TRUST

Trust stood out as one of the rare French groups that managed to reach audiences beyond national borders while retaining their original language and their blend of punk and heavy-metal principles. Established in 1977 with Bernard "Bernie" Bonvoisin handling vocals, Norbert "Nono" Krief on guitars, Yves "Vivi" Brusco on bass, and a rotating lineup of drummers that included Iron Maiden's Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain, the group drew from several sources, most prominently AC/DC, with whom they shared some stages, along with early Iron Maiden. Although the band's sound functioned as a precision-built weapon of force, driven chiefly by Nono's technical command and volume on guitar, much of their draw stemmed from Bernie's intensity and lyrics that addressed social issues, which at times led to censorship. While "Antisocial" remained their best-known track, later covered in 1988 by New York thrashers Anthrax on the State of Euphoria album, the group's initial output delivered numerous explosive statements. These songs targeted the exploitative employer, the violent officer of the law, the moralizing media figure, and the sanctimonious clergyman, while championing the powerless, the impoverished, and the mistreated, convictions that felt genuine even as they fueled commercial appeal. Popularity waned through the 1980s following the peaks reached by their 1979 self-titled album, 1980's Repression, and 1981's Marche ou Crève. Nono later served as Johnny Hallyday's touring guitarist, while Bernie moved into acting and filmmaking, with 1997's Les Démons de Jésus standing as his most memorable and sharply satirical work. Occasional reunions allowed the band to perform live, issue fresh material, and document shows. Some of their albums, notably the 1980 classic Repression, also exist in versions featuring English lyrics.