Offenbach (band)

Offenbach
General information
origin	Montreal , Quebec , Canada
Genre (s)	Blues rock
founding	1969, 1995
resolution	1985
Website	www.offenbachrocks.com
Founding members
Singing, barrel organ	Gérald Boulet (Jerry) († 1990)
Singing, congas	Pierre Harel (Harel) (until 1974)
guitar	Jean Gravel (Johnny)
Electric bass	Michel Lamothe (Willie) (until 1977)
Drums	Denis Boulet (Le Vieux) (until 1972)
Current occupation
singing	Ghislain Robidas (since 2015)
Guitar, saxophone, flute, organ	John McGale
bass	Domenic Romanelli (since 2014)
piano	Eric Sauvé (since 2015)
Vocals, drums	Mike Landry (since 2013)
former members
Drums	Roger Belval (Wezo) (1973-1977)
Drums	Pierre Lavoie (1977–1978)
Vocals, bass	Breen Le Bouef (1977–1985)
guitar	Doug McCaskill (Wezo) (1977–1985)
Drums	Norman Kerr
Drums	Pierre Lavoie
singing	Martin Deschamps
Drums	Bob Saint-Laurent
Keyboard	Bernard Quessy (2008-2012)
bass	Robby Bolduc (2007-2014)

The band Offenbach is from the Canadian Quebec native blues-rock band of 1969 to 1985 was, to 1996 reunited and still exists today.

Band history

Offenbach was founded in 1969 in Montreal , Quebec as Offenbach Soap Opera . In 1972 the band signed with the independent label Barclay Records , where their debut album Offenbach Soap Opéra was created in 1972 . By this time they had already shortened their band name to Offenbach.

In 1973 the album Saint-Chrone de Néant followed , on which the band collaborated with the world music band Les Chanteurs de la Gamme D'Or and various other musicians. It was a rock mass in front of 3,000 spectators, which was performed and recorded in the St. Josephs Oratory in Montreal.

In 1973 the soundtrack for the film Bulldozer followed , which singer Pierre Harel also directed. In 1975 the double LP Tabernac appeared on the Deram label. The live album was recorded during a tour through France and Holland. The concert film of the same name was also made on the tour. The album was reissued in 2015 on the occasion of Record Store Day .

In 1976, the band signed with A&M Records , where their second regular album and the first English-language album, Never Too Tender, were released in 1977 . Shortly afterwards the two members Lamonthe (bass) and Wezo (drums) got out and were replaced by Pierre Lavoie and Norman Kerr. However, both did not last long and were replaced by Breen Leboeuf and Robert Harrisson in 1978.

A self-titled album was released in 1977, followed by Traversion in 1978 . With this album, the band won the prestigious Félix Award for the first time. 1979 the band was allowed to play as the first group from Quebec in the Montréal Forum .

In 1980 the English-language album Rock Bottom and the live album Offenbach en Fusion were released , which was also awarded a Félix. The band also received the 1980 award for best group and best show. Now the most commercially successful phase of the band began. The album Coup de Foudre was released in 1981, Tonnedebrick in 1983 and Rock O Rama in 1985 together with Michel Rivard . The hit Seulement qu'une aventure comes from the latter .

In 1985 the group ended their career. Her farewell concert in the Forum was released in 1985 as a live album Le Dernier Show .

From 1986 to 1995

Many members pursued their solo careers between 1986 and 1995. Gerry Boulet, whose 1988 album Rendez-vous doux was awarded a Félix, died on July 18, 1990 of cancer. In 2011 the film Gerry , a biopic by Alain Desrochers, was released .

Breen LeBoeuf, who founded the group Buzz Band together with John McGale and played bass for Celine Dion , was successful . Jean Gravel founded Patriotes. John McGale released a solo album and worked with Isabelle Boulay , Dan Bigras and Julie Masse .

Reunion

In 1996 the band got back together for the first time. Gravel, LeBoeuf and McGale completed the group with drummer Bob Saint-Laurent, keyboardist Bernard Quessy and singer Martin Deschamps. Martin Deschamps had just won the talent show L'Empire des futures stars . The band performed in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick for two years . During this time, two best-of albums, Les 20 plus grands succès (1999) and Les 20 plus grands succès, volume 2 were released .

In 2004 the song Câline de blues received a SOCAN Classic Award for more than 25,000 uses on the radio. In 2005 the album Nature followed , an unplugged album of their greatest hits. To promote the album, the band played with April Wine and Michael Pagliaro .

In 2007 the box set L'Ultime was released , a double CD and a DVD with the farewell concert from 1985. In the same year LeBoeuf left the group to join April Wine. Robby Bolduc replaced him. In 2011 Mike Laundry joined the band as the new drummer and singer.

In 2013 the live album Live à Montreux was released , which included the 1980 performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival . On July 18, 2015, the band performed with Justin Boulet , his son, in memory of Gerry Boulet .

In 2016 the band again played a rock mass in the St. Josephs Oratorio.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1972: Offenbach Soap Opera ( Barclay Records )
• 1976: Never Too Tender ( A&M Records )
• 1977: Offenbach (A&M Records)
• 1978: Traversion ( CBS Records )
• 1980: Rock Bottom (CBS)
• 1981: Coup de Foudre (Spectra Scène)
• 1983: Tonnedebrick (CBS)
• 1985: Rock O Rama (CBS)

Live albums

• 1973: Saint-Chrone de Néant (Rockmesse, Barclay Records)
• 1975: Tabernac (2LP, Deram)
• 1979: En Fusion (avec Le Vic Vogel Big Band, Spectra Scène)
• 1986: Le Dernier Show (2LP, CBS)
• 2014: Live à Montreux 1980 (Buzz Records)

Compilations

• 1975: Les Grands Succès Barclay Vol. 20 (Barclay Records)
• 1989: C'était Plus Qu'une Aventure 1972 à 1985 (Disques Doubles)
• 1992: 1-3-5 (3CD, RCA )
• 1992: 2-4-6 (3CD, RCA)
• 1995: Les Incontournables Rock De V'Lours ( BMG Records )
• 1996: Les Incontournables Blues (BMG)
• 2002: Les 20 Plus Grands Succès (Clé de Fa)
• 2002: Les 20 Plus Grands Succès Vol. 2 (Clé de Fa)
• 2007: L'Ultime (Boxset, Disques Helena)

Other albums

• 1973: Bulldozer (Soundtrack, Barclay Records)
• 1983: À Fond D'Train "Live" (split LP with Plume, CBS)
• 1999: Le Dernier Show Au Forum (DVD / VHS, Lions Gate Films)
• 2005: Nature (Avec Martin Deschamps, acoustic album, Select)

Singles

• 1973: Caline de Doucx Blues (Barclay Records)
• 1973: Dies Irae (Barclay Records)
• 1975: Quebec Rock / Ma Patrie Est a Terre (Deram)
• 1975: Hotel Univers (Barclay Records)
• 1976: Never Too Tender (A&M Records)
• 1976: High Down (A&M Records)
• 1977: Chu'un Rocker (A&M Records)
• 1978: Bye Bye (Kébec disc)
• 1978: Mes Blues Passent Pu Dans'porte / Je Chante Comme Un Coyote (Kébec-Disc)
• 1979: Câline de Blues (Spectra Scène)
• 1980: Rock Bottom (Spectra Scène)
• 1980: Strange Time (Disc'Az)
• 1980: Ride, Ride, Ride (CBC Records)
• 1981: Ouv'Moe Ta Porte (Spectra Scène)
• 1981: Rock de V'lours (Spectra Scène)
• 1983: Zimbabwe (CBS)
• 1985: Seulement Qu'une Aventure (CBS)
• 1985: La Louve (CBS)

Web links

• Official website of the band (French)
• Offenbach bei Discogs (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Artist Biography by John Bush at Allmusic (English)
2. ↑ ^{a b} David Bureau: Rock à l'Oratoire Saint-Joseph, signe des temps qui changent ... Saint-joseph.org, June 8, 2016, accessed on May 27, 2018 . 
3. ^ Bulldozer (1974) in the Internet Movie Database (English). Retrieved May 26, 2018
4. ↑ TABARNAC - Offenbach. Progarchives.com, accessed May 27, 2018 . 
5. ↑ Offenbach - Tabarnac. Discogs , accessed May 27, 2018 . 
6. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Robert Thérien; Andrew McIntosh: Offenbach ( English, French ) In: The Canadian Encyclopedia . March 19, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
7. ↑ Gerry (2011) in the Internet Movie Database (English). Retrieved May 26, 2018
8. ↑ Bio. (No longer available online.) Mike Laundry, archived from the original on August 6, 2016 ; accessed on May 27, 2018 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.