What to do towards the middle of the seventies when one is young and one lives in the pleasant industrial city of Givors in the South of Lyon? Turn to music, of course!
Thus, in 1974, the Ganafoul group was born. To play their blues-boogie rapeux they are first five, but soon they will turn to the magic formula of power trio. So who are these young people? We have Jack Bon officiating on guitar and vocals, Jean-Yves Astier on bass and Yves Rotacher behind drums. This line up will be the one of the first album before in 1978, and the album “Full Speed Ahead”, Bernard Antoine does not come to seize the battery.
Their first galette comes out at Crypto (label to which they were warmly recommended by their friend Little Bob) and is called “Saturday Night”. This is an incandescent record that the group will promote through a series of concerts that are no less. On some dates they are even joined on stage by Little Bob.
In 1978, their second album “Full Speed Ahead” was released, which is considered their best studio production. Carried by the eponymous title and the tour that follows Ganafoul begins to know a certain renown across the hexagon.
August 1979 sees them realize a dream and know some form of consecration by doing the first part of AC / DC in Aix-les-Bains. At the same time, an excellent third album “Side 3” followed by a live “Route 77”. Unfortunately, despite the undeniable quality of the group and stage performances that raise enthusiasm, sales do not really follow and the future becomes really difficult.
In 1981 Ganafoul tries a come back with two new members coming to supervise Jack and Antoine and especially with texts in the language of Molière. The result is called “T'as Bien Failli Crever”. Title unfortunately almost premonitory since, despite the quality of this production, the group disappears some time later.
Jack Bon will then turn to the blues (we come or return always) and will produce a series of good albums like, in particular, “Mixed Blues”. Jean-Yves Astier when he retires in the Southwest, turning to a more rural blues. The last “historic” member, Bernard Antoine, lives serenely on his barge animating various formations of blues-rock.
Nevertheless, occasional reformations take place from time to time. One of them deserves particular attention since, on April 22, 1998 at the Transbordeur de Lyon, it gave rise to the recording of a live, “Crossroads”. This benefit is well worth the detour and bitterly regret that Ganafoul has not known the success and recognition that should have been his….~
Ganafoul " Full Speed Ahead" 1978
In 1974 in Givors near Lyon is formed "Ganafoul".
First composed of five members, the band quickly became a trio formed by Jack Bon "vocals, guitar", Jean-Yves Astier "bass-chant" and Bernard Antoine who will replace Yves Rotacher on drums.
In 1977, they released their first LP, "Saturday Night" which is very good.
In 1978, released the second album "Full Speed Ahead" which is a small wonder.
Then will follow in 1979, "Side 3" and finally in 1981 "You almost missed it". The group separates after.
Note that Jack Bon released in 2012 a record named "Together Again" with the "Jack Bon Slim Combo".
This second album that we are talking about here, where we find the voices of Fabienne Shine and Little Bob, is much better than the first one because it is better produced and without concessions.
Listen to "Nothing more" with his heavy guitar and his chorus that we remember from the first listen.
From "Full speed ahead" to "Far from town" through "Rock Gutter" or "King size killer" this record gives you a real pleasure and is very catchy.
At the time I liked some pieces of "Trust" but I must admit that I preferred "Ganafoul" and "Shakin 'Street" probably because they sang in English and that this language is more adapted to this musical genre .
As another commentator says in his column, it seems important to today's young people who want to form a group of Hard Rock or Boogie Rock to discover these two groups, "Ganafoul" and "Shakin 'Street" which will give you inspiration.
Note that there was another very good group in Givors called "Factory" with Yves Matrat.
This group was very inspired by "The Rolling Stones" that they knew well.
I looked at Amazon but apparently their albums do not exist on CD.
To discover for those who do not know.
Adanson Marco.....~
Yes-yes, and I'm not exaggerating! For those who doubt it, I invite them to listen to this little masterpiece that is '' Full Speed Ahead ''.
'' Ful Speed Ahead '' is the second album of the band GANAFOUL, after the already excellent '' Saturday Night ''. With the help of a new drummer, Bernard Antoine, Jack Bon and Jean-Yves Astier offer us here a real little bomb of Rock and Boogie. This CD is full of little treasures, there is nothing to throw! Just listen to '' Dealing Your Love '', '' Nothing More '' or '' Full Speed Ahead '' (which intro!) And you will be convinced of it.
Ok, OK, Jack Bon's English is far from perfect, but his guitarist qualities are beyond doubt,
Note on this album the participation of Little Bob and Fabienne Shine (Shakin 'Street).
Frankly, as soon as this disc will be available again, buy it, you will not regret it!....~
Ah, p ....., this pocket of these 3 guys behind the grid that, on the front, shattered. . . And p ..... again, and especially, these hypra mastered songs that make it one of the best French hard rock albums. Much has been said about Jack Bon, a great guitarist with a warm and bluesy voice, but the other two bass drums are also sure to make this power-trio one of the best of its kind at this time. Because they do not just make hard-blues-rock, they add a touch of something (what they call sider rock, probably) that gives this album, their 2nd after the already very good "Saturday Night", an original sound, like a magical combination between Foghat, the first AC / DC, Savoy Brown, Status Quo and Rory Gallagher for the old side its very sticky. The album opens with the very hard "Full Speed Ahead" and his solo to start the piece before the riff that kills. The rest is more rock "Nothing More", "Dealing Your Love", but filthy, I reassure you, but less hard. But the whole is super homogeneous.
Ganafoul should have taken off at that time, at the level of sales, anyway. Personally, I largely preferred them to the French hard rock groups of the early '80s and their wooden starlets (see the interviews of the jesters of Warning or the distressingly pompous music of H Bomb or Sortilège etc .., ah ah, welcome to the on-buffoons). In attitude, therefore, but especially in music, excessively authentic and uncompromising.....~
Credits
Bass, Vocals – Jean Yves Astier
Drums, Percussion – Bernard Antoine
Guitar, Vocals – Jack Bon
Vocals – Fabienne Shaking Street*, Robert 'Little Bob' Piazza
Tracklist
