Biography
Formed in 1997 as a six-piece French rap-metal and alternative metal outfit, Pleymo arrived when the style commanded massive global attention thanks to the dominance of Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park. While broader interest in the genre faded into apathy during the early 2000s and many leading acts either pivoted stylistically or watched their audiences shrink, the group persisted with the once-ubiquitous sound, sustaining vitality and originality well into the new decade through sheer drive and creativity. All members were still teenagers when Marc Maggiori on vocals, Benoit Julliard handling bass, keyboards and backing vocals, Fred Ceraudo behind the drums, and guitarist Mattias first assembled under the name Pleymobill, borrowed from a line of plastic toys. Within a year the moniker was trimmed to Pleymo as turntablist DJ Frank, born Frank Bailleul, joined to make the lineup five-strong, and Erik Devilloutreys took over guitar duties from Mattias on a permanent basis. At this stage the musicians pointed to Rage Against the Machine, Korn and Primus as primary inspirations.
Seeking wider reach, Pleymo joined AqME, Watcha and Enhancer in an informal underground alliance called Team Nowhere, sharing stages and mutual support. Their debut, a four-song self-titled EP, appeared in 1998 with minimal notice, yet the band cultivated a strong underground reputation for high-energy performances. This led to an invitation to Belgium, where producer Stephen Kremer, already familiar with Team Nowhere acts, helmed their first full-length; during those sessions guitarist Davy Portela came aboard as the sixth member. Issued in 1999 on Wet Music, Keckispasse ultimately moved around 10,000 copies, an encouraging start. After relentless touring that followed, major-label interest materialized, and Epic Records signed the group in 2000. The resulting Episode 2: Medecine Cake arrived in 2002 and surpassed its predecessor commercially with more than 50,000 units sold, while a supporting trek encompassed over 120 shows. An English-language counterpart, Doctor Tank's Medecine Cake, unexpectedly boosted their profile in Japan.
By the close of 2002 the band issued a stopgap EP of live tracks and turned attention to their next album. Titled Rock, the 2003 release marked their first deliberate shift toward a more melodic and less aggressive approach, functioning in part as a concept piece centered on a four-year-old blind boy and his imaginary counterpart. A full-length live document, Ce Soir, C'est Grand Soir, followed in 2005 on both CD and DVD. Their 2006 effort Alphabet Prison integrated the raw aggression of earlier work with the melodic leanings of Rock, yielding what many regarded as the band's most balanced statement to date.
Seeking wider reach, Pleymo joined AqME, Watcha and Enhancer in an informal underground alliance called Team Nowhere, sharing stages and mutual support. Their debut, a four-song self-titled EP, appeared in 1998 with minimal notice, yet the band cultivated a strong underground reputation for high-energy performances. This led to an invitation to Belgium, where producer Stephen Kremer, already familiar with Team Nowhere acts, helmed their first full-length; during those sessions guitarist Davy Portela came aboard as the sixth member. Issued in 1999 on Wet Music, Keckispasse ultimately moved around 10,000 copies, an encouraging start. After relentless touring that followed, major-label interest materialized, and Epic Records signed the group in 2000. The resulting Episode 2: Medecine Cake arrived in 2002 and surpassed its predecessor commercially with more than 50,000 units sold, while a supporting trek encompassed over 120 shows. An English-language counterpart, Doctor Tank's Medecine Cake, unexpectedly boosted their profile in Japan.
By the close of 2002 the band issued a stopgap EP of live tracks and turned attention to their next album. Titled Rock, the 2003 release marked their first deliberate shift toward a more melodic and less aggressive approach, functioning in part as a concept piece centered on a four-year-old blind boy and his imaginary counterpart. A full-length live document, Ce Soir, C'est Grand Soir, followed in 2005 on both CD and DVD. Their 2006 effort Alphabet Prison integrated the raw aggression of earlier work with the melodic leanings of Rock, yielding what many regarded as the band's most balanced statement to date.
Albums
Singles
Live
