Active until 1999 Genre Punk | Active from 1989 Record label Tir Groupé | |
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Albums Que tombent les masques, En attendant demain..., Engrenages, Sous un ciel écarlate, Au Coeur de la Tempête Similar Bérurier Noir, Akuma, Groovy Aardvark, Molodoï, Jeunesse Apatride | ||
Banlieue Rouge was a punk band from Montreal, Quebec formed in 1989. They disbanded in 1999.
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Banlieue Rouge was formed in 1989 in Longueuil. Heavily influenced by French punk rock bands such as Bérurier Noir, they started with a drum machine, which was eventually replaced by Jeff on drums. Their lyrics being written in French, worldwide success was unlikely to ever be reached. However, they did manage to gain considerable popularity in France and Quebec along with the release of their third studio album "Engrenages", in 1993.
In 1999, after four full-length albums (plus one live and one best-of) and ten years of touring in America and Europe, the band finally broke up. Xavier went on to form Corrigan Fest, later joined by Sylvain. They play traditional Celtic music mixed with punk. Safwan went on to form Akuma, an angrier, louder hardcore punk band with bilingual (French/English) lyrics.
"Banlieue Rouge" translates as "Red Suburb". On their debut album, En Attendant Demain (Intro, "Psaume Rouge"), it is explained that this refers to their status as "a suburb of the megacity of pop music, unknown to the masses." As for the "red" part of the name, "Red is shock, anger, revolt, free youth is red-painted, of disobedience and militant alternative red." «Bienvenue en Banlieue Rouge!»
Historically, banlieues rouges were Parisian suburban communes dominated by the French Communist Party. "Banlieue Rouge" is also a well-known song by French singer Renaud.
On May 25, 2003, Banlieue Rouge made its entire catalogue available for free downloading at banlieuerouge.propagande.org.
Discography
Members
Songs
Sous un ciel écarlateSous un ciel écarlate · 1996
L'Auberge des trépassésEngrenages · 1993
Comme une flamme trop forteEngrenages · 1993