THE BAND

Songs and music: powerful ways to get into people's heads, hearts and feet.

In the original days of punk, my band The Molesters was writing songs and performing to raise awareness and funds about apartheid in South Africa and the oppressive presence of British troops in Northern Ireland.

One of our successes was helping get half of the students in Brighton to close their Barclays bank accounts. Barclays at the time were a big financial supporter of the apartheid regime.

Banks, the engines of capitalism, orchestrate wars and pandemics in order to make profit for their shareholders. Decades on and the banks and big pharma are still at it.

And through The Cides I'm once again trying to get into people's heads, hearts and feet.

From the very first moment I stepped on stage singing I knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was 12. Coming from a family that struggled financially, I decided to become a Mechanical Engineer. While working and studying, I still managed to find time to be the lead singer and songwriter of a Garage Rock band.

Hanging out with other musicians, I started to learn the basis of music and instruments, namely drums, bass and guitar and became interested in recording, mixing and mastering music. I never had any formal training. When I wanted to know something, I asked around, searched online, or got there by trial and error. I think that contributed a lot to my original approach to music.

I decided to dedicate myself to music full-time in 2017. Since then, I've collaborated with thousands of artists worldwide, released several original songs and performed online and in concerts.

When I came across The Cides, the music immediately caught my attention – catchy and unique, with a strong message. What makes The Cides so special are the people involved and the musical chemistry. Some people click, some musicians click – in our case, it’s both. We all click on a musical and personal level. We work hard and have a lot of fun in the process. I believe that's what makes the songs (and The Cides) so special.

When I was born my parents set up a concert hall and growing up I was always surrounded by musicians. It was after seeing the Suicidal Tendencies in concert, which had such a strong impact on me, that I decided to take drum lessons at the age of 10 years old.

I joined my first group at the age of 12 and we formed PSYKUP, a Progressive Rock/metal group. 29 years later after more than 800 concerts in France and Europe, I was able to record 6 studio albums, live DVDs, EPs, and Clips and participate in festivals like Le Download, Hellfest, Eurockéennes, Rockstadt in Romania, L'Boulevard in Morocco.

I have been involved in a wide variety of studio recordings for artists including DYANGO, a Spanish star crooner known as ‘The Voice of Love’’. I’ve stood in for various artists within groups and played on albums, tours and projects across a wide variety of music genres including Metal, Punk, Rock, Pop and Jazz.

I studied drums in school and conservatoire for 11 years (Le Florida in Agen, Contemporary Music at Conservatory of Agen, a member of the jury examining the Current Music class at Toulouse Conservatory) and was awarded two prizes for instrument and jazz. I naturally transmit what I learned and continue to learn for over 25 years into my work today.

I recently met Paul, a true gentleman. I related to his music and beautiful melodies – he’s the driving force in a great team!

I was born in Britanny, then raised on a sailing boat from the age of two to ten. The only piece of electronic equipment on board was a longwave radio, later on, a double cassette deck and even later on a little synthesizer that my mother, who had taken some piano lessons in her childhood, played and sang along to as well as her classical guitar she had taken onboard. As far as I can remember, there was nearly always music around.

We ended up in New Zealand where I saw the movie “La Bamba”, a pretty bad biopic of Ritchie Valens I have to admit, but it was the spark that started it all for me! I asked my mother to teach me all the chords she knew, and she helped me transcribe all the songs I wanted to cover on her nylon guitar – basically, all the rock n roll classics from the 50's.

By the age of thirteen or fourteen, back in France, I begged my parents to buy me an electric guitar and they agreed to the cheapest Stratocaster copy in town provided that I would take guitar lessons, I have never put my guitar down since.

I’ve known Brice, our drummer, since school and that’s where we formed our first Metal band together. In High School, I got way too interested in sound production and by the age of 18, my life was all about sound engineering and playing the guitar!

In 2012, I had the opportunity to open Waiti Studios and now there are not enough days in the week to do all the amazing things I want to do.

I met Paul by chance at the studio, he was putting together The Cides band, delivering a unique blend of distinctly Brit Rock with strong political messages reminiscent of The Clash! I just had to get involved.

I play several instruments but playing bass, being part of the rhythm section where sound is as much felt as it is heard is my real passion.

I play with a couple of other friends’ bands but playing with The Cides is special. Its distinctive Indie Brit Rock style moves between 70's traditional 'roots' punk and edgy danceable 80's new wave. The songs are often simple but with subtle complexities that can challenge me. And all of the songs carry powerful messages which I resonate with.

I think I was born with a guitar as an extension of my arm :)

My main 'job' is guitarist in the drum and bass/metal band Pendulum who I joined in 2006. but over the years I have also had the privilege to play with other artists including Faithless, Natalie Imbruglia, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Anastacia and Mylene Farmer.

I have been guest recording with The Cides now for almost two years, enjoying the rich hook lines, signature riffs and brain-shaking lyrics that characterise the band.

I love how my guitar parts get woven into the fabric of The Cides pulse.

And now its time for me to join the band playing live!