Ange (English: Angel) is a French
progressive rock band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, acoustic guitar and keyboards).
Since its inception the band's music has been inspired by
medieval texts and
fantasy.
History
Ange was initially influenced by
Procol Harum and
King Crimson, and their music was quite theatrical and poetic. Their first success in France was the cover of a
Jacques Brel
Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, l ...
song, ''
Ces gens-là '', on their second album ''Le Cimetière des Arlequins''. The band provided its first concert on January 30, 1970, at the cultural center "La Pépinière", in
Belfort,
France. They performed 110 concerts in England from 1973 to 1976, opening for
Genesis
Genesis may refer to:
Bible
* Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind
* Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book o ...
at the
Reading Festival in
England, on August 26, 1973, fronting some 30.000 listeners.
One of the reasons for which the band was unable to break through into the British market was because they sang in French. Ange eventually released an English-speaking version of its fifth album ''
Par les fils de Mandrin
''Par les fils de Mandrin'' is the fifth album by the French progressive rock band Ange, released in 1976.
Track listing
#"Par les fils de Mandrin" (C. Décamps/J.M. Brézovar) – 4:48
#"Au café du Colibri" (C. Décamps/J.P. Guichard) – 4:0 ...
'' (''By the sons of Mandrin''), which was hard to find and sold poorly, although this version has since been made available on CD. Unfortunately, after three albums, the quality of creation had started to decrease, and ''Par les fils de Mandrin'' was probably not a good choice to try to break into the British market.
Following ''Par les fils de Mandrin'' and the live double album ''
Tome VI'', the band issued a
mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
–centered album, ''
Guet-apens'', and then had a more rock-oriented change of direction, although various progressive reformations occurred over the years, e.g. for the 1992 album ''
Les larmes du Dalaï-Lama''. Sponsored by the French radio
RTL, Ange relentlessly toured until the end of 1977, welcoming an average of 5,000 to 6,000 listeners per show. During their first years (generally regarded as the best ones), the other three members of the band were Jean-Michel Brézovar on guitar and flute, Gérard Jelsch on drums, and Daniel Haas on bass (and acoustic guitar). In 1995, Ange played their farewell tour.
Christian Décamps released a few albums as "Christian Décamps et Fils" ("Christian Décamps and Son"), before taking over the name "Ange" in 1999, and is backed by his band for his solo albums. The new lineup has issued several albums from ''La voiture à eau'' in 1999, performed on 2006 edition of
NEARfest and was still on the road in 2013.
Francis Décamps and Jean-Michel Brézovar have also released solo albums.
Keyboards
The keyboard sounds of the '70s-era band, while reminiscent of a
mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
, were in fact generated from a Viscount
organ
Organ may refer to:
Biology
* Organ (biology), a part of an organism
Musical instruments
* Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone
** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument
** Hammond ...
through a modded
Hammond
Hammond may refer to:
People
* Hammond Innes (1913–1998), English novelist
* Hammond (surname)
* Justice Hammond (disambiguation)
Places Antarctica
* Hammond Glacier, Antarctica
Australia
*Hammond, South Australia, a small settlement in South ...
reverb. However, an actual
mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
was played on the album ''Par Les Fils De Mandrin'' in 1976.
Studio discography
* (1972) ''
Caricatures''
* (1973) ''
Le Cimetière des arlequins''
* (1974) ''
Au-delà du délire''
* (1975) ''
Émile Jacotey''
* (1976) ''
Par les fils de Mandrin
''Par les fils de Mandrin'' is the fifth album by the French progressive rock band Ange, released in 1976.
Track listing
#"Par les fils de Mandrin" (C. Décamps/J.M. Brézovar) – 4:48
#"Au café du Colibri" (C. Décamps/J.P. Guichard) – 4:0 ...
''
* (1978) ''
Guet-Apens''
* (1980) ''
Vu d'un Chien''
* (1981) ''
Moteur!''
* (1982) ''À propos de...''
* (1983) ''
La Gare de Troyes''
* (1984) ''
Fou
Fou may refer to:
People
* Fou Fonoti (born 1991), American football player
* Fou Ts'ong (born 1934), Chinese pianist
* Pama Fou (born 1990), Australian rugby union player
Other uses
* Fou (instrument) (ç¼»), an ancient Chinese percussion ins ...
''
* (1986) ''
Egna''
* (1987) ''
Tout Feu Tout Flamme... C'est Pour De Rire''
* (1989) ''
Sève Qui Peut
''Sève Qui Peut'' is a concept album by the French progressive rock band Ange about the French revolution, it was also a play and a ballet. It was released in 1989.
Track listing
Side One:
#"Aimer / Haïr" – 07:55
#"Vivre Avec Le Cœur" †...
''
* (1992) ''
Les Larmes Du Dalaï Lama''
* (1999) ''
La Voiture À Eau
''La Voiture À Eau'' is a Studio album by the French progressive rock band Ange. It was released in 1999.
Track listing
# "Le Rêve Est À Rêver ème Service – 05:55
# "Psychosomagique Génie" – 06:20
# "Eureka" – 02:24
# "Bilboquet" ...
''
* (2001) ''
Culinaire Lingus
Ange (, ) is a French progressive rock band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, acoustic guitar and keyboards).
Since its inception the band's music has been inspired by medie ...
''
* (2005) ''
?''
* (2007) ''
Souffleurs De Vers''
* (2010) ''
Le Bois Travaille Même Le Dimanche''
* (2012) ''
Moyen-Âge
Ange (, ) is a French progressive rock band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, acoustic guitar and keyboards).
Since its inception the band's music has been inspired by medie ...
''
* (2014) ''Émile Jacotey Résurrection''
* (2018) ''Heureux''
Complete discography
Christian and Francis Décamps era
* ''
Caricatures'' (1972)
* ''
Le Cimetière des arlequins'' (1973)
* ''
Au-delà du délire'' (1974)
* ''
Émile Jacotey'' (1975)
* ''
Par les fils de Mandrin
''Par les fils de Mandrin'' is the fifth album by the French progressive rock band Ange, released in 1976.
Track listing
#"Par les fils de Mandrin" (C. Décamps/J.M. Brézovar) – 4:48
#"Au café du Colibri" (C. Décamps/J.P. Guichard) – 4:0 ...
'' (1976)
* ''
Tome VI : Live 1977'' (1977, 2LP, 1CD)
* ''
En concert : Live 1970-1971'' (1977, 2LP, 1CD)
* ''
Guet-Apens'' (1978)
* ''
Vu D'un Chien'' (1980)
* ''
Moteur!'' (1981)
* ''À propos de...'' (1982)
* ''
La Gare de Troyes'' (1983)
* ''
Fou
Fou may refer to:
People
* Fou Fonoti (born 1991), American football player
* Fou Ts'ong (born 1934), Chinese pianist
* Pama Fou (born 1990), Australian rugby union player
Other uses
* Fou (instrument) (ç¼»), an ancient Chinese percussion ins ...
'' (1984)
* ''
Egna'' (1986)
* ''
Tout Feu Tout Flamme... C'est Pour De Rire'' (1987)
* ''
Sève Qui Peut
''Sève Qui Peut'' is a concept album by the French progressive rock band Ange about the French revolution, it was also a play and a ballet. It was released in 1989.
Track listing
Side One:
#"Aimer / Haïr" – 07:55
#"Vivre Avec Le Cœur" †...
'' (1989)
* ''Vagabondages'' (Compilation) (1989)
* ''Les Larmes Du Dalaï Lama'' (1992)
* ''Mémo'' (Compilation) (1994)
* ''Un P'tit Tour Et Puis S'en Vont : Live 1995'' (2CD, 1995)
* ''Ad Libitum'' (3CD Compilation, 1999)
* ''Tome 87 (Live)'' (2002)
* ''Ange En Concert : Par Les Fils De Mandrin (Millésimé 77)'' (2003)
Christian and Tristan Décamps era
* ''
La Voiture À Eau
''La Voiture À Eau'' is a Studio album by the French progressive rock band Ange. It was released in 1999.
Track listing
# "Le Rêve Est À Rêver ème Service – 05:55
# "Psychosomagique Génie" – 06:20
# "Eureka" – 02:24
# "Bilboquet" ...
'' (1999)
* ''Rêves Parties'' (2000, live, 2CD)
* ''Culinaire Lingus'' (2001)
* ''?'' (2005)
* ''
Le Tour De La Question
''Le Tour De La Question'' is a Live album by the French progressive rock band Ange
Ange (English: Angel) is a French progressive rock band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, ...
'' (2007)
* ''
Zénith An II
''Zénith An II'' is a live album by the French progressive rock band Ange
Ange (English: Angel) is a French progressive rock band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, acoustic ...
'' (2007, live, 2CD)
* ''
Souffleurs De Vers'' (2007)
* ''
Souffleurs De Vers Tour'' (Live CD+DVD, 2009)
* ''
Le Bois Travaille Même Le Dimanche'' (2010)
* ''
Escale À Ch'tiland
Escale À Ch'tiland is a Live album by the French progressive rock band Ange
Ange (English: Angel) is a French progressive rock band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, acoust ...
'' (2CD+DVD, 2011, live)
* ''Moyen-Âge'' (2012)
* ''Emile Jacotey Résurrection'' (2014)
* ''Emile Jacotey Résurrection Live'' (CD+DVD, 2015)
* ''La Bataille du sucre'' (2015, ltd ed w/ 4 songs)
* ''Heureux'' (2018)
Christian Décamps & Fils
* ''Le Mal D'Adam'' (1979)
* ''Juste Une Ligne Bleue'' (1990)
* ''Nu'' (1994)
* ''V'soul Vesoul V'soul'' (1995)
* ''3ème Étoile À Gauche'' (1997)
* ''Poèmes De La Noiseraie'' (1998)
* ''Murmures'' (2003)
* ''Psychédélice'' (2008)
* From 1999 on, Ange Fanclub ''Un pied dans la marge'' has produced at least 20 CD or DVD containing mostly live material.
Personnel
Current members
* Christian Décamps -
Lead vocals
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...
,
Keyboards
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Musi ...
(after 1970)
* Tristan Décamps - Keyboards, Backing Vocals (after 1997)
* Hassan Hajdi -
Guitars (after 1997)
* Thierry Sidhoum -
Bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range:
** Bass (instrument), including:
** Acoustic bass gui ...
(after 1997)
* Benoît Cazzulini -
Drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
(after 2003)
Former Members
* Francis Décamps - Keyboards, Vocals (1970–1995)
* Jean-Michel Brézovar - Guitars (1970–1977, 1988–1989, 1991–1995)
* Jean-Claude Rio - Rhythmic Guitar (1970)
* Patrick Kachanian - Bass, Flute (1970)
* Daniel Haas - Bass (1971–1977, 1988–1995)
* Gérard Jelsch - Drums, Percussions (1970–1974, 1994–1995)
* Guénolé Biger - Drums, Percussions (1975)
* Jean-Pierre Guichard - Drums (1976–1981, 1988–1992)
* Claude Demet - Guitars (1978, 1990)
* Gérald Renard - Bass (1978–1979)
* Mauro Serri - Guitars (1979)
* Jean-Marie Schreiner - Drums (1979, 1990)
* J. Frieden - Keyboards (1979)
* J. Migaud - Keyboards (1979)
* Robert Defer - Guitars (1980–1981, 1990)
* Didier Viseux - Bass (1980–1981)
* Frederick Chojnacki - Bass (1980–1981)
* Serge Cuénot - Guitars (1982–1987, 1990)
* Laurent Sigrist - Bass (1982–1987)
* Gabriel Troyan - Bass in ''Tout feu tout flamme'' (1987)
* Jean-Claude Potin - Drums (1982–1986)
* Francis Meyer - Drums (1987)
* Martine Kesselburg - Choir in ''Tout feu tout flamme'' (1987) - Vocals (1990)
* Eva Santi - Choir in ''Tout feu tout flamme'' (1987)
* Bruno Nion - Vocals in ''Sève qui peut'' (1989)
* Fabrice Bony - Drums (1993)
* Jean-Pascal Boffo - Guitars (1995)
* Hervé Rouyer - Drums, Percussions (1995, 1997–2002)
* Caroline Crozat - Vocals, Choir (2001–2010)
Timeline
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Period = from:01/01/1970 till:07/01/2018
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Colors =
id:Chant value:red legend:Vocals
id:Claviers value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:Guitare value:green legend:Guitars
id:Basse value:blue legend:Bass
id:Batterie value:orange legend:Drums
id:Flute value:gray(0.5) legend:Flute
id:Rythmique value:brightgreen legend:Rhythmic_Guitar
id:chœur value:pink legend:Choir
id:Albums value:black legend:Studio_Albums
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at:03/12/1975 color:black layer:back
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at:29/03/1977 color:black layer:back
at:05/10/1978 color:black layer:back
at:22/09/1980 color:black layer:back
at:18/06/1981 color:black layer:back
at:27/03/1982 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1983 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1984 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1986 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1987 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1989 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1992 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1999 color:black layer:back
at:23/05/2001 color:black layer:back
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at:04/03/2007 color:black layer:back
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at:21/05/2012 color:black layer:back
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bar:fd text:"F. Décamps"
bar:td text:"T. Décamps"
bar:frieden text:"J. Frieden"
bar:migaud text:"J. Migaud"
bar:brezovar text:"J.-M. Brézovar"
bar:demet text:"Claude Demet"
bar:serri text:"Mauro Serri"
bar:defer text:"Robert Defer"
bar:cuenot text:"Serge Cuénot"
bar:boffo text:"J.-P. Boffo"
bar:hajdi text:"Hassan Hajdi"
bar:kachanian text:"P. Kachanian"
bar:haas text:"Daniel Haas"
bar:renard text:"Gérald Renard"
bar:viseux text:"Didier Viseux"
bar:chojnacki text:"F. Chojnacki"
bar:sigrist text:"Laurent Sigrist"
bar:sidhoum text:"Thierry Sidhoum"
bar:rio text:"Jean-Claude Rio"
bar:jelsch text:"Gérard Jelsch"
bar:biger text:"Guénolé Biger"
bar:guichard text:"J.-P. Guichard"
bar:schreiner text:"J.-M. Schreiner"
bar:potin text:"J.-C. Potin"
bar:meyer text:"Francis Meyer"
bar:bony text:"Fabrice Bony"
bar:rouyer text:"Hervé Rouyer"
bar:cazzulini text:"Benoît Cazzulini"
bar:crozat text:"Caroline Crozat"
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bar:cd from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Chant
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bar:schreiner from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991 color:Batterie
bar:potin from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1987 color:Batterie
bar:meyer from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1988 color:Batterie
bar:bony from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994 color:Batterie
bar:rouyer from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 color:Batterie
bar:rouyer from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2003 color:Batterie
bar:cazzulini from:01/01/2003 till:end color:Batterie
bar:crozat from:01/01/2001 till:01/06/2010 color:Chant
width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:cd from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1996 color:Claviers
bar:cd from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Claviers
bar:fd from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1996 color:Chant
bar:td from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Chant
bar:kachanian from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1971 color:Flute
bar:crozat from:01/01/2001 till:01/06/2010 color:chœur
Bibliography
*''Ange, le livre des légendes'' subtitled ''L'anthologie définitive sur le groupe mythique du rock français'' by Thierry Busson, Xavier Chatagnon and Bruno Versmisse, 292 pages, Éclipse éditions, 1995.
See also
*
Timeline of progressive rock
This is an introductory page to timelines of artists, albums, and events in progressive rock and its subgenres. While this page shows the formation of significant bands in the genre, the detailed timeline is presented in separate articles for eac ...
References
External links
Un pied dans la marge, the official fanclub of the band (in French)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ange
French progressive rock groups
Musical groups established in 1970
Musical groups disestablished in 1995
Musical groups reestablished in 1999
Musical groups from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté