French Punk: The Dogs

Back in 1972, France had a small group of people following underground music. Some of them used to listen to The Velvet Underground, Iggy & The Stooges, The New York Dolls, or Lenny Kaye's 'Nuggets. Yves Adrien, a famous music journalist called them 'punks'. Dominique Laboubée (guitar, volcals) founded The Dogs with his long time friend Michel 'Mimi' Gross (drums) during the summer of 1973. The original line-up comprised Paul Peschenaert (guitar) and François 'Zox' Camuzeaux (bass). The band covered Flamin’Groovies, Kinks and Velvet Underground songs , and began to write its own material. First gigs on the Normandy Coast In 1976, Paul and Zox both leaved the band. Dominic and Michel asked Hugues Urvoy de Porzampac to join. He's been playing bass guitar for a week and could only play one tune: 'Oh Yeah' by The Shadows Of Knight. At the record store 'Mélodies Massacre' in Rouen, they met Jean-Yves Garcin (guitar). He becomes the fouth member. In march of 1977, Lionel Hermani, the 'Mélodies Massacre' owner, asked The Dogs to write an advertising song for the shop. It was just after the Wild Man Fischer promotion single for Rhino. They tried, but it was obvious that the Dogs material was better. The songs were recorded in June of 1977 in the basement of Lionel’s house, on a 4-track TEAC tape recorder with an old 2 track Revox for the mix, and a few Shure mikes. None of them knew anything about recording. 3500 singles were pressed. Some were distributed by Skydog Records, some by Lionel himself. It was the first french DIY punk single.

The Dogs - 1977

DOGS VIDEO