Têtes Raides

Originally formed as a punk rock outfit under the name Tet Red, the band earned notice for its energetic stage renditions of material by the Clash alongside more established rock figures such as the Stones and Chuck Berry. Over time Têtes Raides shifted toward acoustic textures and longstanding French traditions, absorbing local inspirations including Jacques Brel and Les Négresses Verts while blending unadorned rock with mid-20th-century Gallic musical idioms. Fronted by vocalist and graphic designer Christian Olivier, the ensemble earned swift critical acclaim; its debut album Not Dead But Bien Raides, issued in 1987, soon attracted a broader audience. In addition to steady studio output, Têtes Raides became known for extravagant live presentations that bordered on theatrical circus spectacles. Eventually expanding to seven members, the group issued 14 albums beginning in 1989, among them the 2007 full-length Banco.