Minimum Vital

Minimum Vital is a French progressive rock band formed near Bordeaux in 1982 by brothers Thierry and Jean-Luc Payssan. Originally performing under the names Rocking Chair, Survival, and Concept, the group adopted the name Minimum Vital before independently releasing the cassette Envol Triangles (1986). They gained wider recognition after signing with Musea Records, issuing albums such as Les Saisons Marines (1988), Sarabandes (1990), La Source - huit chants de lumière (1992), Esprit d'Amor (1996), Atlas (2004), Capitaines (2009), Air Caravan (2019), and Le Royaume (2025). The Payssan brothers also launched the side project Vital Duo and opened the Vital Musique recording studio in 2001.