**** MISE À JOUR ****
 |
| Les Pharaons |
The story begins in Laval, circa 1962-63. Gilles Labrie, guitarist, and Peter Boismenu, guitarist and singer has his hours, form Stringrays Together, a group inspired instrumental surf, twist, rock'n'roll and hot rod music. Add to them a drummer and cousin to Gilles Labrie bass.
 |
| The Stingrays |
The Stingrays are engaged for a few gigs in the dance halls of school.
After winning a competition of orchestras at the Bar Le Baron de Cartierville, they are noticed by a certain Pierre Fortier, who offers them find their commitments. This is probably how The Stingrays drop a contract together for the Auto Show Palais du Commerce. A decorated cars perfect for this young quartet that bears the name of a race car and giving the music hot rod!
Pierre Fortier found their commitments in bars, then the first batter of training left. Jean De Sève, a new drummer joined them, changing the style of the group completely. It adds the finishing touch to a composition of the group will be known later as the March of the Martians .
musicians begin to buy the right equipment, including guitars Fender Jaguar. Pierre and Gilles Boismenu work in one place. At dinner time, they listen to the play Hou Lops CHLT TV. Like Hou Lops, Gilles Labrie obtains a Echocord. The sound is now full of stingrays.
House Band Club Ye-Ye's Café St-Jacques
 |
| The Pharaohs in a pose ... égyptonique! |
On stage at the Café St-Jacques, the concept of the Pharaohs is playing in the dark, dressed in white, with white gloves, lit only by black lights . The visual result would be amazing for the time!
Musically, their style evolved. They become more and more funky.
"What you hear on the 45 laps ... it was to be part of the gang," says Labrie. It was not exactly what they were playing live. Their repertoire is heavily influenced by R'n'B. They take the Nino Ferrer, James Brown and several other successes in the genre.
Moreover, Gilles Labrie said it was not uncommon to see a young Pierre Perpall, aspiring James Brown Quebec, attending shows of the Pharaohs at Café St-Jacques. On some occasions, they invite Pierre Perpall to sing on stage with them a few pieces from the repertoire of Soul Brother # 1.
The first recordings
The Pharaohs - Cheers girls
The first 45 laps of the Pharaohs was launched in 1965 on label Laval (LF-419). It includes girls Cheers, Peter Boismenu composition and, oddly, a song another group, facing B. These are two and 1 / 2, another training run by Pierre Fortier. The Two and 1 / 2 to resume Wooly Bully Sham the Sham and The Pharaohs (another reference Pharaonic!), Which is in French, Want want.
The Two and 1 / 2 form a fantastic trio composed of two men of normal size and a third of very small size ... hence the "1 / 2"! They have recorded only one song, here it is.
The Two 1 / 2 - want, want
The second 45 laps of the Pharaohs is probably still their most important. The
egytpo-maniac that I am can only tripper on The Pharaohs, not only for them, but also for their music. Particularly in their instrumental piece Walking Martians , released in 1965 on label Laval (LF-418). Wow! What sounds strange. It lies somewhere between surf here, jerk, teen beat, garage ... looove! The Echocord Gilles Labrie thoroughly and the drum beat discreet but strange ... everything is there to give one of the oddest songs that is comparable to the mysterious The theme of the cemetery Monsters group, which appeared on the compilation Garage Sale Vol. 2: Instrumentals obscure and weird in cha-cha.
The Pharaohs - The March of the Martians
One night a guy from the National Film Board observes the concerts of the Pharaohs at the Café St-Jacques. He visited them backstage and asked to play Walking Martians. Two days later, they are invited to enter the studio to record a new version of March of the Martians , lying with a refrain more.
The Pharaohs - The March of the Martians Version NFB
(Thanks to Simon Psyquébélique for this record)
The character of the NFB are also asked to record several strange sound effects, sound near the composition of Mars. It also requires them to invent a different song in the same genre. The group improvises so another song. The Pharaohs assign all rights to the NFB. These recordings are used in many NFB films throughout the 60s, including a documentary on directed by Denys Arcand Volleyball !
Fuzz and distortion
"The Miserable, it was our buddies, remembers Gilles Labrie. While we were playing at Playgirl, they played at St-Jacques. After our shows, we jumped in a taxi to go to the Café St-Jacques. One evening we arrive ... we expect to see the Rolling Stones! The guys on stage dressed all wrong ... we were not accustomed to seeing it in that time, everyone was clean cut! Y'ont long hair, there are smoking their cigarettes su'l internship. Are sounded like the Rolling Stones. [Distortion] was Gerry Bribosia [Les Misérables], the first to have it in Montreal with his Echolette. This is a pre-amp it. Put the Y sound in Boutte, worse it worked!
When we recorded I can not satisfy you ... two weeks later, I discovered that sound. I wanted to return to the studio to redo it, but it was too late. "
The Pharaohs then launch a version of Satsifaction Stones in French, which does not meet Gilles Labrie at the sound of the guitar. The face B, entitled The jerk, is sung (with a voice falseto) by Labrie himself!
The Pharaohs - I can not satisfy you
The Pharaohs - The jerk
Gilles Labrie remembers: "I was part of a group of guitarists in search of new sounds. The guitarist also was part of Chancellors. The bending was not commenced within that time. We bought sets of strings acoustic guitar, the bass on Scraps, we climbed all the strings of a bad check we took a small string banjo for the girl. We did the bending with that! After that we were in the Search distortion. In Step ... it started there [distortion]. "
The Pharaohs then launch their first song with the fuzz in 1966, still on label Laval. Step is a cover of Walk That Walk David Clayton-Thomas and The Shays. It has also been compiled on Quebec in the wind flight. 2 .
The Pharaohs - Step
The Pharaohs tour
The Pharaohs then go play Rouyn, Maroon Lounge at the Hotel Albert, for 3 months.
On Sunday evening the group went to 150km away, in St-Eugène-de-Guigues, Témiscamingue, to play in a dance hall where all groups were passing. "It was a sort of to tractor shed, a round building," recalled Mr. Labrie.
There were between 600 and 900 people every Sunday night. Youth everywhere it went. Ontario to Val d'Or. Indeed, the only concert The Pharaohs will suit their pharaohs is given in St-Eugène-de-Guigues. Little interest in this ridiculous costume, the group will not wear again. Mr. Labrie is still talked about, laughing and refuses to show the promo photo of the group with its Pharaonic costume. During their visit in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, they meet Cleo Mo and The Crazy Legs (group led by Maurice Belanger, Rouyn-Noranda, former bassist of Caesar and the Romans), and Jacques Michel (originally from Abitibi), they had already met in Montreal.
 |
| The Pharaohs in concert, 1966 |
Back in Montreal, Pierre Fortier their manager tells them they are part of a tour with Tony Roman, Nanette Workman of freshly landed USA, The Yellow Clothes, etc.. Particular, they play at the Quebec Coliseum. A live album would have been saved. But no trace of this Registration today. Gilles Labrie remembers that the relationship of the Pharaohs with Tony Roman was very rough.
Upon their return, they are engaged in Playgirl, for almost a year, on top of the famous Casa Loma. Pierre Fortier leaves the managers of the Pharaohs to sing with Monsters.
During 6 months, The Pharaohs, The Preachers, and a Latin American group has shared the stage in a room in Montreal. Gilles Labrie remembers very well the Preachers' guitarist Robert Goulet, I sat before him, before the scene bad ... sickens me! ... He pulled that one! They were r'n'b: organ , drum, guitar ... it was Robert Hetu who played the organ ... B3 a big ... and he sang with excellent voice rhtyhmn and blues. "
Back to St. Jacques where there is a new project in the air.
Batman
During the 60s, not only in Quebec, but a little around the world, the phenomenon of super-hero Batman has a quite incredible. The television series was immensely popular and his famous theme song was picked up by hundreds of groups from all genres (surf, garage, soul, frat .. . etc!).
In 1966, management of the Café St-Jacques decides to turn his 3rd floor club concept Batman, issue of surfing the wave of popularity of super heroes bat man.
And lather this concept, we propose the Pharaohs to dress up as characters from Batman and becoming the house band at all new Club Batman. The group agreed, but they also offer a character who will play Batman, he's André Moisan, also from Laval, who was master of ceremonies at St-Jacques. He became known under the name John Andrew. The cast is complete. Each member of the group was dressed as a protagonist of the show. Naturally, the singer was Batman, Batman Andrew John did. Other group members were Gilles Labrie as Robin, Jean De Seve as the Joker, the Penguin as Denis Côté and Pierre Boismenu as the Riddler.
For the promotion, the group moves in a Batman car Corvair convertible decorated with the image of Batman: a true imitation of the Batmobile! At Télémétropole, Gilles Labrie, aka Robin, is invited to drive the Batmobile in the studio, while Batman has to jump off the bat-car to start his performance. Miscalculation, self slipping into the cameras ... passing very close to killing a few cameramen!
 |
| Batman in concert, 1966 |
songs found there are only two band compositions.
The rest of their repertoire consists mostly of covers of French songs.
Batman - The invincible Batman
The disc was released in 1966 on label Shock (C-0055). There are two gems: The invincible Batman and Poor prankster. BIFF! BANG! POW! It hurts! The fuzz is law on both sides of the 45s, a veritable masterpiece of obscure garage Quebec. With such a Bat-45s, it was evident that the man bat would triumph over evil.
Batman - A bad joker
During the year 1966, both Batman and The Pharaohs embark on a tour of Quebec company of Monster, whose career is discussed in great length on Garage Sale . The project
Batman there is barely a year, during 1966.
Café St-Jacques is threatened by the construction of UQAM, the business is less good, the Batman Club closes its doors.
suite for André Jean
Around 67-68 appears on label Carousel (same label as The Pixies, among others), a great 45s garage assigned to Jean Andre. Is this the same man who sang in Batman? If we rely on the audacity of the lyrics and music, I'm willing to bet yes.
Jean André - Hey man, TRRPT!
Andre John speaks of a generation of young hippies who care about psychedelics and derive any language to normal people, hence the title of this excellent piece Hey man, trrrpt! , composed and produced by Francois Carel, which was discussed on Garage Sale, in connection with his song I care about all , aired in the Episode 15: Quebec Black Soul (Part 2) . Carel has produced and sang on several songs pretty raw, but still uptempo, label Carrousel. He has a particular sound, usually accompanied by copper, which is found on the song Andre Jean too. Hey man, TRRPT! is another of his daring productions.
The Pharaohs after Batman and Gilles Labrie
After Batman, Gilles Labrie of the Pharaohs and the guys form the band r'n'b, soul and funk, The Invaders, in 1967. They are also, nearly 12 hours a day, Saturdays and Sundays, the site of Expo 67, in a place called "The devil's den", located near the Ferris wheel. They then became The Soul Invaders when they add a horn section. The Soul Invaders unfortunately did not throw.
About 1971, Daniel Labrie, Gilles' son, was born. Gilles steps back from music.
After a few years, the group approach Moebius Gilles Labrie asked him to join them.
 |
| Gilles Labrie, in concert with Moebius |
For several years, beginning 80, Gilles Labrie is less active. From 1985 to 1992, he sailed off with a group LG Retro. He then formed The Apollo whose repertoire revolves around success for years 50-60.
Today, Gilles Labrie still plays music with the band Retroactive.
So here is finally assembled several pieces of a puzzle worthy of the Riddler!
Thanks to Daniel and Gilles Labrie for all information and documents.
0 comments:
Post a Comment