Les Colocs were a major musical band of the Quebec music scene of the 1990's.

Profile

Founded in 1990 and fronted by Dédé Fortin, Les Colocs gave Quebecois unique songs colored with humanity, simplicity and social conscience (especially regarding poverty). They marked the history of Quebec music with their sound, infused with brass sounds, first very wild and festive, later more mellow, as well as more inspired by swing,country,blues and african music. This new direction inspired a collaboration with the Senegal-born Diouf brothers for the album Dehors novembre.

The group promoted tolerance and had a multicultural line up (for example, Mike Sawatzky is a Cree from Saskatchewan, André Vanderbiest is from Belgium and Patrick Esposito Di Napoli was from the French Catalonia). Dédé Fortin (as well as other members like Serge Robert, later to be known as Mononc' Serge) was a passionate Quebec sovereigntist and brought the band to play an important role in the 1995 Quebec referendum via partisan shows. They were part of the resurgence of political songwriting in Quebec, after a drought in the 1980s and part of the 1990s. They were past contenders in the music band contest L'Empire des futures stars.

The festive nature of many of their songs is sharply contrasted by a difficult destiny, marred by the 1994 death of member Patrick Esposito Di Napoli, a victim of AIDS; the band effectively came to an end in 2000 when frontman Fortin took his own life by harakiri. They are considered to hold a major place in the history and evolution of the music of Quebec and are still loved by many music fans.

Members

• Dédé Fortin (songwriting, vocals, guitar, drums, etc.)
• Mike Sawatzky (guitar, saxophone & harmonica)
• Serge Robert (double bass; later known as Mononc' Serge, quit after "Atrocetomique" for a solo career)
• André Vanderbiest (double bass; replaced Serge Robert)
• Patrick Esposito Di Napoli (harmonica; died of AIDS in 1994)
• Jimmy Bourgoing (drums, quit before recording "Dehors novembre")
• Justin Allard (drums, replaced Jimmy Bourgoing)
• Jean-Denis Levasseur (clarinet & saxophone; joined for "Dehors novembre")

Discography

• (1993) Les Colocs
• (1995) Atrocetomique
• (1998) Dehors novembre
• (2001) Les Années 1992-1995
• (2001) Suite 2116
• (2004) Live 1993-1998

Videography

• Les Colocs: L'integrale 1993-2000

See also

• List of Quebec musicians
• Culture of Quebec

External links

• Official Site
• Extensive French Wikipedia Les Colocs information
• Official Forum
• Fan Site
• Audio excerpts on Archambault.ca