LES SANS CULOTTES - biographie

The "eight-headed beast from the hard-scrabble streets of Menilmontant," Les Sans Culottes borrowed their name from the ill-clad (i.e., long-trousered) citizen soldiers of the French Revolution. The famous disposers of the House of Bourbons have been on a binge ever since springing wholly-formed in the fashion of Pallas Athena from the forehead of band leader, Clermont Ferrand, in 1998.

The band has released five recordings, the most recent of which 2004's "Fixation Orale" soared to #18 in the CMJ charts before succumbing to anti-French "freedom fry" hysteria. They have had songs licensed and featured in a national commercial for HP, Touchstone films' (and Rob Schneider star-vehicle) "The Hot Chick" and 2005's Quentin Tarantino- produced Miramax release "Daltrey Calhoun." The band's music was also featured extensively on MTV's "Surf Girls" and "The Real World." They've headlined such venerable New York City venues as Bowery Ballroom, Joe's Pub, Southpaw, Mercury Lounge, and have shared the stage with The Electric Six, Holly Golightly, and Detroit Cobras, amongst others.

Les Sans Culottes' first album for Vibratone Records, titled "Le Weekender," takes its signature sound--a snarling Serge Gainsbourg backed by The Hives, effortlessly mixed with cooing 60's girl-group harmonies--and adds a diversity previously unexplored by the band.

The band toys with a hint of lounge on "La Semaine a Deux Jeudis," revels in the infectious pop of "Merci Beacoup" and "Les Enfants Terribles," and dives head-on into Detroit aggro-garage rock in "Basquiat" and "Les Monstres Du Ca." Yet each of the album¹s 13 tracks retain a common thread -- the unmistakable, inimitable spark of Les Sans Culottes.

The band's sound has variously been described as "Tristan Tzara and Little Richard in a knife fight," "Kim Fowley and Serge Gainsbourg in a game of pictionary," and "Laetitia Costa, Marcel Duchamp, Tuli Kupferberg, and Charo playing spin the bottle." Yet everyone agrees it has to be believed to be seen. It is Grand Guignol rock au maximum French rock for English speakers and others.

Les Sans Culottes take-no-prisoners live shows have "Earned a reputation forexcessively fabulous performances and intoxicatingly catchy pop music in the mold of Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Dutronc." (NY Daily News). "Their live show is a BUH-last, and they bring a veritable Cirque de SLAY stage presence." (DJ Terre T- WFMU).

Both modern French Revolutionaries (by way of Brooklyn) and sartorially stylish (culotteless!) maverick rock n rollers Les Sans Culottes are coming to your town to help you party down -- after all, they're an americain band.

The band's new album "Le Weekender", released on Vibratone Records, is now available.