Posted on December 28, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Penelope

The name Penelope always waved positive vibes to me. Fascinating princess from the past, there was a red hair girl with amazing blue eyes when I was in Ireland that a Japanese friend of mine kept call with that name all journey long. “Oh! Penelope” was also the name of a brilliant Shibuiya-kei project famous for a song called “Lait au miel”, and a strange connection from Ireland to Japan and to Japan to France leads me today to the path of a English lyrics oriented French band named – guess what – PENELOPE! We had an interview with Alain.

Mark Zonda: “Penelope”, how did you decided to start a band, why that name and… is it hard to share rock music in English… on France?

Fabrice: Well, we have played in a band during some years, playing covers… funny, but boring at least ! So, with Domique (drum’s player), we decided to start a new stuff (it was not a band yet !) after playing during few months with a computer. It can be interesting to work on it, and to make songs when uou are two blokes and you need also keyboards and sounds and guitars, and drums, and bass… But we really needed to record with a real bass, and true guitars (computer kept on come out with shitty sounds) then N°9 came to play bass and Philippe to  guitar ! We go crazy for true retro sounds and they came with their incredible  Rickenbaker and Burn’s and Jazzmaster and Vox and Ampeg and fuzz and all that stuff,so  it was perfectly clear that we had to play together !!  We became an official band !! Ben came later to play keyboards, he’s a childhood’s friend and was playing in our last band. We then needed a name. I enjoyed the sound  that “Penelope” had,  the word sounded very cute and sexy (We are not !) and reminded me those stickers on the back of some cars in South France (evidence that people went in the famous club in Spain).  There was a girl drawn on it in 70’s style. Back in my childhood memories I was wondering about that club filled with many sexy girls!
Everybody liked the name, so… “Davay” as  they say in Russia ! It’s easy to share music using Internet thanks MySpace and Facebook,  but when you decide to play in different places rather than your own garage … it’s clearly different! Happilly, N°9 has played in few 60’s bands and was a very famous DJ  in the fFrench Mod’s scene, so it was easy for him  finding dates for our shows.  Telling the truth almost any gig was found by N°9 ! Now someone help us with distribution (Martyrs of pop). It’s cool to have radio, tv and press planned… We even had tracks played in Russia!

Mark Zonda: How did you managed to be broadcasted on a Russian Radio?

Fabrice: Thanx Martyrs of Pop! They have contacts in Russia as well. That was a cool coincidence, coz I love Russia and Russian culture. We dream to play in Russia and become as famous as Space! Just think at a gig on red square!

Mark Zonda: Your songs reflects many foreign influences. Franz Ferdinand, Brit Pop, Beat and Psychadelia… which are your main inspirations? Favourite bands?

Fabrice: We are fans of Britpop and 60’s garage, surf music as well… but we have to say that we are true fans of French composers too, like Gainsbourg, Polnareff  and 60’s/70’s soundtracks composers (Jean Michel Jarre’s “granges brulées”, Carpenter’s  “assault on precinct 13″, Karl Heinz Schafer’s “les gants blancs du diable”, piccioni, Garvarentz). We enjoy soul music too, especially northern soul and 70’s blaxploitation’s music. As for me  I love 7o’s synth music like Giorgio Moroder, Kraftwerk, Space. I love their cheesy sounds! We really enjoy modern music  too of course! Right now our favourites are Phoenix, Air and Sebastien Tellier, even if their music comes from the past too. Should we need to tell you where from?

Mark Zonda: “Robot Crime” stands in between Dandy Warhols and The Dying Breed. Does being a rock band still means something nowadays?

Fabrice: Being a rock band means people in it enjoys being with each other and playing together. At least for us. There are some myths around rock bands : breaking hotel’s rooms, having drugs, drinking a lot, dressing with a doubtable  taste…That makes you forget about the most important things : playing music and making songs! We are proud to say that we are a true band with true people enjoying  playing music together.We’re also quite happy when some people  tell us that he’s enjoying our music as well.

If nobody would we would just keep on playing together like true nerds. Tzk!

Mark Zonda: Yet there must have been a particularly wild show. What about groupies?

Fabrice: Mhmmm..  the wildest  we had was very funny! We gave the audience what he needed… and even more! That happen when the public is  receptive, wild and funny. Then you are open to add something wilder to the show. Wilderness grows with excitation, and we like excesses sometimes. And about groupies… it would be great to have some. At least for me. The other guys are married! As far as I know we don’t have any groupie following us,  just some people who enjoy our stuff. We never went more far than sharing a drink and talking about music and stugg… I guess it’s easier to talk with us than having any chance to talk to Britney Spears!

Mark Zonda: They say that your band is aming for space discoveries and the wonders of new technologies. What do you see in the future?

Fabrice: When I was child I was watching Space 1999, Thunderbirds, Logan’s Heroes, Six millions dollars man and Gemini. Just think about it: I was 10 then, and television showed me how I was going to live in  yeard 2000. As for me it was clear I would have to go towork by spacecraft and stuff…  What a swindle! I had a big deception with future from my childhood. Back to our days synthesizers and guitars are ugly and make shitty sounds, motorcars and scooters look like suppositories. It’s quite obvious that today we’re trying to build our future… with retro futurism! Then we look to our futurist past and we come out with new mini, new 500 Fiat and Ora Ito’s creations. Tzk! We don’t ask each other if we play music for future, we just play. Are we retro futurist too? Damn’it! Since 2000 we had 60’s revival, then 80’s revival. What’s next? I wouldn’t call using the past to create the future something new. This idea has already been used as well. So, what’s in the futer? I don’t know: big shits? I’m not sure I want to see how  the future will be anymore. I was already disappointed. What’s the bright side? At least I have a phone thatlooks like the transcoder used by Commander Koening. That  thought defenetly helps me appreciate my future!

Mark Zonda: SPACE1999 RULES! I was in love with Maya! In your opinion are modern woman a little sort of shapeshifters too when it comes to feelings, behave and relationship? Which TV show female character you loved the most?

Fabrice: Space 1999!! I’m fond of it!! Wouldn’t be amazing to live on the Moon wearing Pyjamas with plateform boots on? That’s THE future ! Are you sure you want me to ask you that question? As I told you, I’m the only single in the band, and that’s not a good start for asking me to talk about women… I’ll blame it to bad luck, anyway women are still the main inspiration for almost any of my songs. Doesn’t all the songs deal with a moment spent with a girl? My favourite female character is Emma (Diana Rigg) Peel, but I’m also in love with Tara (Linda Thorson) King sad eyes. Hey! They’re  both from Avengers ! Still I have to say that Kelly (Jacklin Smith) Garret and Chris (Cherryl Ladd) Monroe from Charlie’s angels used to send me sooo many thrills in front of my TV. I’m not sure to be very original in my choices, but… those girls sure where TRÈS CHARMANT!

Penelope – “Benefit of doubt”

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