Têtes Raides

When it comes to committed French chanson and poetry, it's impossible not to think of Les Têtes Raides, a band that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2014. Their uncommon energy has enabled them to build a career of activism and integrity at the crossroads of music, theater and graphic arts. From their punk-rock beginnings, the band's career has been studded with classics ("Ginette"), and has become an exemplar of alternative rock, with albums such as Chamboultou (1998), Gratte-Poil (2000), Qu'est-ce Qu'on Se Fait Chier! (2003), Fragile (2005) and L'An Demain (2011). In 2013, Têtes Raides opened up their repertoire to poetry with Corps de Mots, setting texts by Jean Genet, Rimbaud and Robert Desnos to music. The following year, Christian Olivier's group celebrated its thirtieth birthday with Les Terriens.