Venus (Belgian band)

Last updated

Venus
VG003.jpg
Band picture Vertigone album booklet
Background information
Origin Belgium
Genres Acoustic/Orchestrated
Years active1997–2007
Labels Tôt ou tard
Past membersMarc A. Huyghens
Christian Schreurs
Pierre Jacqmin
Jean-Marc Butty
Patric Carpentier
Thomas Van Cottom
Walter Janssens

Venus was a band created in 1997 by five artists hailing from Brussels and Belgium. The original goal of the band was to create an original sound that expressed different emotions through several instruments including guitar, violin, double bass, organ, percussion, synth, and a host of others. Also using the scenography talents of former member Patric Carpentier to create visual emotion through their live performances. They have had success with releases Beautiful Days and Wanda Wultz from their Capitol record label release in 2003, Vertigone. The single Beautiful Days was also a track featured in the film Immortel, [1] which is based on the popular futuristic and Ancient Egyptian styled Enki Bilal comic series. The band's name is in reference to and inspired by the Velvet Underground track, Venus in furs .

Contents

List of former band members

Band history

Starting in Belgium

The band released their first album under the label BGM/RCA titled Royal Sucker EP. Shortly after in March 1999 the band's relations with the label had ended and signed on with a small Italian label, Sonica. During their new beginnings with the label they received an award for Best Rock Act at the French festival Le Printemps de Bourges in April that year. Now their goal was to record and release a full-length album within the year.

Their full-length album Welcome To The Modern Dance Hall was released on schedule before the turn of the century, November 1999. This album was distributed throughout Europe and became the reason most people discovered the band with its memorable organic instrumentation. The only singles they released from the album were Pop Song along with a vinyl EP release titled She's So Disco, which dominated radio stations at the time. A few Belgium based EP releases using tracks from their full-length album as well as brand new stunning songs were released later on under 62 TV. [2] During this time before the major portion of touring western Europe began in 2000 double bassist Walter Jenssens left the band and he was replaced by current member Pierre Jacqmin.

In 2000 Venus were touring relentlessly until middle through the year, hoping to have their sounds heard on the local radios wherever they played. Many fans believe that the band is best when viewed at one of their live performances, some of which were played for free at smaller venues which ultimately left them with many sell-outs in the coming months. During autumn the band gave composer Renaud Lhoest permission to re-orchestrate their songs, which further positioned themselves further away from the rock scene into something untouchable in originality. Set between John Barry and the Jewish Folklore along with the full Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, the band were set to play a sold-out show in Brussels. Recorded live at the Cirque Royal and created into the stunning The Man Who Was Already Dead, [3] this ended up being one of their more popular albums which expressed the true beauty of their music collectively into orchestra and modern instrument. During 2001 the band rested long after their relentless touring and lost two members, Patric Carpentier and Thomas Van Cottom. Thomas is a good friend of current double bassist Pierre but this did not prevent him from leaving during the time. He was eventually replaced by a French drummer who had been working with P.J. Harvey on the album To Bring You My Love as well as touring with the artist. He had also released a project of his own titled White Hotel in 1999 before joining the band.

Vertigone success

In 2003 the band left Italian label Sonica Factory to sign with bigger label Capitol, where they were given the chance to create a higher quality album. They released Vertigone that year on 3 March as well as three singles. The first being Wanda Wultz was released as a single and promotion of the band's new upcoming album, the second release Beautiful Days had multiple versions which were not available everywhere. One being a Belgium release, another for radio only, and the final as the official release containing a radio edited version of the song. The final single was included in a special version of the Vertigone album which contained four songs, three of which were radio session versions of tracks on the full-length album, and a cover of U2's Love Is Blindness, [4] from their album Achtung Baby in 1991.

The release of the album came as a success as radio stations across Europe played their recent singles as well as one being used in a film by Enki Bilal titled Immortel in 2004. Vocalist Marc A. Huyghens had also been working on a side project titled Little Hotel during the band's time off. [5]

The Red Room

In Spring 2006 the band released their new album The Red Room with a new approach and sound compared to their previous efforts. The music presents a heavier tone this time out and has been simplified yet still contains their trademark unique and melodic feel that made them a hit in the past. The album received good reviews across Europe and rivaled the sales of their previous albums though their record label Tôt Ou Tard believed they would do even better.

"The Red Room" was co-produced by Head who has worked with PJ Harvey, Marianne Faithfull, and Massive Attack. On the new official Venus website the band reveals that the actual red room "is the place you would seek refuge when you want to be alone. An area of well-being but also of alienation – everything is possible but is also uncertain." It is also the place where Marc A. Huyghens wrote the lyrics to all of the new songs with the exception of the track Everybody Wants To Be Loved, which words were taken from Gena Rowlands' monologue in Opening Night. Venus promoted the new album by touring through Western Europe and the UK.

Venus says Goodbye

On 23 March 2007, a 10th anniversary concert was scheduled at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels. However, at the end of February, Marc A. Huyghens announced on Venus' official website that "After ten “out-of-this-world” years – full of way-out adventures, mesmerizing concerts, a few chaotic patches, quite a few drunken giggles – I have decided to move on to new intergalactic adventures". The 10th anniversary gig turned into a goodbye concert, including many guests such as members from Girls in Hawaii and Ghinzu, as well as Venus' former double bass player, Walter Janssens and others. A last EP containing covers of Daniel Lanois, Björk and fellow Belgian singer Jacques Brel was released for the occasion. [6]

Since the band's dissolve, Marc A. Huyghens has been working with Françoise Vidick and Anja Naucler to form JOY. The band released their self-titled debut album in autumn 2010. [7]

Discography

YearAlbums/EP/SinglesLabel
1998Royal Sucker EPBGM/RCA
1999Welcome To The Modern Dance HallSonica Factory
1999She's So Disco EP/Vinyl62 TV/Sonica Factory
2000Pop Song EP/SingleSonica Factory
2000I Am The Ocean EP62 TV
2000Perfect Lover EP62 TV
2000The Man Who Was Already Dead62 TV
2003Vertigone Capitol
2003Vertigone French EditionCapitol, Delabel
2003Beautiful Days EP/SingleCapitol, Delabel
2006The Red RoomBANG!/Tôt Ou Tard
2006O Marie EPBANG!/Tôt Ou Tard
2007Best Of & LiveBANG!/Tôt Ou Tard

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soft Cell</span> English synthpop duo

Soft Cell are an English synth-pop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. The duo consists of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The band are primarily known for their 1981 hit version of "Tainted Love" and their platinum-selling debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.

VAST is an American alternative rock band based in Seattle, United States. The acronym VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater and is the main creation of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Crosby. The band is signed to 2blossoms, an independent record company created by Crosby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold (band)</span> American rock band

Cold is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 1986 by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Scooter Ward, drummer Sam McCandless, bassist Jeremy Marshall and lead guitarist Matt Loughran. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes during its existence, with Ward being the band’s only constant member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turin Brakes</span> English rock band

Turin Brakes are an English band, comprising original duo of Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, and long-term collaborators Rob Allum and Eddie Myer. They had a UK top 5 hit in 2003 with their song "Painkiller ". Since starting out in 1999, the band have sold around one million records worldwide. They are currently signed to Cooking Vinyl.

Raymond Watts is an English musician, the founding and sole member of the industrial music project PIG, sometimes written as <PIG>.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sister Hazel</span> American alternative rock band

Sister Hazel is an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida, whose style blends elements of jangle pop, folk rock, classic rock, and Southern rock. They are best known for their 1997 single "All for You."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Colour Scene</span> English rock band

Ocean Colour Scene are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1989. They have had five top 10 albums, including a number one in 1997. They have also achieved seventeen top 40 singles and six top 10 singles to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robyn Hitchcock</span> English singer-songwriter and guitarist

Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano, and bass guitar. After leading the Soft Boys in the late 1970s and releasing the influential Underwater Moonlight, in June 1980, Hitchcock launched a prolific solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Lee</span> Australian actor and singer (born 1978)

Benjamin Michael Lee is an Australian musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but he focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake (2003). He has released eleven solo studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snuff (British band)</span> British punk rock band

Snuff are a British punk rock band formed in Hendon in 1986. The original line-up was Duncan Redmonds on drums and vocals, Simon Wells on guitar and vocals and Andy Crighton on bass, with Dave Redmonds being added to the line-up on trombone before the release of Flibbiddydibbiddydob.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fury in the Slaughterhouse</span> German rock band

Fury in the Slaughterhouse is a German rock band from Hanover, founded in 1987. Their hits include "Time to Wonder", "Every Generation Got Its Own Disease", "Won't Forget These Days", "Radio Orchid", "Dancing in the Sunshine of the Dark", "Milk & Honey" and "Trapped Today, Trapped Tomorrow".

The Spill Canvas is an American alternative rock band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Known for their hits "All Over You," "All Hail the Heartbreaker" and "Polygraph, Right Now!", as well as several emo classics like "Our Song," "The Tide" and "This Is for Keeps."

Robbie Seay Band is a Christian contemporary band located in Houston, Texas. The band has led worship and performed all over the country for many years. Many of the songs on RSB's albums are inspired by events and people through the years within their church and community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombay Bicycle Club</span> English indie rock band

Bombay Bicycle Club is an English indie rock band from Crouch End, London, consisting of Jack Steadman, Jamie MacColl, Suren de Saram, and Ed Nash. They are guitar-fronted and have experimented with different genres, including folk, electronica, world music and indie rock.

<i>Silent Cry</i> 2008 studio album by Feeder

Silent Cry is the sixth studio album by Welsh rock band Feeder. It was released by Echo, on 16 June 2008, on CD, deluxe CD, vinyl, and digital download. It was the follow-up to 2005's Pushing the Senses and in terms of all albums, the highly successful singles album in 2006. The first single, "We Are the People", preceded the album, being released on 9 June. It was their last album to feature Mark Richardson on Drums before departing in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red House Painters</span> American rock band

Red House Painters were an American rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1988, before relocating to San Francisco, California. They were one of the most prominent acts associated with the slowcore/sadcore subgenre. The band was formed by primary songwriter Mark Kozelek and drummer Anthony Koutsos. Together, the pair moved to San Francisco, California, where they were joined by bassist Jerry Vessel. Guitarists Gorden Mack and Phil Carney both performed with the band during separate six-year tenures.

Artist vs. Poet was an American pop punk band from Fort Worth, Texas, United States, formed in late 2007 by Jason Dean, Craig Calloway, Jeff Olsen, Patrick Rigden, Joe Kirkland, Joe Westbrook, and Tarcy Thomason. After many changes in the band, Artist vs Poet is made up of Joe Kirkland, on vocals, guitar and keyboards, and Jason Dean, on bass and drums. Kirkland was also a contestant in the third season of the American NBC reality show The Voice.

Diesel Boy is an American punk rock band from Santa Rosa, California, United States. They were formed in 1993 and were active until 2002. In 2022, they announced they would release a new album for SBÄM Records, which was released in 2023. They have a 7" on Fat Wreck Chords, four full-length albums released on Honest Don's Records, one full-length on SBAM and a split EP with the band Divit that was released on Coldfront Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secrets (post-hardcore band)</span> American post-hardcore band

Secrets is an American metalcore band formed in San Diego, California in 2010. After being signed to Rise Records in 2011, Secrets released their debut full-length album The Ascent in January 2012. The record debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and became the first Velocity Records release to appear on the Billboard Top 200, debuting at No. 185.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moments (Freddy Verano song)</span>

"Moments" is a song by German-Colombian producer Freddy Verano featuring Sam Smith, released as a single on 8 May 2015. It was included on Smith's 2015 album, The Lost Tapes – Remixed, which features their early recordings. The original version of the song, titled "Momentarily Mine", was recorded by Smith in 2008.

References

  1. ↑ IMDB Immortel (Ad Vitam) film soundtrack
  2. ↑ Venus' official MySpace website
  3. ↑ BANG! Music, artist bio
  4. ↑ Amazon.fr, offers track listing and alternate cover
  5. ↑ La Libre review
  6. ↑ News: Venus Is Dead, Long Live Venus
  7. ↑ "The Official Site of JOY". Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.