Téléphone () was a French

rock band A rock band or pop band is a small musical ensemble that performs rock music, pop music, or a related genre. A four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. In the early years, the configuration was typically two guita ...

formed in 1976. Their first, self-titled album was released in 1977; by the end of the decade they were one of the biggest French rock bands in the world, opening shows for

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

, the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. The band split in 1986 for personal reasons. They have sold around 10 million albums to date, a record still unbeaten for a French rock band. Among their best-known songs are "Hygiaphone", "Métro c'est trop" ("Metro's Too Much"), "La bombe humaine" ("Human bomb"), "Argent trop cher" ("Money Too Expensive"), "Ça c'est vraiment toi" ("That Is So You"), "Cendrillon" ("Cinderella"), "New York avec toi" ("New York City With You") and "Un autre Monde" ("Another World").

Members

* Jean-Louis Aubert - guitar, piano, vocals * Louis Bertignac - guitar, vocals * Richard Kolinka - drums *

Corine Marienneau Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) is a European programme initiated in 1985 by the European Commission, aimed at gathering information relating to the environment on certain priority topics for the European Union (air, water, ...

- bass, piano, vocals

Reformation as "Les Insus" (2015-2017)

The band reunited briefly for a concert at the Point Éphémère on 11 September 2015 under the name "Les Insus" (; ''insupportables'', meaning insufferable. The elided name also suggests the word ''portable'', meaning "cellphone" in French, thus implying an upgrade to modern times). Les Insus were composed of Aubert, Bertignac and Kolinka but with the bassist Corine Marienneau replaced on the bass guitar by Aleksander Angelov (hence the reason they were not able to use the name "Téléphone"). Another concert was given in Lille on 15 September. Les Insus also gave a concert in Lyon, at Le Transbordeur, on 6 October 2015. On 29 November 2015 the new group announced a real tour in France (in which Corine Marienneau would not participate) for 2016. The tour was scheduled from 27 April to 11 November in several major cities and several festivals. On 12 November, they announced a tour of the festivals in summer 2017 and a final gig at the ''Stade de France'' on 15 September. The live album ''Les Insus Live'' was released on 8 September.

Discography

Studio albums

*''

Téléphone Téléphone () was a French rock band formed in 1976. Their first, self-titled album was released in 1977; by the end of the decade they were one of the biggest French rock bands around, opening shows for The Rolling Stones in Paris, Quebec, th ...

'' (1977) - peaked in FRA at #2 *''

Crache Ton Venin ''Crache Ton Venin'' is the second album by French rock band Téléphone. The title, translating literally as 'Spit Your Venom', is also the name for the album's opening track. Released in 1979, it was the album that cemented Téléphone's position ...

'' (1979) - peaked in FRA at #2 *''

Au Cœur de la Nuit ''Au cœur de la nuit'' is an album by French rock band Téléphone, released in 1980. The French edition of ''Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was found ...

'' (1980) - peaked in FA at #3 *''

Dure Limite ''Dure Limite'' is the fourth studio album by French rock band Téléphone, released in 1982 on Virgin Records. The French edition of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine named this album the 3rd greatest French rock album (out of 100).Magazine ''Rolling St ...

'' (1982) - peaked in FRA at #1 *''

Un autre monde ''Un autre monde'' (''Another World'') is the fifth and final album by French rock band Téléphone, released on 7 May 1984 by EMI France. The album features John Entwistle (of English rock band The Who) playing the horn. Track listing Person ...

'' (1984), featuring

John Entwistle John Alec Entwistle (9 October 194427 June 2002) was an English musician who was the bassist for the rock band The Who. Entwistle's music career spanned over four decades. Nicknamed "The Ox" and "Thunderfingers", he was the band's only member ...

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

- peaked in FRA at #2

Live albums

;Les Insus *2017: Les Insus - ''Hygiaphone'' (Live 2017)

Compilation albums

DVDs

*1980: ''Téléphone Public''

Singles

*2012: "Ça (C'est vraiment toi)" (re-release) - peaked in FRA at #133

Awards

Album ''Un autre monde'' won French awards "Victoire de la musique Album Rock" in 1985.

References

External links

Téléphone official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Telephone Musical groups established in 1976 French rock music groups Pathé-Marconi artists Musical groups from Paris