GUIGOU CHENEVIER

Guigou Chenevier biography
Guigou Chenevier is a French drummer / percussionist of renown in avant-garde music, notably for being one of Étron Fou Leloublan's former members and for having played an important role in the R.I.O. creation and development, as did bands like Henry Cow, Samla Mammas Manna, Stormy Six and Univers Zero. Recognized as one of the most important figures in avant-rock, Chenevier has participated in many projects like Encore + Grande (with Guy Sapin and Hans Buhrs), Volapük, Étron Fou Leloublan (as I said already), Les Batteries, Octavo (with Sapin again), Guigou Chenevier & Les Figures and with Sophie Jausserand (an album named À l'abris des micro-climats). Apart from being a reputed musician, Guigou Chenevier founded the collective Dupon et ses Fantômes in 1976 with Étron Fou Leloublan, Camizole, Mozaïk, Grand Gouia and Nouvel Asile Culturel. Dupon was a kind of French precursor of what would later be R.I.O.

As a solo artist, Chenevier released three albums, often with long-time collaborators of his as guest musicians. All his albums are particular, unique. To justify what I wrote, I will give examples. His album Arthur et les Robots is a children album with some of ÉFL's members. In Le batteur est le meilleur ami du musicien, he sent recorded drums parts to multiple great musicians such as Jean Derome, Guy Sapin, Hans Buhrs, Lars Hollmer and Nick Didkovsky and asked them to make a musical arrangement on the tracks. In Les rumeurs de la ville, which is in my opinion excellent (and often considered as a continuation of Volapük) used recorded amateurs tracks and music composed by Chenevier and played by professional musicians (members of Volapük).

Guigou Chenevier is a progressive artist in his way of creating, in his originality and in his important collaboration to the French avant-garde scene. He is capable of doing a wide range of music, and impresses with his unique works.

Biography written by Gabriel Rivest (Tsevir Leirbag)