Marc Zermati

Career

He was the founder of Paris's Skydog label, which issued its first release, the Flamin' Groovies' Grease 7" EP in May 1973, pre-dating Stiff Records by over 3 years. He owned the Open Market record shop in Paris, Les Halles selling mostly US garage and punk rock music from London, Amsterdam and New York City, forming the first independent shop distribution in France with Hendrix, Morrison, Winter recordings Sky High, Velvet Underground, given by Lou Reed and Brigid Polk. Zermati then issued recordings by US visionary Kim Fowley, an MC5 single and album and from the thriving UK R&B scene of the time, Ducks Deluxe and The Tyla Gang as well as More Grease from the Groovies. Skydog Records issued the first Motörhead single in 1977, Leaving Here.

In 1976 and again in 1977, Marc organised the "first European punk rock festival" in the French town of Mont-de-Marsan.

In the 90s he set up a record label called "Kind of Groove" as a SKYDOG Sublabel, presenting experimental, electronic & acid jazz music. Bands like the Japanese/French U.F.O., the German Marc Ashmann or the French/American CFM Band did several records on this label.

Festival & tour organisator

Productions