The Needles (Switzerland)
| The Needles | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | skirt |
| founding | 1984 |
| resolution | 1994 |
| Last occupation | |
| Daniel Gautier | |
Vocals, bass
|
Fred Jimenez |
Vocals, guitar |
Serge Pulfer |
Vocals, keyboard
|
Florence Grosjean |
| Bernard Trontin | |
| former members | |
bass |
Narain Jagasia |
Drums |
Alexis Trembley |
Drums |
Arlaud Blaise |
Drums |
Chris Frey |
The Needles were a rock band from Geneva that existed from 1984 to 1994, released several albums and toured regularly in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and France.
They also appeared in 1990 as the first Swiss rock band ever to appear in the Soviet Union (six concerts in Leningrad).
The quintet - along with the (befriended) Maniacs - is one of the best-known bands of the 1980s from French-speaking Switzerland and, according to the Swiss music magazine "Rockstar", one of the best Swiss live bands of all time. They were not only popular in French-speaking Switzerland, "but also in German-speaking Switzerland". The Needles are also featured on the 5-CD anthology “Swiss Pop & Rock from the Beginnings to 1985” (Suisa Foundation for Music / Sound Service) with their “Love Song” (1985). In the essay "La Piqûre du Scorpion, Tome 1" The Needles are mentioned as "crazy music in a Helvetia ruled by stubborn, moral men."
Radio DRS 3 counted their cover version of Bob Dylan's “I want you” among the top five Swiss cover versions: “They succeeded in creating a peppy version that is timeless, as did The Needles with their debut album“ Never looking back ” on the other side of the Röstigraben. "
Her album “Maybe we should do something about the dog” (partly produced by the US songwriter Elliot Murphy ) came in second in the Swiss annual hit parade of independent albums in 1989.
Under the influence of bands like The Flamin Groovies , Paul Collins' Beat, Green on Red , REM , Long Ryders , but also the Ramones and The Barracudas , they played catchy guitar rock and power pop with American influences.
The Needles also went on trips to the rave (or Madchester ), in collaboration with the rap DJ Just One ( Sens Unik ) and with jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz as a guest musician, and the Briton Robin Wills ( The Barracudas ) produced two albums .
Three members of the Needles are still active professional musicians: Bernard Trontin is the drummer of The Young Gods and accompanies various jazz musicians and Alexis Trembley is the accompanist for the chansonnier Polar. Fred Jimenez lives in Paris, is on the road with his own band and is the accompanist for the French singer / songwriter Jean-Louis Murat. Jimenez also played in the band of the writer Michel Houellebecq , as the bassist of the French band AS Dragon , as well as Bertrand Burgalat . In April 2011 Jimenez began performing as bassist for Johnny Hallyday as a member of the band "Les Black Minou".
On December 7th and 8th, 2012 lead singer Daniel Gautier performed live for the first time since 1994: In Geneva and Friborg he played a short “Greatest Hits” in a trio with Alain Croubalian ( Maniacs / Dead Brothers ) and Robin Wills ( The Barracudas ) - Set.
Discography
- 1993 - Back in Color - The Best of (Black Cat, Sound Service)
- 1991 - Waiting for the next Wave (Black Cat, Sound Service)
- 1989 - Maybe we should do something about the dog (Black Cat, Sound Service)
- 1988 - Need some action ( Lux Noise , COD Records)
- 1986 - Never Looking Back (Phantasmagoria in Tow, mini-album)
Solo album
- 2007 - Fred Jimenez: Il est temps maintenant!
- 1997 - Fred Jimenez: You gazon entre les oreilles (Dinemec Rec.)
Compilations
- 1985 - Rock Set 85 (Rock Set, EDis)
- 1985 - Brand New Faces (Bebop Records)
- 1987 - This is Guitar Town (Monomaniac, Calypso Now )
- 1990 - Rock at the Hangar, Volume 1 (Hangar 21, Fink & Star)
- 1990 - Talent of the '90s (Music & Media)
- 1992 - The Lux-Noise-Singles-A-Side-Compilation (Lux Noise, COD Records)
- 1993 - Stop F / A-18 (GSoA, Sound Service)
- 2003 - Swiss Pop & Rock from the beginning until 1985 (SUISA DISC, Sound Service)
- 2008 - Post tenebras rock 25 ans: 1983-2008 (PTR)
Web links
- Fred Jimenez on MySpace
- Fred Jimenez as bassist for Johnny Halliday, April 26, 2011 TV M6
- The Young Gods