Charge 69

Charge 69 is a group of Punk rock'n'roll French, even European.

History

1993… The " wave; Alternate Français" blow yourself, the punk hexagonal rock'n'roll vibrates with the sounds of PARABELLUM, SHERIFF and other CORPSES and the Epitath scene is then still unknown general public…

It is at this beginning of year that the small peroxidized bass player of group PKRK and his accolyte of SKAFERLATINE benefit from a stay of Spirou of Metz-native ground MOLODOÏ to found LOAD 69. The combo wants to be before a a whole business of fans… No plan of career at the horizon nor no desire for appearing original, the trio will try to make the same music as their preferred formations: The U.K. SUBS, COCKNEY REJECTS and STIFF LITTLE FINGERS. Capes with low, Laurent in the capacity as martelor of barrels and with the song and Spirou with the guitar will foam the bars and concert halls during more than one year until the departure of this last which wished advantages of being devoted to MOLODOÏ. Only and single vinyl trace of this formation will appear on estampillée compilation streetpunk: " The ball of the vauriens" …

Without wasting time, it from now on duet is put in the search of novel members to supplement the line-up. By chance, PKRK (whose Capes was still the bass player) divided the poster with an small group of Colmar which made great impression near our two punk rockers. The guitarist Jeremya (HEYOKA, I WOULD HAVE LIKED, BRIGADA FLORA MAGON) had a particular play and seemed to be able to obtain what he wanted of his six cords, Sandro as for him was equipped with a éraillée voice corresponding exactly to waitings of LOAD 69.

The agreement between the 4 musicians was done around a beer as of the end in the concert. From there, all goes very quickly for them. The repetitions and the concerts intensify as well as the various sessions studio. The EP " Patchwork" will be the testimony of this period ostentation for the group. A very particular disc since, in addition to the fact of being distributed and in a hurry by 4 different labels, it marked a record in the punk scene in France in term of sales.

Unfortunately, in 96, Jeremya informs CAPES and Laurent that it does not wish any more to continue, preferring to practice a punk more radical and politicized rock'n'roll… Sandro decides to follow his/her friend and turns over to Alsace. By the force of the things, Capes and Jeremya will only be found well later…

CHARGE 69 will spend little time to recover from this painful separation. The guitarist Richard (PKRK) took over then Gilles immediately comes to associate with the song. At this stage, the Metz-native quartet has the appearance of a leader of the European scene streetpunk as well as German of OXYMORON. And curiously, it is precisely in Germany that the group meets the most success. More half of the dates of concerts are carried out beyond the rhine, which is astonishing being given the difficulty that meet the French groups to export.

Between the performances live, CHARGES 69 works enormously on their first album… The disc will be recorded first once by Pascal Canlas but the group, knowing exactly how must sound the album, decides to leave the bands on side and offers the services of the producer American Ian Burgess which seems more at ease and willing to fulfill the requirements of the Residents of Metz.

Finally, " Jugée" appearance; leaves into 97 on the label Capes Combat Rock'n'roll and immediately makes the effect of a bomb within punk microcosm. This disc will remain like one of most important years 1990, as well by its production as by its intrinsic qualities. Punk rock'n'roll ragor of " Politiciens" in Oi! mid tempo of " Unité" , while passing by the white reggae of " Johnny good boy" , " Jugée" appearance; find in its diversity the means of joining together two cultures closely dependant in the past but having crossed one relatively dark period, namely the punk culture and skinhead. From a purely commercial point of view, this disc is regarded as an authentic success since it largely exceeds the 10.000 copies venduea throughout the world, which is a very impressive figure if it is considered that the group profited from no promotion. Festivals, Split ep, compilations are connected at such a rate that Capes decides to be devoted only to LOAD 69 and Combat Rock'n'roll, which results in the death of PKRK which did not correspond in any case any more to waitings of its bass player…

In 99, leaves in the vats maximum the 4 titles " Area sacrifiée" who does nothing but confirm all the hopes placed in the group. The formula remains unchanged… LOAD profits then from an element which is cruelly lacking with the remainder of the hexagonal punk scene of this period, namely: an identity and a sound. Consequently, criticisms, rumors and jealousy become the daily batch of the group. Combat Rock is pointed finger as well as the apolitical attitude of the combo. CHARGE 69 answers its detractors while leaving its second album " Your laws are not our règles" in 2001. Recorded to Ian Burgess, this disc moves away from its predecessor by accentuating the melody side of the group. " Autorité" , " Never pareil" , " Time meilleurs" … as many titles which make of this second opus a monument of the punk rock'n'roll… Obviously, the fanzinat seeks to destabilize and to discredit the machine CHARGES… One reproaches the lightness of certain texts, the aspect minus Oi! and too conventional of the disc until the too clean and asepticized sound. In spite of these attacks, for the majority of a great exemption from payment, Capes, Laurent, Richard and Gilles take again the way in the concerts and take part even in the original soundtrack of film of Lech Kowalsky " Underground Factory" Boot; and collaborate even with Charlie Harper the U.K. SUBS.

Whereas the group prepares the concerts for the promotion of the second album, Richard, who had already shown lassitude during the recording of " Your laws are not our règles" , decides to leave the group to devote themselves fully to the construction of Internet sites and incidentally to play in bars in way plus intimist with the former singer of PKRK. Yann, a friend of Gilles, thus takes over… Although less at ease with the guitar, Yann fulfills perfectly its role during nearly one year… Meanwhile, LOAD 69 will see the maximum " Area sacrifiée" to transform itself into 8 titles and concerts to accumulate at the point to leave spare time to no member of the group… Unfortunately, environment within the group worsens and yet, it is the moment when LOAD 69 meets the most success… One does not count any more the detesting number of people of the tee-shirts to the effigy of the group in the concert halls and European self-managed places…

July 2001, the Metz-native scene is made up of almost ten groups, the public moves in mass with each concert, the peaks and spikes flowers with each corner of street… The heritage of LOAD 69 is in place… But in spite of acquired notoriety and satisfaction to have created a true active local scene, the group separates… Gilles and Yann desert Metz. As for Capes and Laurent, they strongly hesitate to take again their functions… But their passion devouring for the punk rock'n'roll prevents them from sinking in the musical inactivity… The two founding members audition a good part of the musicians rock'n'roll of the area, without much success…

During this time, the albums continue to be sold and it group is obliged to refuse dates in concerts… until the arrival of Brice to the battery (Laurent wishing to devote itself to the guitar and the song) and Psycho meuh' China with the second guitar. CHARGE 69 connects the repetitions, composes without stopping and accumulates the small concerts with an aim of grinding this new formation. At this time, compilation doubles CD " Words, laughter, tears and pleurs" leaves to the sale. This disc which, even if it does not offer the coherence of an album, especially makes it possible to discover the quasi-integrality of the new songs of LOAD (faces B, alternate versions) but offers especially the occasion to young people to discover the recordings with Spirou, Jeremya, Santo… Avoiding to the maximum the truces, 69 participle with a round with group SKARFACE CHARGES and reassures most of their fans with the 4 titles " Even Direction" who proposes the song of Laurent, not undergoing the comparison with that of Gilles. Aggressive but O how much more powerful, the voice of from now on the guitarist/singer makes it possible LOAD 69 to explore other facets of the punk rock'n'roll… This disc, having for claim only to show that the Metz-native quartet did not die, is relatively well accommodated even if one is in right to wait more of the third album " Sale" universe; …

The exit of the disc " Sale" universe; was unfortunately handicapped by problems of distribution what partly explains the weaker passion around this third album which however pains to find the federator side of the 2 opus preceding and which seems per moment to suffer from a production minus incisor and a side a little precipitated (1 resumption of the U.K. Subs, 2 titles, moreover excellent, already available on the maximum " even direction" , a piece new but altered PKRK " far east" have the appearance of a filling). For as much, " universe sale" we offers great moments as with this impressive reggae " retrouvailles" , this Punk anthem rock'n'roll " rock'n'roll star attitude" and these songs immediately catchy such " return to the sources" , " to disconnect the machine" or " small mensonges" … 2004 and 2005 will be the occasion for Charge 69 to play through Europe but also to leave on the other side of the Atlantic in their Quebec cousins the Trigger (Split-Cd will be born from this round)…

The year 2006 will see the departure of Psycho möchine worms of other musical projects and the return of Jeremya (with meanwhile an interlude carried out by Romain of the Néophyte group for 3 dates)… When that the punk rocker of Colmar joined to it from now on trio, the group has already places there about fifteen songs for one 4th album studio intelligently entitled Internal conflict… Sure that this new disc will be able to satisfy the faithful public that the group has sû to preserve during these 14 years…

Discography

February 1996: 45 turns " Patchwork" (4 titles)
March 1997: Split 45 turns with THE BRUISERS (the U.S.A.)
December 1997: Album CD " Appearance jugée" 15 titles
December 1998: Maximum MINOR ROAD 4 titles " Area sacrifiée"
1998: Split EP with NCA " Chtrakery & karghedoul"
November 2000: Album MINOR ROAD 15 titles " Your laws are not our règles"
November 2002: Mini MINOR ROAD 4 titles " Even direction"
October 2003: Album MINOR ROAD 14 titles " Sale" universe;
September 2007: Album MINOR ROAD 16 titles " Intern" conflict;

External bonds

Official site

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