Beau Dommage

In 1970 Michel Rivard, who played guitar and sang, joined forces with author and composer Pierre Huet to launch Quenouille bleue at the University of Quebec in Montreal, where the project was created specifically for art-show performances. Robert Leger was brought in on keyboards and vocalist/pianist Marie-Michele Desrosiers arrived soon afterward, leading the group to adopt the name Beau Dommage in 1973. Capitol Records signed the band, whose lineup also featured drummer Real Desrosiers and bassist Pierre Bertrand, and two years later the members issued their self-titled debut. Ou Est Passe la Noce? appeared the same year, followed by Un Autre Jour Se Leve en Ville in 1977. Rivard and Marie-Michele Desrosiers both wanted to pursue solo work while the remaining members were prepared to move on, so Beau Dommage disbanded after issuing Passagers and Les Grands Succes de Beau Dommage in 1978. The musicians reunited in 1984 for a one-off live concert; recordings from the Montreal shows were later assembled into the two 1985 releases Au Forum de Montreal and 26 et 27 Octobre 1984 Au Forum de Montreal. In 1988 the greatest-hits collection Leurs Plus Grands Succes reached stores.