Les Vrp

Les VRP originated as a street act in 1988. Rather than merely inheriting the legacy of Bourvil or Les Frères Jacques, they spearheaded an emerging strain of comedy-rock. Erratic during live performances yet consistently strong on record, they stand among the defining acts of French pop in the 1990s. Their cult following arose from relentless invention, a flair for improvisation, and an utter refusal to treat anything with undue solemnity. Audiences were captivated by perpetually refreshed performances and themes that blended cruelty with humor. The group also devised a range of homemade instruments, the best-known example being the contre-bassine, a double bass fashioned from a trash can, a length of cord, and a broomstick. During the peak era of early-1990s French alternative rock they functioned as indie standard-bearers and drew comparisons with established names such as Noir Désir, Les Garçons Bouchers, Bérurier Noir, Les Wampas, and La Mano Negra. Between 1989 and 1992 they issued just three studio albums—Remords et Tristes Pets, Retire les Nains de Tes Poches, and Vacances Prolongées—yet the members pursued separate but often fruitful paths through projects including Les Nonnes Troppo, Néry, Stella, and Les Suprêmes Dindes. Their approach continued to resonate as subsequent groups adopted and adapted it, fusing that spirit with more conventional strains of French songcraft; among the acts that carried the torch were Les Hurlements de Léo and Oldelaf & Monsieur D.