Logo de GDB






I can't remember exactly when the idea of setting up a band that would be a parody of French punk-rock came to my mind... It must have been in 1997 since that's the year I told my alcohol mates Colas and Nofun about it. It must also have been a very boozy night indeed. I'm sorry for not being very accurate about the time but it's been quite a long time now. Anyway, they went really enthusiastic about the idea, Nofun would play the guitar and Colas would sing...well, would scream in the mike. As for me, that would be the bass, I hardly know anything else anyway. Xavier had a beatbox he could lend us, well it became ours in the end since we never gave it back. Sorry Xavier. A parody of French Punk-rock I said, poum-tchak poum-tchak, berk!

What I wanted was the nasty silly sort of « allô-allô » thing, it turned out to be only silly in the end. And we never managed to be as bad as French punk rock was. I'm not saying we were good but not that bad despite all our efforts. As he often used to, Colas quickly lost his enthusiasm and the band became a twosome. Nofun beside programming the beat box and playing the guitar, took on singing as well. We owe Colas some of our nicest verses as well as an everlasting moral support though, all along the short band's life.

We owe the name GDB to Yannick Blacky, a friend from the north region of France. I can't remember how and where exactly, but he had told me about a fanzine and band project once, and I remember two names he mentioned in the conversation: IPM and GDB. I asked him if we could use the 2nd one because I'm a polite person, and he must also have been polite for he agreed! He later designed the cover for our 2nd demo tape.

The first songs were created in the nice bedroom of a lovely flat in a none the less charming 60s style block of flats on the suburbs of Dijon. That's where Nofun used to live then. I don't remember which songs were made at this time but I have a feeling that “Chargée” and “Toi Aussi” were part of them. Quickly we started rehearsing at the Local Libertaire (anarchist center), which suited me better since it was my den then. I'm not sure the neighbours were as pleased as I was though... That's also were we recorded all our songs thanks to Brian's mixing desk.

I can't remember either which was our first gig: was it in a Geneva squat with 20 Minutes de chaos in September 1997 or in Chaumont on the tiny little 1st floor of a bar with Inner Terrestrials? Fuck! Bloody memory loss! I only remember that I was told that during this gig with IT, some people walked out during our yet short set, because they thought they would attend an English reggae-ska-punk-dub concert! I also remember having only 4 songs to play which we played twice so as to lengthen the party.

We did a few gigs later on, often with Jean-Jean driving us and having to put up with our alcoholism. Sorry Jean Jean. So, a few gigs. Some with fun, others with much less fun. The worst of all being probably the one at Le Tipi in Lille where we did ended up not playing since Nofun laid unconscious on the concrete floor of the concert place despite my kicking him on the ribs hatefully! My best memory was playing with Accion Mutante and Oi Polloi at the Vort n'Vis in Ieper. I also liked our trip to Switzerland with friends Colas and Gork.

Well, at the end, I had less and less fun doing this band, I felt the inspiration was getting different. Plus, Nofun had the name GDB tatooed on his arm which worried me a little as it was getting too serious. We were supposed to play somewhere, somewhen but the very same day, Fleas and Lice were playing in the North . I called Nofun to tell him I wouldn't play the gig but would go to see Fleas and Lice instead and that there would be no more GDB gigs anyway. Sorry Nofun. Here we are, end of the story, all for the best since, as far as music is concerned, there's no point insisting when the feeling's no longer there.

Thank you to all , boys and girls, who supported and put up with us in those days. Make beer not war!






Contact : contact(at)kaosyouki.net

You want to download songs of GDB? Well you right click on the link you want and you choose the appropriate option, eg "Save link as ..." with Firefox. Don't be afraid, it is for free and do what you want with the songs as long as you quote the source and you do not make commercial use.






First tape - 1997
Chargée
Toi aussi
Quelle galère
UK - No way!
Straight edge
Fête de la bière
Iron fist fucking
Full first tape





Second tape - 1997
Fête de la bière
Toi aussi
Hey! Ho! Au bistro!
My baby's coming tonight
Stop the slaughter
Chargée
Le p'tit train
Méchant système
Quelle galère
Vomit
UK - No way!
Iron fist fucking
Straight edge
G.D.B.
... Et pour en finir
Full second tape





Third tape - 1998
Doom bastards (feat. Johann & Tranbère)
Pro life control
Drink for life
GDB anthem
Full third tape