Les sauterelles

Les sauterelles
	; Les Sauterelles, 1967 as the opening act for the Rolling Stones concert in the Hallenstadion in Zurich
	General information
Genre (s)	Rock'n'Roll / Beat
founding	1962, 1988
resolution	1970/1971
Website	www.sauterelles.ch
Founding members
	Toni Vescoli; François Garzoni
Current occupation
	Toni Vescoli ; Kurt Dürst (since 1966); Freddy Mangili (1965–1971, since 1992); Peter Glanzmann (since 1993)
former members
	François Garzoni (1962–1963); Toni Quero (1962–1964); Günther Sohr (1962–1963); Otto Ritschard (1962–1965); Vera Vescoli (1963–1965); Otto Bumbacher (1963–1964); Peter Stettler (1964); Jörg Stocker ( 1964–1966); Bruno Merz (1964–1966); Enzo Ernst (1966–1968); Rolf Antener (1966–1968, 1969); Willi Öchslin (1967–1968); Peter Rietmann (1968); Fioretta and Bernadette Wälle (1969); Mike Stoffner (1969 ); Werner Fröhlich (1969); Roberto Carlotto (1969)

Les Sauterelles is a Swiss band around Toni Vescoli , which celebrated successes especially in the 1960s. The band actually made their breakthrough in 1968 with the single Heavenly Club .

Band history

Foundation and emergence of the band name

The original formation of Les Sauterelles was founded in September 1962. It was more of a coincidence when Toni Vescoli met two students from French-speaking Switzerland on September 19, 1962 who were studying in Zurich. Like Toni Vescoli, they appeared at the Brunnenhof radio studio in Zurich to take part in the preliminary rounds for a guitar festival in Lausanne . At this point, Toni Vescoli was already in contact with the drummer François Garzoni.

However, this founding formation did not survive more than a few trial dates. The ideas of the two band members from western Switzerland and those of Toni Vescoli and François Garzoni with regard to setting priorities and the time available were too different. Just a few weeks after the band was founded, they separated. How loose the contacts with the two students were at the time is shown by the fact that not even their names are known today. But they have left an unmistakable legacy, the “French” sounding band name Les Sauterelles (in German “Die Heuschrecken”).

New band members and first concerts as a professional band

Toni Vescoli (vocals / guitar) and François Garzoni (drums) did not give up on their plans for their own rock'n'roll band. In response to an advertisement, Toni Vescoli contacted a guitar teacher who was looking for students who wanted to train themselves in rock'n'roll. Toni Quero, however, was unable to find students, but suggested himself as a band member (lead guitarist) and brought Günter Sohr into the band as the second guitarist. Finding a bass guitarist turned out to be a little more difficult. For the time being, Peter Furrer stepped in, but he showed no intention of getting involved in the long term.

The band gave their first concerts mostly in youth cellars. The technical equipment was initially very improvised, but the band was soon able to afford more professional instruments and amplifiers on payment. Musically, The Shadows were considered a role model.

Otto Ritschard, the friend of Toni Vescoli's sister Vera, also expressed great interest in joining the band. Otto Ritschard was accepted into the band as a bass guitarist, although he had never played a guitar before. However, since Toni Quero was a guitar teacher in the band, he was able to teach him the necessary knowledge.

As early as the spring of 1963, Les Sauterelles were facing their first major upheaval. Toni Vescoli had successfully completed his training as a structural draftsman, but abandoned his plans to study architecture at the university and preferred to work as a professional musician. François Garzoni (commercial training) and Günter Sohr were not prepared to take this step as well. Both left the band. Toni Quero brought Otto Bumbacher into the band as the new drummer. Both knew each other from previous joint appearances in an entertainment orchestra.

Toni Vescoli still had to complete the recruit school in the summer / autumn of 1963 before his dream as a professional musician could be realized. On December 26th, 1963, the time had come, the band had their professional engagement in Laax , which however only lasted until January 1st due to lack of snow and missing guests. The band has meanwhile been supplemented by Toni's sister Vera in the area of singing and dancing.

The Swiss Beatles

Although further engagements were announced soon, the band members could not live from the music alone for the time being. With the clever move to advertise themselves as The Swiss Beatles , their level of awareness quickly increased significantly, which also had an impact on the number of engagements. Soon the Les Sauterelles were busy with their music. The fact that the Les Sauterelles initially only had two Beatles songs in their repertoire despite their new nickname The Swiss Beatles did not detract from their success.

In St. Moritz , the Les Sauterelles played as an “attraction band” in addition to the “house band”. This resulted in a “flying change” in that “by mutual agreement” Otto Bumbacher switched to the “house orchestra”, in an “exchange” with Peter Steffen.

The Les Sauterelles have meanwhile also been hired in western Switzerland and Ticino . Their musical style continued to be based mostly on the music of The Shadows . The first foreign engagement in Cologne proved less successful . The musical style of Les Sauterelles was not desired, and the planned monthly engagement therefore ended after a few days.

Pause and restart

The disappointment of the failed foreign engagement in Cologne was deep. The band had to deal intensively with the question of whether their music style or music repertoire was still up-to-date, as the audience expected heavier and louder tones , among other things due to the advent of the Rolling Stones . To make matters worse, despite certain successes and commitments, the big money could not yet be earned. Toni Quero couldn't get used to a new direction and left the band. But Toni Vescoli also considered a possible exit from the band and dreamed of joining a band abroad (as a bass guitarist). The uncertainty about the future direction and concert engagements also moved Peter Steffen to earn a living elsewhere as a drummer.

Although now a drummer and lead guitarist were missing, Toni Vescoli let the two remaining band members convince him to continue with the Les Sauterelles.

Bruno Merz wanted to join as a new guitarist. But since, like Toni Vescoli, he only mastered the rhythm guitar , Toni Vescoli was practically obliged to take over the lead guitar . Since there were no engagements at that time, the band members had to earn their living elsewhere. Toni Vescoli and Otto Ritschard got a job at Sihlpost . This night job gave Toni Vescoli the time he needed to practice his new role as “lead guitarist” during the day.

The search for a new drummer, who could be found in the person of Jörg Stocker, a trained auto mechanic, was also successful. In autumn 1964 the Les Sauterelles were resurrected in a new formation with a more modern repertoire and polyphonic singing.

Toni Vescoli and Otto Ritschard took a slightly easier job at Blick , and Jörg Stocker (quit his job as a dental technician) and Bruno Merz followed a little later for the same employer. But the band members had a different goal: to make a living as professional musicians.

Life as a professional band

Toni Vescoli already had vocal problems during his first professional engagement in Arosa . Toni Vescoli could not and would not accept the doctor's advice to protect the vocal cords . This with certain consequences, because Toni Vescoli could not use his head voice for years, meanwhile his "normal" voice received its unmistakable tone.

Partly in response to audience reactions, the band thought about parting with their female voice, as Vera Vescoli's type did not fit into the image of a beat band. A decision that could not be easily communicated in the band, as Vera was Toni Vescoli's sister and Otto Ritschard's partner. Although Toni Vescoli initially rejected this approach when the matter was brought to him, he was able to get used to this idea after a certain time.

The game of hide and seek came to an end at a concert in Lucerne . Toni Vescoli informed his sister and her partner and bassist Otto Ritschard of the band's decision. Vera Vescoli left the band crying that same evening, but Otto Ritschard was persuaded after a fit of anger to stay for the time being. However, since the band assumed that Otto would also leave the band when his partner was kicked out, talks with his replacement took place beforehand. Freddy Mangili, previously engaged in the trio The Valentinos , joined the Les Sauterelles as bassist and singer.

The Les Sauterelles became a modern “beat dance band”. In the summer of 1965 the band was busy with engagements in various Zurich bars. For health reasons (lung shadow), drummer Jörg Stocker had to step back a bit in the late summer and was represented by former member Peter Stettler and a little later by Mandi Trappletti. In August, the Les Sauterelles appeared in the Hallenstadion as the opening act for the Cliff Richard & The Shadows concert , thanks to a special medical permit with Jörg Stocker on drums.

The band released their first single Hong Kong / Forget it All on September 15, 1965 . In October 1965 she went into the studio to record the album Swiss Beat Live together with the Zurich group The Counts and the Basel band The Dynamites . The second single I'm a prisoner / Tonight was recorded in Geneva in November .

At the end of 1965 and beginning of 1966, Freddy Mangili was replaced by Enzo (Heinz) Ernst, first provisionally and then definitely. Jörg Stocker was replaced on drums by Düde (Kurt) Dürst, at the end of May Bruno Merz left the band and was replaced by Rolf Antener. In April the single I Love How You Love Me / Janet was recorded. An outstanding event in the band's history was a concert tour to the CSSR in May 1966, which caused quite a stir during the time of the Iron Curtain . The first LP Les Sauterelles was released at the end of September and the next single Hey Girl / Routine at the end of the year .

On January 17, 1966, band leader Toni Vescoli married his wife Ruthli "against the will of his bandmates".

At the beginning of 1967 Toni Vescoli fell out with his band members. However, the band was able to agree again and in March 1967 stood for the next single Aiuto… va semper male! / Il quinto non lo paghi back in the studio. Another highlight in the band's history was April 14, 1967, when the band was able to play in the opening act directly in front of the Rolling Stones . The second tour to CSSR followed in April / May. The band took over the flower power movement during their performances. At the end of August 1967 Enzo (Heinz) Ernst left the band and Willy Oechslin joined the band.

Breakthrough with hit Heavenly Club

Another change is due at the beginning of 1968. Willi Oechslin left the band after only a few months and was replaced by Peter Rietmann. At concerts, the band was supplemented with many guest musicians (strings, Dixie band, children's choir). The band achieved their greatest success with the single Heavenly Club . The disc stayed in the Swiss charts for 13 weeks, of which 6 weeks at position 1. Heavenly Club was the first Swiss song to make it to number 1 in the official charts. The song was not sung by the other lead singer Toni Vescoli, but by guitarist Rolf Antener. The very effective string arrangement for this song was written - at the request of Toni Vescoli - by the symphonic professional musician Erwin Ernst Kunz , Zurich (1937–1982, Tonhalle orchestra musician, Zurich and music theorist). He also orchestrated other Sauterelles songs for their album View to Heaven . These string arrangements ideally suited to the band were recorded in a recording studio in Ludwigsburg, also under the direction of Erwin Ernst Kunz, with German symphonic professional musicians. The second album View to Heaven was released in August . Despite their success, the band faced an uncertain future at the end of the year when “Düde” (Kurt) Dürst announced his departure. On a private level, Toni Vescoli became a father on July 13, 1968 with the birth of his daughter Natalie.

Tape end

The year 1969 was marked by various changes in the band line-up, the only permanent component was band leader Toni Vescoli. For the time being, the band around Toni Vescoli with Fioretta and Bernadette Wälle dwindled to a trio, which was later supplemented with Mike Stoffner and Werner Fröhlich. Werner Fröhlich issued an ultimatum and was replaced as bassist by Turo Paschayan. Rolf Antener joined the band again. Soon the two girls Fioretta and Bernadette Wälle were gone again, but Roberto Carlotto added "the new Sauterelles" (Toni Vescoli, Rolf Antener, Mike Stoffner, Turo Paschayan, Roberto Carlotto) as keyboard player. Despite these many personnel changes, Les Sauterelles released three singles in 1969.

The decline of Les Sauterelles began in 1970 - financial problems, fewer and fewer appearances. Toni Vescoli gave the ultimatum to let the Les Sauterelles live on as an amateur band or to end them. The other band members rejected the proposal of an amateur band, which caused Toni Vescoli to publish an obituary.

The band's reunions

Hardly dissolved, the first reunion took place in 1971 with the line-up from the beginning of 1966 with Toni Vescoli, Düde Dürst, Enzo Ernst and Bruno Merz. After a few appearances (Zofingen, Davos), the first reunion ended that same year. Toni Vescoli then concentrated on his solo career.

Between the years 1988 and 1993 there were four more reunions (according to the way the band counted), with different line-ups. Various appearances at concerts and television programs followed.

From 1996 the band members came together again for a reunion. In addition to smaller festivals and concerts, the Les Sauterelles appeared on July 12, 1998 at the Out in the Green Festival in the opening act of Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker .

At the end of 2007, the Les Sauterelles appeared in the formation with Toni Vescoli, Düde Dürst, Freddy Mangili and Peter Glanzmann. The Les Sauterelles were voted into the final for the “Biggest Swiss Hit”, which was broadcast on Swiss television on December 2, 2007, but were unable to place in the top three.

In 2014 the Les Sauterelles performed at the Hehre Open Air in Zofingen.

In 2018 Les Sauterelles performed in Boswil (Aarau) in the Chillout. Likewise in the Lucerne "Stadtkeller".

Discography

Singles

1965 - Hong Kong / Forget it All
1965 - I'm a Prisoner / Tonight
1966 - I Love How You Love Me / Janet
1966 - Hey Girl / Routine
1967 - Ajuto ... va semper male! / Il quinto non lo paghi
1967 - Routine / Senza ti te
1968 Heavenly Club / Dream Machine
1968 - Montgolfier / Big old sun
1969 - Be Crazy and Dance (Part One) / Be Crazy and Dance (Part Two)
1969 - And the Sun Will Shine / I Threw it All Away
1969 - Stadium on Third Avenue / All Alone
1973 - Hong Kong 73 / It was a Long Time Ago
1981 - Heavenly Club / Montgolfier (Reissue)
2012 - It's Nothing / Evry 5th is Free (recorded 1967)
2012 - Brucerai / It's Nothing (recorded 1967)

Albums (LP)

1965 - Swiss Beat Live
- Liverpool / Cadillac / Hong Kong / What Kind Of Girl are You / The Price of Love / various songs with The Dynamites / various songs with The Counts
1966 - Les Sauterelles
- I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better / Neon City / Cheryl's Goin 'Home / Four Strong Winds / No No No No / I Love How You ove Me / Desolation Row / Every Little Thing / Springtime / Much too Much / Chains of Love / She Belongs to Me / Hey Girl
1968 - View to heaven
- Montgolfier / Big Old Sun / Hippie Soldier / Hello, One Kiss, Goodbye / Good New Times / Where Have All the Flowers Gone / Silly Damsel / Heavenly Club / Homage / Hotel Continental / Dream Machine / It's All Over Now Baby Blue / Auf Wiedersehen
1981 - Heavenly Club (Release View to Heaven)

CD pressings

2001 - Swiss Beat Live (analogue LP 1965)
1990 - View to Heaven (analogue LP 1966)
2002 - The Columbia Recordings 65-67
- The Beat Goes On
- Talking 'bout You / The Price of Love / Mr. Tambourine Man / Italo Medley / Montgolfier / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds / Paperback Writer / And Your Bird Can Sing / Taxman / Hongkong / Walking the Dog / Cadillac / Kinks-Medley / Heavenly Club / Dream Machine / Roll Over Beethoven / Don't Let Me Down