Trust (French band)

History

Trust was founded in 1977 by Bernard "Bernie" Bonvoisin (vocals, lyricist), Norbert "Nono" Krief (guitar, composer), Raymond "Ray" Manna (bass guitar) and Jean-Émile "Jeannot" Hanela (drums). The band released its first single "Prends Pas Ton Flingue" ("Don't Take Your Gun with You") in the same year. This record was re-released when the band made its first short-lived comeback in 1992.

Trust rose to fame in 1979 and 1980 with their music, which mixed hard rock influences, acerbic social and political commentary, anarchist undertones and a renegade attitude à la MC5. Trust's success was also due to Krief's stature as a French guitar hero and Bonvoisin's sincere and mature lyrics, as well as his raw energy in live performances. Their 1980 hit song "Antisocial", taken from the album Répression, criticized the frenetic, dehumanizing pace of modern life and work in large cities. Its English adaptation by Anthrax on the 1988 Album State of Euphoria is pretty rough and mild compared to the original lyrics: "You spend a lifetime working to pay for your own tombstone, You hide your face behind the newspaper, You walk like a robot in the subway corridors, Nobody cares about your presence, It's up to you to make the first step". Trust were helped on English lyrics for the Répression album by Jimmy Pursey of British punk band Sham 69, who may have helped translate the songs' aggressive political messages. Songs such as "Le Mitard" (1980) attacked what Trust claimed was an excessively repressive handling of juvenile delinquency, featuring texts from public enemy number one Jacques Mesrine. Other major political songs includes "Darquier" (1980) commenting on notorious Nazi Germany collaborator Louis Darquier de Pellepoix, and "Mr Comédie" (1980) criticizing Ayatollah Khomeini, who was in exile in France at the time, depicting him as a "torturer". "Les Brutes" (1980) describes the savage acts done by the Warsaw Pact military forces at the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia, "H & D" (1979), with "H & D" standing for "Hôpital & Débiles" ("Asylum & Psychos"), accuses the Soviet Union and its secret services (KGB) of suppressing dissent by sending political opponents to psychiatric hospitals under fake diagnoses.

The style of singer Bernie Bonvoisin was compared to that of Bon Scott from AC/DC, with whom Trust had a friendly relationship. "Ride On" by Bon Scott's AC/DC was covered in Trust's '79 debut album. 1980's Répression dans l'Hexagone live album, featured the covers of the AC/DC songs "Problem Child" and "Live Wire". The live album was released as Trust Live twelve years after its recording by Sony Music France to coincide with AC/DC's famed Live album release in France. However, the band members denied using such a marketing strategy, claiming the masters they thought were lost had been found the same year by coincidence.

From 1983 onwards, the band came under increasing criticism for its less "incisive" sound and the frequent changes of drummers (e.g. Nicko McBrain quit the band after Savage to join Iron Maiden).

Trust disbanded in 1984, but Bonvoisin and Krief later re-formed occasionally for records and concerts, eventually "compromising" their typical hard rock sound with 2000s French rap acts including Suprême NTM.

The band's most successful song "Antisocial" was covered by Anthrax on their 1988 State of Euphoria album (adapted to English, although a French version of the song is also available) and became one of their most popular songs and videos. A live version of the 12" single for "Make Me Laugh" features Bonvoisin on vocals with Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna.

In early July 2008, Trust's original line-up reformed to perform a 1979 to 1986 best of gig at the Festival des Terres Neuvas. In September 2008, a new album, 13 à table (Thirteen at the Table) was released.

In 2012 Bernie stated that there will be no Trust reunification and also no remastered albums. However, later in the year the band was added to the Sonisphere France line-up.

Albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Boxed sets

Tribute