Trust was a French
hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...
band founded in 1977 and popular in Europe in the first half of the 1980s. The band is best known for guitarist
Norbert "Nono" Krief's prowess, for
Bernard "Bernie" Bonvoisin's voice reminiscent of
AC/DC
AC/DC (stylised as ACϟDC) are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm Young, Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and Heavy metal ...
's
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980.
Born in Forfar in Angus, Scotland, ...
and for his lyrics about social and political themes.
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
's drummers
Nicko McBrain
Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain (born 5 June 1952) is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1982. Having played in small pub bands since 1966 from the age of 14, McBrain paid his bills after grad ...
and
Clive Burr
Clive Ronald Burr (8 March 1957 – 13 March 2013) was an English drummer. He was a member of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden from 1979 to 1982.
Career
Previously a member of Samson, Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979. Auditioning and joining ...
were part of Trust line-up in the 1980s.
The band disbanded in 1985 and reformed in the 2000s for live shows and new recordings.
History
Trust was founded in 1977 by
Bernard "Bernie" Bonvoisin (vocals, lyricist),
Norbert "Nono" Krief (guitar, composer), Raymond "Ray" Manna (bass) and Jean-Émile "Jeannot" Hanela (drums).
The band released its first single "Prends Pas Ton Flingue" ("Don't Take Your Gun with You") in the same year. This record was re-released when the band made its first short-lived comeback in 1992.
Trust rose to fame in 1979 and 1980 with their music, which mixed hard rock influences, acerbic social and political commentary, anarchist undertones and a renegade attitude à la
MC5
MC5, also commonly called The MC5, is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The original line-up consisted of Rob Tyner (vocals) Wayne Kramer (guitar), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar), Michael Davis (bass), and Dennis ...
. Trust's success was also due to Krief's stature as a French guitar hero and Bonvoisin's sincere and mature lyrics, as well as his raw energy in live performances. Their 1980 hit song "
Antisocial
Antisocial may refer to:
Sociology, psychiatry and psychology
*Anti-social behaviour
*Antisocial personality disorder
*Psychopathy
*Conduct disorder
Law
*Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003
*Anti-Social Behaviour Order
*Crime and Disorder Act 1998
*P ...
" from the album ''
Répression
''Répression'' is the second studio album by French hard rock/metal band Trust (French band), Trust. It was released in 1980 (in France) and was dedicated to Bon Scott, the recently deceased lead singer of AC/DC; the English version was released ...
'' criticized the frenetic, dehumanizing pace of modern life and work in large cities. "Le Mitard" of the same album attacked what Trust claimed was an excessively
repressive handling of juvenile delinquency, featuring texts from public enemy number one
Jacques Mesrine
Jacques Mesrine (; 28 December 1936 – 2 November 1979) was a French criminal responsible for numerous murders, bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings in France, the US, and Canada. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made in ...
and the song "Monsieur Comédie" criticizes
Ayatollah
Ayatollah ( ; fa, آیتالله, āyatollāh) is an Title of honor, honorific title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy in Iran and Iraq that came into widespread usage in the 20th century.
Etymology
The title is originally derived from ...
Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Khomeini, Imam Khomeini ( , ; ; 17 May 1900 – 3 June 1989) was an Iranian political and religious leader who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the founder of ...
, who was in exile in France at the time, depicting him as a "torturer". To translate the songs' aggressive political messages Trust were helped on English lyrics for the Répression album by
Jimmy Pursey
James Timothy Pursey (born 9 February 1955) is an English people, English rock musician. He is the founder and frontman of the punk rock band Sham 69, which he has performed with since 1976, along with releasing material as a solo artist.
Early ...
of British
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
band
Sham 69
Sham 69 are an English punk rock band that formed in Hersham in Surrey in 1975. They were one of the most successful punk bands in the United Kingdom, achieving five top 20 singles, including "If the Kids Are United" and "Hurry Up Harry". The ...
.
The English adaptation of the song "Antisocial" however is pretty rough and mild compared to the original lyrics. While the first four lines in the french version translate to "''You spend a lifetime working to pay for your own tombstone, You hide your face behind the newspaper, You walk like a robot in the subway corridors, Nobody cares about your presence, It's up to you to make the first step''", the English version reads "''You're a train ride to no importance, You're in love with hell existence, Money is all that you desire, Why don't you pack it in and retire''".
Other major political songs includes "Darquier" (7" Single, 1979) commenting on notorious
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
collaborator
Louis Darquier de Pellepoix
Louis Darquier (19 December 1897 – 29 August 1980), better known under his assumed name Louis Darquier de Pellepoix, was Commissioner-General for Jewish Affairs under the Vichy Régime.
Biography
A veteran of World War I, Darquier had been ac ...
, "Les Brutes" (from the 1981 album ''Marche Ou Crève'') describes the savage acts done by the
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact (WP) or Treaty of Warsaw, formally the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, was a collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland, between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republic ...
military forces at the
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring ( cs, Pražské jaro, sk, Pražská jar) was a period of political liberalization and mass protest in
the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. It began on 5 January 1968, when reformist Alexander Dubček was elected First Sec ...
in
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
, "H & D" (from the 1979 album L'Élite), with "H & D" standing for "Hôpital & Débiles" ("Asylum & Psychos"), accuses the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
and its secret services (
KGB
The KGB (russian: links=no, lit=Committee for State Security, Комитет государственной безопасности (КГБ), a=ru-KGB.ogg, p=kəmʲɪˈtʲet ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪn(ː)əj bʲɪzɐˈpasnəsʲtʲɪ, Komitet gosud ...
) of suppressing dissent by sending political opponents to
psychiatric hospitals
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental health hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, are hospitals or wards specializing in the treatment of severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, dissociative ...
under fake diagnoses.
The style of singer
Bernie Bonvoisin
Bernard Bonvoisin (), known as Bernie Bonvoisin (, born 9 July 1956 in Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine), is a French hard rock singer and film director. He is best known for having been the singer of Trust.
He was one of the best friends of Bon Scott ...
was compared to that of
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980.
Born in Forfar in Angus, Scotland, ...
from
AC/DC
AC/DC (stylised as ACϟDC) are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm Young, Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and Heavy metal ...
, with whom Trust had a friendly relationship.
"Ride On" by Bon Scott's AC/DC was covered in Trust's '79 debut album. 1980's ''
Répression dans l'Hexagone
''Live'' (aka Répression Dans l'Hexagone) is a 1992 album by French hard rock band, Trust. It was released as a single album twelve years after its recording in 1980. The album has been considered the closest thing to a greatest hits album in th ...
'' (''Repression in
the Hexagon
The Hexagon is a multi-purpose theatre and arts venue in Reading, Berkshire, England. Built in 1977 in the shape of an elongated hexagon, the theatre is operated by Reading Borough Council under the name "Reading Arts and Venues" along with S ...
'') live album, featured the covers of the AC/DC songs "Problem Child" and "Live Wire". The live album was released as ''
Trust Live
Trust often refers to:
* Trust (social science), confidence in or dependence on a person or quality
It may also refer to:
Business and law
* Trust law, a body of law under which one person holds property for the benefit of another
* Trust (bus ...
'' twelve years after its recording by
Sony Music France to coincide with AC/DC's ''
Live
Live may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film
* ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film
*'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD)
Music
*Live (band), American alternative rock band
* List of albums ...
'' album release in France. However, the band members denied using such a marketing strategy, claiming the masters they thought were lost had been found the same year by coincidence.
From 1983 onwards, the band came under increasing criticism for its less "incisive" sound and the frequent changes of drummers (e.g.
Nicko McBrain
Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain (born 5 June 1952) is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1982. Having played in small pub bands since 1966 from the age of 14, McBrain paid his bills after grad ...
quit the band after ''Savage'' to join
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
).
Trust disbanded in 1985, but Bonvoisin and Krief later re-formed occasionally for records and concerts, eventually "compromising" their typical hard rock sound with 2000s French
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
acts including
Suprême NTM
Suprême NTM (), or simply NTM, is a French hip hop band formed in 1989 in Seine-Saint-Denis. The band comprises rappers JoeyStarr and Kool Shen. Their 6 albums were released by Sony Music Entertainment.
The group takes its name from the Fr ...
.
The English version of the band's most successful song "Antisocial" was covered by
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
on their 1988 ''
State of Euphoria
''State of Euphoria'' is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on September 19, 1988, through Megaforce/ Island Records.
Album information
''State of Euphoria'' was produced by Anthrax and Mark Dods ...
'' album and became one of their most popular songs and videos. A year later Anthrax also recorded the French version of the song which is featured on their 1989 EP ''
Penikufesin
''Penikufesin'' is the third Extended play, EP by the American thrash metal band Anthrax (American band), Anthrax. Culled from the ''State of Euphoria'' sessions, it was released in August 1989 on Megaforce Records/Island Records.
Background
The ...
''). A live version of the 12" single for Anthraxs' song "Make Me Laugh" features Bernie Bonvoisin on vocals together with Anthrax singer
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna (born Joseph Bellardini; October 13, 1960) is an American singer, best known as the vocalist for thrash metal band Anthrax. He is also the vocalist and drummer of the cover band Chief Big Way. Belladonna has six Grammy Award nom ...
.
In early July 2008, Trust's original line-up reformed to perform a 1979 to 1986 best of gig at the Festival des Terres Neuvas. In September 2008, a new album, ''13 à table'' (''Thirteen at the Table'') was released.
In 2012, Bonvoisin stated that there will be no Trust reunification and also no remastered albums.
However, later in the year the band was added to the Sonisphere France line-up.
Discography
Albums
* 1977 ''Prends Pas Ton Flingue / Paris By Night''
PFrance
* 1979 ''Trust I'' (L'Élite) France, United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Japan CBS 83732
* 1980 ''
Répression
''Répression'' is the second studio album by French hard rock/metal band Trust (French band), Trust. It was released in 1980 (in France) and was dedicated to Bon Scott, the recently deceased lead singer of AC/DC; the English version was released ...
'' France, Germany PFC 90610 CBS
* 1980 ''Repression'' (English version of ''Répression'') United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Japan, Canada S CBS 84958
* 1981 ''Marche Ou Crève'' France, Germany, Italy EPIC EPC 85238 (with Nicko McBrain on drums)
* 1982 ''Savage'' (English version of ''Marche Ou Crève'') United Kingdom, United States, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Japan (with Nicko McBrain on drums)
* 1983 ''Trust IV'' (Idéal) France, Germany EPC 25666 (with Clive Burr on drums)
* 1984 ''Man's Trap'' (English version of ''Trust IV'') United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Netherlands (with Clive Burr on drums)
* 1984 ''Rock'n'Roll'' France, Canada
* 1988 ''En attendant...''
PFrance, United Kingdom, United States
* 1992 ''Prends pas ton flingue''
PFrance
* 1993 ''The Back Sides''
PFrance EPC 473916-2
* 1996 ''Europe et Haines'' France Wea 0630-16712-2
* 2000 ''Ni Dieu Ni Maître'' France XIIIBIS Records 526 291 PM 125
* 2008 ''13 à table'' France Universal Mercury 5311096
* 2018 ''Dans Le Même Sang''
* 2019 ''Fils de lutte''
* 2022 ''Propaganda''
Live albums
* 1988 ''Live: Paris By Night'' (recorded at Bercy Sep 24/25,1988 on the
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual hard rock and heavy metal music festival held in Castle Donington, England, from 1980 to 1996, taking place every year except 1989 and 1993. It later branched into other locations such as the Netherlands, Poland, ...
tour with
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
,
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
, and
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weik ...
) France, United States
* 1992 ''Répression dans l'Hexagone (Live)'' (
Répression dans l'Hexagone
''Live'' (aka Répression Dans l'Hexagone) is a 1992 album by French hard rock band, Trust. It was released as a single album twelve years after its recording in 1980. The album has been considered the closest thing to a greatest hits album in th ...
1980 tour) France
* 1997 ''A Live Tour 97'' (''Insurrection dans l'Hexagone'' tour) France
* 2000 ''Still A-live'' (German edition of ''A Live Tour 97'', contains a bonus 6-track EP) Germany
* 2006 ''Soulagez-vous dans les urnes!'' (2006 tour, contains 3 new studio tracks) France
* 2009 ''A L'Olympia'' (2008 tour, Rockpalast 1982 gig added in the limited CD + DVD edition)France
* 2017 ''Hellfest 2017 : Au nom de la rage tour'' (recorded during the
Hellfest
Hellfest (), also called Hellfest Summer Open Air, is a rock festival focusing on heavy metal music, held annually in June in Clisson, France. Its high attendance makes it the French music festival with the largest turnover. It is also one of ...
) France
Compilation albums
* 1981 ''
Heavy Metal Soundtrack'' - Includes a version of "Prefabricated".
* 1997 ''Anti Best of'' France, Germany
* 2001 ''Les Indispensables De Trust'' (Original versions) France
* 2002 ''Les Plus Belles Chansons'' (Canadian edition of "''Les Indispensables''", original versions) Canada
* 2004 ''Le Meilleur Des Années CBS'' (Original versions) France
Boxed sets
* 1997 ''Trust I / Repression'' France, United States
* 2008 ''"Les Annees CBS", EU (11CD Boxset)''
Tribute
* 2001 ''Tribute to Trust''
AFrance
References
External links
Official forum(in French)
(in German)
{{Authority control
French heavy metal musical groups
French hard rock musical groups
Musical groups established in 1977
Musical groups disestablished in 1985
Musical groups reestablished in 1988
Musical groups disestablished in 1988
Musical groups reestablished in 1996
Musical groups disestablished in 2000
Musical groups reestablished in 2006
Musical groups disestablished in 2006
Musical groups from Paris