Ange (, ) is a French
progressive rock
Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...
band formed in September 1969 by the Décamps brothers, Francis (keyboards) and Christian (vocals, accordion, acoustic guitar and keyboards).
Since its inception the band's music has been inspired by
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
texts and
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures.
The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
.
History
Ange was initially influenced by
Procol Harum
Procol Harum () were an English rock music, rock band formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale", one of the few singles to have sold more than List of best-selling si ...
and
King Crimson
King Crimson were an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald (musician), Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield. Guitarist Fripp remained the only constant member throughout the ...
, and their music was quite theatrical and poetic. Their first success in France was the cover of a
Jacques Brel
Jacques Romain Georges Brel (; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs. He generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, but later throughout the world ...
song, ''
Ces gens-là '', on their second album ''Le Cimetière des Arlequins''. The band provided its first concert on January 30, 1970, at the cultural center "La Pépinière", in
Belfort
Belfort (; archaic , ) is a city in northeastern France, situated approximately from the Swiss border. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Territoire de Belfort.
Belfort is from Paris and from Basel. The residents of the city ...
,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. They performed 110 concerts in England from 1973 to 1976, opening for
Genesis at the
Reading Festival
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading, Berkshire, Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend ...
in
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, on August 26, 1973, fronting some 30.000 listeners.
One of the reasons for which the band was unable to break through into the British market was because they sang in French. Ange eventually released an English-speaking version of its fifth album ''
Par les fils de Mandrin'' (''By the sons of Mandrin''), which was hard to find and sold poorly, although this version has since been made available on CD. Unfortunately, after three albums, the quality of creation had started to decrease, and ''Par les fils de Mandrin'' was probably not a good choice to try to break into the British market.
Following ''Par les fils de Mandrin'' and the live double album ''
Tome VI'', the band issued a
mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a Capstan (tape recorder), capstan, which pulls i ...
–centered album, ''
Guet-apens'', and then had a more rock-oriented change of direction, although various progressive reformations occurred over the years, e.g. for the 1992 album ''
Les larmes du Dalaï-Lama''. Sponsored by the French radio
RTL, Ange relentlessly toured until the end of 1977, welcoming an average of 5,000 to 6,000 listeners per show. During their first years (generally regarded as the best ones), the other three members of the band were Jean-Michel Brézovar on guitar and flute, Gérard Jelsch on drums, and Daniel Haas on bass (and acoustic guitar). In 1995, Ange played their farewell tour.
Christian Décamps released a few albums as "Christian Décamps et Fils" ("Christian Décamps and Son"), before taking over the name "Ange" in 1999, and is backed by his band for his solo albums. The new lineup has issued several albums from ''La voiture à eau'' in 1999, performed on 2006 edition of
NEARfest and is still on the road in 2025.
Francis Décamps and Jean-Michel Brézovar have also released solo albums.
Keyboards
The keyboard sounds of the '70s-era band, while reminiscent of a
mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a Capstan (tape recorder), capstan, which pulls i ...
, were in fact generated from a Viscount
organ
Organ and organs may refer to:
Biology
* Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function
* Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body.
Musical instruments
...
through a modded
Hammond reverb. However, an actual
mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a Capstan (tape recorder), capstan, which pulls i ...
was played on the album ''Par Les Fils De Mandrin'' in 1976.
Studio discography
* (1972) ''
Caricatures
A caricature is a rendered image showing the features of its subject in a simplified or exaggerated way through sketching, pencil strokes, or other artistic drawings (compare to: cartoon). Caricatures can be either insulting or complimentary, ...
''
* (1973) ''
Le Cimetière des arlequins''
* (1974) ''
Au-delà du délire''
* (1975) ''
Émile Jacotey''
* (1976) ''
Par les fils de Mandrin''
* (1978) ''
Guet-Apens''
* (1980) ''
Vu d'un Chien''
* (1981) ''
Moteur!''
* (1982) ''À propos de...''
* (1983) ''
La Gare de Troyes''
* (1984) ''
Fou''
* (1986) ''
Egna
Neumarkt (, ; ) is a (municipality) and a village in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about south of the city of Bolzano. It is one of ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
Geography
As of 30 November 2010, it had a population of ...
''
* (1987) ''
Tout Feu Tout Flamme... C'est Pour De Rire''
* (1989) ''
Sève Qui Peut''
* (1992) ''
Les Larmes Du Dalaï Lama''
* (1999) ''
La Voiture À Eau''
* (2001) ''
Culinaire Lingus''
* (2005) ''
?''
* (2007) ''
Souffleurs De Vers''
* (2010) ''
Le Bois Travaille Même Le Dimanche''
* (2012) ''
Moyen-Âge''
* (2014) ''Émile Jacotey Résurrection''
* (2018) ''Heureux''
Complete discography
Christian and Francis Décamps era
* ''
Caricatures
A caricature is a rendered image showing the features of its subject in a simplified or exaggerated way through sketching, pencil strokes, or other artistic drawings (compare to: cartoon). Caricatures can be either insulting or complimentary, ...
'' (1972)
* ''
Le Cimetière des arlequins'' (1973)
* ''
Au-delà du délire'' (1974)
* ''
Émile Jacotey'' (1975)
* ''
Par les fils de Mandrin'' (1976)
* ''
Tome VI : Live 1977'' (1977, 2LP, 1CD)
* ''
En concert : Live 1970-1971'' (1977, 2LP, 1CD)
* ''
Guet-Apens'' (1978)
* ''
Vu D'un Chien'' (1980)
* ''
Moteur!'' (1981)
* ''À propos de...'' (1982)
* ''
La Gare de Troyes'' (1983)
* ''
Fou'' (1984)
* ''
Egna
Neumarkt (, ; ) is a (municipality) and a village in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about south of the city of Bolzano. It is one of ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
Geography
As of 30 November 2010, it had a population of ...
'' (1986)
* ''
Tout Feu Tout Flamme... C'est Pour De Rire'' (1987)
* ''
Sève Qui Peut'' (1989)
* ''Vagabondages'' (Compilation) (1989)
* ''Les Larmes Du Dalaï Lama'' (1992)
* ''Mémo'' (Compilation) (1994)
* ''Un P'tit Tour Et Puis S'en Vont : Live 1995'' (2CD, 1995)
* ''Ad Libitum'' (3CD Compilation, 1999)
* ''Tome 87 (Live)'' (2002)
* ''Ange En Concert : Par Les Fils De Mandrin (Millésimé 77)'' (2003)
Christian and Tristan Décamps era
* ''
La Voiture À Eau'' (1999)
* ''Rêves Parties'' (2000, live, 2CD)
* ''Culinaire Lingus'' (2001)
* ''?'' (2005)
* ''
Le Tour De La Question'' (2007)
* ''
Zénith An II'' (2007, live, 2CD)
* ''
Souffleurs De Vers'' (2007)
* ''
Souffleurs De Vers Tour'' (Live CD+DVD, 2009)
* ''
Le Bois Travaille Même Le Dimanche'' (2010)
* ''
Escale À Ch'tiland'' (2CD+DVD, 2011, live)
* ''Moyen-Âge'' (2012)
* ''Emile Jacotey Résurrection'' (2014)
* ''Emile Jacotey Résurrection Live'' (CD+DVD, 2015)
* ''La Bataille du sucre'' (2015, ltd ed w/ 4 songs)
* ''Heureux'' (2018)
Christian Décamps & Fils
* ''Le Mal D'Adam'' (1979)
* ''Juste Une Ligne Bleue'' (1990)
* ''Nu'' (1994)
* ''V'soul Vesoul V'soul'' (1995)
* ''3ème Étoile À Gauche'' (1997)
* ''Poèmes De La Noiseraie'' (1998)
* ''Murmures'' (2003)
* ''Psychédélice'' (2008)
* From 1997 on, Ange Fanclub ''Un pied dans la marge'' has produced at least 20 CD or DVD containing mostly live material.
Personnel
Current members
* Christian Décamps -
Lead vocals
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
,
Keyboards (after 1970)
* Tristan Décamps - Keyboards, Backing Vocals (after 1997)
* Hassan Hajdi -
Guitar
The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
s (after 1997)
* Thierry Sidhoum -
Bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Wood
* Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...
(after 1997)
* Benoît Cazzulini -
Drums
The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
(after 2003)
Former Members
* Francis Décamps - Keyboards, Vocals (1970–1995)
* Jean-Michel Brézovar - Guitars (1970–1977, 1988–1989, 1991–1995)
* Jean-Claude Rio - Rhythmic Guitar (1970)
* Patrick Kachanian - Bass, Flute (1970)
* Daniel Haas - Bass (1971–1977, 1988–1995)
* Gérard Jelsch - Drums, Percussions (1970–1974, 1994–1995)
* Guénolé Biger - Drums, Percussions (1975)
* Jean-Pierre Guichard - Drums (1976–1981, 1988–1992)
* Claude Demet - Guitars (1978, 1990)
* Gérald Renard - Bass (1978–1979)
* Mauro Serri - Guitars (1979)
* Jean-Marie Schreiner - Drums (1979, 1990)
* J. Frieden - Keyboards (1979)
* J. Migaud - Keyboards (1979)
* Robert Defer - Guitars (1980–1981, 1990)
* Didier Viseux - Bass (1980–1981)
* Frederick Chojnacki - Bass (1980–1981)
* Serge Cuénot - Guitars (1982–1987, 1990)
* Laurent Sigrist - Bass (1982–1987)
* Gabriel Troyan - Bass in ''Tout feu tout flamme'' (1987)
* Jean-Claude Potin - Drums (1982–1986)
* Francis Meyer - Drums (1987)
* Martine Kesselburg - Choir in ''Tout feu tout flamme'' (1987) - Vocals (1990)
* Eva Santi - Choir in ''Tout feu tout flamme'' (1987)
* Bruno Nion - Vocals in ''Sève qui peut'' (1989)
* Fabrice Bony - Drums (1993)
* Jean-Pascal Boffo - Guitars (1995)
* Hervé Rouyer - Drums, Percussions (1995, 1997–2002)
* Caroline Crozat - Vocals, Choir (2001–2010)
Timeline
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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1970 till:07/01/2018
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
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ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1972
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1970
Colors =
id:Chant value:red legend:Vocals
id:Claviers value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:Guitare value:green legend:Guitars
id:Basse value:blue legend:Bass
id:Batterie value:orange legend:Drums
id:Flute value:gray(0.5) legend:Flute
id:Rythmique value:brightgreen legend:Rhythmic_Guitar
id:chœur value:pink legend:Choir
id:Albums value:black legend:Studio_Albums
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at:03/12/1975 color:black layer:back
at:23/03/1976 color:black layer:back
at:29/03/1977 color:black layer:back
at:05/10/1978 color:black layer:back
at:22/09/1980 color:black layer:back
at:18/06/1981 color:black layer:back
at:27/03/1982 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1983 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1984 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1986 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1987 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1989 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1992 color:black layer:back
at:25/04/1999 color:black layer:back
at:23/05/2001 color:black layer:back
at:16/05/2005 color:black layer:back
at:04/03/2007 color:black layer:back
at:01/01/2010 color:black layer:back
at:21/05/2012 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:cd text:"C. Décamps"
bar:fd text:"F. Décamps"
bar:td text:"T. Décamps"
bar:frieden text:"J. Frieden"
bar:migaud text:"J. Migaud"
bar:brezovar text:"J.-M. Brézovar"
bar:demet text:"Claude Demet"
bar:serri text:"Mauro Serri"
bar:defer text:"Robert Defer"
bar:cuenot text:"Serge Cuénot"
bar:boffo text:"J.-P. Boffo"
bar:hajdi text:"Hassan Hajdi"
bar:kachanian text:"P. Kachanian"
bar:haas text:"Daniel Haas"
bar:renard text:"Gérald Renard"
bar:viseux text:"Didier Viseux"
bar:chojnacki text:"F. Chojnacki"
bar:sigrist text:"Laurent Sigrist"
bar:sidhoum text:"Thierry Sidhoum"
bar:rio text:"Jean-Claude Rio"
bar:jelsch text:"Gérard Jelsch"
bar:biger text:"Guénolé Biger"
bar:guichard text:"J.-P. Guichard"
bar:schreiner text:"J.-M. Schreiner"
bar:potin text:"J.-C. Potin"
bar:meyer text:"Francis Meyer"
bar:bony text:"Fabrice Bony"
bar:rouyer text:"Hervé Rouyer"
bar:cazzulini text:"Benoît Cazzulini"
bar:crozat text:"Caroline Crozat"
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bar:cd from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1996 color:Chant
bar:cd from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Chant
bar:fd from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1996 color:Claviers
bar:td from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Claviers
bar:frieden from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:Claviers
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bar:brezovar from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1996 color:Guitare
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bar:demet from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991 color:Guitare
bar:serri from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:Guitare
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bar:defer from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991 color:Guitare
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bar:boffo from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 color:Guitare
bar:hajdi from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Guitare
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bar:haas from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1996 color:Basse
bar:renard from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1980 color:Basse
bar:viseux from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/1982 color:Basse
bar:chojnacki from:01/01/1980 till:01/01/1982 color:Basse
bar:sigrist from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1988 color:Basse
bar:sidhoum from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Basse
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bar:jelsch from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1975 color:Batterie
bar:jelsch from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:Batterie
bar:biger from:01/01/1975 till:01/01/1976 color:Batterie
bar:guichard from:01/01/1976 till:01/01/1982 color:Batterie
bar:guichard from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1993 color:Batterie
bar:schreiner from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:Batterie
bar:schreiner from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991 color:Batterie
bar:potin from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1987 color:Batterie
bar:meyer from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/1988 color:Batterie
bar:bony from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994 color:Batterie
bar:rouyer from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 color:Batterie
bar:rouyer from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2003 color:Batterie
bar:cazzulini from:01/01/2003 till:end color:Batterie
bar:crozat from:01/01/2001 till:01/06/2010 color:Chant
width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:cd from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1996 color:Claviers
bar:cd from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Claviers
bar:fd from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1996 color:Chant
bar:td from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Chant
bar:kachanian from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1971 color:Flute
bar:crozat from:01/01/2001 till:01/06/2010 color:chœur
Bibliography
*''Ange, le livre des légendes'' subtitled ''L'anthologie définitive sur le groupe mythique du rock français'' by Thierry Busson, Xavier Chatagnon and Bruno Versmisse, 292 pages, Éclipse éditions, 1995.
See also
*
Timeline of progressive rock
References
External links
Un pied dans la marge, the official fanclub of the band (in French)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ange
French progressive rock groups
Musical groups established in 1970
Musical groups disestablished in 1995
Musical groups reestablished in 1999
Musical groups from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté