards, vocals), Cel De […]
Telex was a Belgian electro/art-pop trio that released the 1979 album Looking for Saint-Tropez on Vogue/RKM, followed by the 1980 international release Neurovision. Two tracks from the former were appended to the latter for a U.S. issue on Sire. In 1981, the trio enlisted the lyrical services of Sparks for the Ariola release Sex. Two […]
Irish Coffee was a Belgian hard-rock band that released a 1971 self-titled album and four standalone singles, including the local hit “Masterpiece.” Members: William Souffreau (vocals, bass, guitar), Willy De Bisschop (bass, 1970-75), Raf Lenssens (drums, 1971-75), Paul Lambert (keyboards, 1970-71, 1973-74), Luc De Clus (guitar, 1973-75, 1992, 2002-present), Hugo Verhoye (drums, 1970-71), Dirk Dierickx […]
Kandahar was a Belgian art-rock/jazz-rock band that released the 1974/75 albums Long Live the Sliced Ham and In the Court of Catherina Squeezer, followed by the 1978 title Pictures From the Past. Members: Jeff De Visscher (lead guitar, acoustic guitar, sitar, vocals), Karel Bogard (piano, clavinet, synthesizer, gong, bells, vocals), Jean Pierre Claeys (bass), Etienne […]
Mad Curry was a Belgian jazz-rock/psych band that released a 1970 self-titled album and a standalone single on the Pirate’s label. Members: Viona Westra (vocals), Giorgio Chitschenko (saxophone), Danny Rousseau (organ), Jean Andore (bass), Eddy Kane (drums) Background Mad Curry formed in Antwerp in 1970 as a five-member group with singer–percussionist Viona Westra, saxophonist Joosk […]
Open Sky Unit was a Belgian post-bop/jazz-funk sextet that released a self-titled album in 1974 on Duchense. Members: Jacques Pelzer (saxophone), Micheline Pelzer (drums), Ron Wilson (vocals, Fender Rhodes), Steve Houben (saxophone, flute), Janot Buchem (bass), Michel Graillier (percussion) Background Open Sky Unit formed in Liège in 1973 from informal sessions inside the Pelzer family […]
Recreation was a Belgian organ-psych trio from that released the album Don’t Open on Triangle in 1970, followed by the 1972 Barclay album Music or Not Music. Members: Jean-Jacques Falaise (keyboards, guitar), Francis Lonneux (drums), Jean-Paul Vandenbossche (bass) Formation Recreation formed in Liège, Belgium. Drummer Francis Lonneux and bassist Jean-Paul Vandenbossche hailed from the beat […]
Pazop was a Belgian avant jazz-rock band that made the 1972 single “Captain Black” / “Morning” on the French Barclay label. That same year, they recorded an album that remained vaulted until 1996 when Musea issued the archival CD Psychillis of a Lunatic Genius. In 1973, the members of Pazop masqueraded as the Modern Classic Quintet […]
Snowy Red was the performance moniker of Belgian coldwave musician Marcel Thiel. He released two self-contained albums — Snowy Red and The Right to Die — circa 1981/82 on small-press Dirty Dance. The moniker represented an actual band on two subsequent ’80s releases, Vision and The Beat Is Over. Thiel briefly resurrected the Snowy Red name […]
Banzai was a Belgian jazz-rock that released three singles and the 1974 album Hora Nata. Members: Peter Torfs (organ, piano, strings, Moog, vocals), Evert Verhees (acoustic guitar, bass, bass pedals, piano, vocals), John Mc O (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals), Ludwig Kemat (tumbas, metallophones, marimba, vibraphone, percussion), Erry Fox (drums, percussion) Background Banzai formed in […]
Womega was a Belgian jazz-rock/soul band that released the 1975 album A Quick Step. They remained active through 1981 with two further singles. Members: Duk Vanlessen (guitar), Jen Vanlessen (bass), Joss Vanlessen (guitar), Paul Vrijens (keyboards), Jos Bertrand (drums), Herman Merken (vocals), Paul Peters (flute, brass) Background Womega was formed in 1974 in Bilzen, Limburg, […]
Esperanto was a multi-national art-rock/flamenco ensemble, formed in Brussels by violinist Raymond Vincent (Wallace Collection) and pianist Bruno Libert. The project yielded three albums on A&M Records between 1973 and 1975, the first featuring English-born vocalist Glenn Shorrock, formerly of the Aussie pop acts The Twilights and Axiom. He soon found fame fronting the Little […]
Malachi was a Belgian psych-rock band that released a 1971 self-titled album on Columbia (EMI). Organist Barry Kirsch produced subsequent albums for Ramases and Spiteri. Members: Barry Kirsch (organ, piano, vocals), Robert Wilson (bass, guitar, vocals), Paul Pinder (drums, flute, cymbals), Jon Ashford (congas, bongos) Formation Malachi sprung from The Julian Kirsch, a psych-pop combo […]
Abraxis was a Belgian jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album in 1976 on IBC. Members: Charles Loos (piano, keyboards), Dirk Bogaert (flute), Paul Elias (guitar), Jean-Paul Musette (bass), Tony Malisan (drums), Jacky Mauer (drums) Background Abraxis was assembled in Brussels by pianist/composer Charles Loos (born July 29, 1951), who played on the 1974 album […]
Jenghiz Khan was a Belgian hard-rock/psych band that released the album Well Cut in 1970 on Barclay. Bassist/singer Pierre Rapsat cut an album with Laurelie and issued multiple singles with the Tenderfoot Kids. Members: Tim Brean (organ, piano, harpsichord, vocals), Big Frisma [Friswa] (guitar, vocals), Christian “Chris Tick” Servranckx (drums, percussion, vocals), Pierre Rapsat (bass, […]
Waterloo was a Belgian pop-psych band that released the 1970 album First Battle on Vogue, followed by two non-album 1971 singles. Their final lineup formed the nucleus of Pazop. Members: Dirk Bogaert (lead vocals, flute), Gus Roan (guitar), Marc Malyster (organ, 1969-70), Jacky Mauer (drums), Jean-Paul Janssens (bass, 1969-70), Rick Urmel (bass, 1970), Jean-Paul Musette […]
Wallace Collection was a Belgian psychedelic chamber-pop band that released the 1969/70 albums Laughing Cavalier and Serenade on Odeon. Both appeared as self-titled releases in select territories. Also in 1970, they recorded the soundtrack for the film comedy La Maison. Violinist Raymond Vincent subsequently recorded a solo album and co-founded the multinational symphonic-flamenco act Esperanto. […]
Raymond Vincent is a Belgian violinist and composer who recorded three albums with the chamber-pop/psych band Wallace Collection at the turn of the 1970s. In 1972, he released the solo album Metronomics on Izarra. He then teamed with pianist Bruno Libert to spearhead the multinational flamenco-rock project Esperanto, which produced three albums through 1975 on […]
Julverne was a Belgian classical/folk ensemble that grew from Les Coulonneux, a Walloon chamber quartet. They made four albums between 1979 and 1986, including the influential 1980 Crammed Disc release À Neuf, recorded with pianist Charles Loos of the similar Nuit Câline à la Villa Mon Rêve. Members: Pierre Coulon (flute), Jeannot Gillis (violin, trombone), […]
Present was a Belgian chamber-rock/Zeuhl ensemble headed by erstwhile Univers Zéro guitarist Roger Trigaux with ongoing UZ drummer Daniel Denis, who moonlit with Art Zoyd concurrent to Triskaidékaphobie, released in 1980 on Atem. The second Present album, Le Poison qui Rend Fou, appeared in 1985 on Cuneiform. In 1994, Present reconvened with C.O.D. Performance, which […]
Red Zebra was a Belgian post-punk band that issued three 1980–82 singles and the Bastogne EP on self-press Zebra. Their singular album, Maquis, appeared in 1983 on Parsley, followed by the 1984 Himalaya EP Always. They reunited off-on in subsequent decades. Members: Nicolas Delfosse (guitar), Chery Derycke (bass), Hazy (guitar), Jan D’Hondt (guitar), Patrick Provoost […]
Kuruki was a Belgian coldwave/electro-pop combo that released five shortplayers and one album between 1981 and 1984. The band included veteran Flemish-rock journeyman Alain Bureau, who released a praised 1975 solo album under the modified surname Buro. Members: Gerry D’Haeyer, Alain Bureau Kuruki Kuruki was a Belgian minimal-synth/electro-pop project formed in Ghent by percussionist-producer Gerry […]
Mustang were a Belgian hard-rock band that was active for more than a decade, starting in 1966 as Guy Morgan & The Mustangs. In 1972, the band released a single on Ideal Records. Five years later, their singular album Born and Still Alive! was issued on Monopole-subsidiary Eagle System. Members: Staf de Peuter (lead guitar, acoustic […]
Alain Bureau (Aug. 6, 1951—July 13, 2014) was a Belgian singer, guitarist and songwriter who emerbed in psych-rockers Light Fire, then cut two solo singles as Buro before his 1975 symphonic/chanson album Fume, C’est Du Belge. Later in the decade, he assumed the alias Alan Von Bür for two albums with local punk trio Hubble […]
Marc Moulin (Aug. 16, 1942—Sept. 26, 2008) was a Belgian keyboardist, composer, and producer who was musically active from the early 1960s to the mid-2000s. He is best-known as the mastermind behind early 1970s jazz-rockers Placebo and as part of the early 1980s electro-pop trio Telex. His 1975 solo album Sam’ Suffy has gained rare-groove classic status […]
Nuit Câline à la Villa Mon Rêve was a Belgian chamber/folk ensemble that formed in 1970. Active through most of the decade, the band released its singular album in 1977 on EMI Belgium-subsidiary IBC. Members: Éric Chale (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), Alex Furnelle (electric bass), Jeannot Gillis (violin, trumpet, tuba, trombone), Michel Moers (acoustic […]
The Honeymoon Killers were a Belgian new wave/zolo band from Brussels that released the album Spécial Manubre! on Marc Moulin‘s Kamikaze small-press in 1977, followed by the 1982 Crammed disc Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel. Two shortplayers followed in 1983; one credited to vocalist Véronique Vincent. Keyboardist Marc Hollander previously appeared in Cos […]
Full Moon Trio was a Belgian avant-jazz/rock band behind a 1975 self-titled album on Dwarf Records. Dutch-born saxophonist André Goudbeek appeared on the first Kandahar album and subsequently played with the Willem Breuker Kollektief. Members: André Goudbeek (saxophone, violin, [Tunisian] bagpipes), Pol Feyaerts (bass), Ronny Dusoir (drums, percussion) Background Full Moon Trio formed in 1969 […]
Act Big Band were a Belgian avant/modern-jazz ensemble that released a self-titled album on PIAS-subsidiary LD Records in 1981, followed by the album Extremes on Amplitude in 1987. Members: Félix Simtaine (drums, leader), Michel Herr (piano, musical director), Philippe Aerts (double bass), Kurt Van Herck (tenor saxophone), Eric Verhaeghe (trumpet, flugelhorn), Serge Plume (trumpet, flugelhorn), […]
The S.S.O. Orchestra were a Belgian studio-based funk ensemble that released two albums on RKM/Shady Brook in 1975 and 1976. Members: John Sluszny (producer), Ralph Benatar (arranger) Discography: Tonight’s the Night (1975) Shine Your Light (1976)
Prelude were a Belgian symphonic-rock band from Verviers, Liège, that released the album Voyage on small-press Europroduction in 1979. Members: David Piron (vocals), Vincent Fis (guitar), Michel Crosset (keyboards), Vanderstraeten (bass), Paulus (drums) Discography: Voyage (1979)
Phylter were a Belgian symphonic-rock band from Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, that released a self-titled album on Parsifal in 1978. Members: Patrick Philips (organ, Fender Rhodes, piano, strings, synthesizer, vocals), Marc Van Bortel (guitar, vocals), Paul Van Bortel (bass, vocals), Christian Zaman (drums) Discography: Phylter (1978)
Mariavah were a Belgian symphonic/art-rock band that released the album Les Heures Incolores on MD in 1979, followed by a self-titled album on Polydor in 1983. Guitarist Christian Boissart hailed from chamber-psych legends Laurelie. Members: Luigi Facella (Bass Guitar), Marc Van Neyghem (Drums), Christian Boissart (Guitar), Francis Dozin (Lead Vocals, Flute), Gérard Jouffroy (Lead Vocals, […]
Isopoda were a Belgian symphonic-rock band from Aalst, Oost-Vlaanderen, that released the album Acrostichon on Twinkle in 1978, followed by Taking Root on Lark in 1979. Members: Walter De Berlangeer (guitar, 1974-81), Arnold De Schepper (bass, 12-string guitar, guitar, vocals, flute), Marc van der Schuerren (drums, percussion, bass, vocals, 1974-82), Guido Rubrecht (Hammond organ, 1974-78), […]
Lagger Blues Machine were a Belgian hard-rock/jam band from Itterbeek, Vlaams-Brabant, that released a self-titled album on Amber Soundroom in 1972. Four lengthy tracks from a 1971 concert recording were later released on disc by archivists Ficrivan. Members: Christian Duponcheel (organ, keyboards), Jean-Luc Duponcheel (drums, percussion), José Cuisset (guitar), Michel Maes (bass), Carmelo Pilotta (saxophone, […]
Tideline were a Belgian symphonic-rock band from Bruxelles that released the album The Crowded Room in 1979. Sixteen years later, the band reconvened for the album Siren Song on Musea. Members: Hadi Al Gammal (lead vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar), Christian Gilbert (drums), Didier De Roos (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Sam Mackinney (bass) Discography: The […]
Palass was a Belgian hard-rock/metal band that cut two singles circa 1980/81 on Robert Derycke Productions, culminating with the 1981 Imavox album Private Property. They returned in 1989 with the Powerhouse release Queen of the World. Members: Daniel Duvieuart (vocals), Bernard Cambier (piano, strings, synthesizer), Jean-Claude Manderlier (lead guitar), Thierry Servais (rhythm guitar), William Duncker […]
Laurelie were a Belgian psych-rock band from Verviers, Liège, that released a self-titled album on Triangle in 1970. Bassist/vocalist Pierre Raepsaet concurrently played with hard-rockers Jenghiz Khan and subsequently launched a solo career. Most of his 1977–84 solo albums feature contributions from Laurelie guitarist/vocalist Christian Boissart. In 1979, they partook in the symphonic/art-rock project Mariavah. […]
Dragon were a Belgian symphonic-rock band from Ath, Hainaut, that released a self-titled album on Acorn in 1976. The following year, the band demoed material for a second album, Kalahen, that was twice released years after the fact: on Ficrivan/Fanny in 1986 and in expanded form on Mellow in 1992. Members: Georges Vanaise (drums, vibraphone, […]
Doctor Downtrip were a Belgian blues-rock band from Brussels that released a standalone single on Disques Vogue in 1972, followed by three 1972–73 singles and a 1973 self-titled album on CBS. The band shortened its name to Downtrip for two further albums on Epic and Philips between 1976 and 1979. Members: Jean-Paul Goosens (vocals), Michael […]
Autumn was a Belgian coldwave trio that released three cassette albums and the single “Synthesize” on self-press Micrart between 1980 and 1984. Two-thirds of the band concurrently recorded as Linear Movement. Members: Peter Bonne [aka Ense] (drums, guitar, synthesizer), Geert Coppens [aka Sen] (vocals, synthesizer), Peter Koutstaal (1981-84) Discography: Seven Days Autumn (cassette, 1980) “Synthesize” […]
Sunhouse were a Belgian jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album on JW’s Records in 1977. Bassist Alain Gouthier was also a member of Cos throughout the second half of the 1970s. During the 1980s, he frequently appeared on solo recordings by Tuxedomoon mainstay Blaine L. Reininger. Members: Alain Gouthier (bass, fretless bass, backing vocals), […]
Koen De Bruyne (1946 — 1979) was a Belgian keyboardist and composer who made the 1974 Vogue album Here Comes the Crazy Man!, followed by the 1978 Hans release In Kluis. In 1975, he teamed with French library musician Janko Nilovic in the jazz-funk studio project Mad Unity. As a sessionist, De Bruyne appeared on […]
Chris Craft was a Belgian space-funk studio project that yielded the album Discosmic Dance on Eurodisc/Vogue in 1978. Members: Philippe Renaux, Christian Noefnet, Danny Boddin Background Chris Craft emerged in Belgium in 1978 as a studio project led by French musician and producer Philippe Renaux. Renaux originated as the guitarist-singer in the Holly Guns, which […]
Crossfire was a Belgian hard-rock/metal band behind the 1983–86 albums See You in Hell, Second Attack, and Sharpshooter on Mausoleum Records, followed by the 1987 Live Attack on Metal Enterprises. Members: Peter DeWint (vocals), Marc VanCaelenberge (guitar), Jacky D’Hondt (guitar), Patrick Van Londerzele (bass), Chris DeBrauwer (drums), Rudy Van de Sjipe (guitar, 1982-86), Nero Neerinckx […]
Mad Unity was a Belgian jazz-funk studio project that yielded the album Funky Tramway on Vogue in 1975. Members: Dan Lacksman, Gérard Sabbe, Janko Nilovic, Jean Pierre Onraedt, Koen De Bruyne, Nick Roland, Patricia Maessen, Pino Marchese, Richard Rousselet Discography: Funky Tramway (1975)
