SATAN JOKERS - Hardcore Collectors
CD 19 tracks (Hard Rock / France) 2008
01. Sorcier (Remix’ 2008) 4’18
02. Action 3’14
03. Quand la Nuit Est Tombée 2’41
04. The Jean Genie 3’53
05. Dame en Noir 4’06
06. Le Possédé 4’25
07. Gimme Some Lovin’ 3’28
08. Pas Fréquentables 3’50
09. Envie de Toi 2’52
10. Offrande 3’21
11. Trop Fou pour Toi 3’47
12. Infidèle 3’55
13. Adrien 2’53
14. Vices Privés 3’18
15. Samouraï 3’07
16. Solo Batterie 4’15
17. La Marche Hérétique 3’17
18. Mort en Sursis 4’20
19. Laurent’s Song 3’25
What about jumping back into the past with me ? A big backward jump generated by what I found in my drawers not so long ago ?
You’ll have to be really keen on this "Metal fusion sound” we "invented” then, for some of those studio tapes haven’t gone through all those years without damages. Some of those concerts were given in "advanced” "sex,drug,and rock n’roll” states ! Laurent BERNAT, my friend and co-founder, paid the high price for that, as a matter of fact.
SATAN JOKERS wasn’t a group like others. It was a sect, a "brotherhood” and, once we were wearing the "costume” of the group, Stephane BONNEAU, Laurent and I weren’t musicians or, even, humans like others. We were brothers, on the same path. Together, we were undestructible.
Already a melody-maker, in those days, I didn’t feel ready to take on the drums and the lead vocals all by myself. Moreover, Pierre GUIRAUD, though he had less experience than we had, helped us to display on stage that "look” of "war-machine” at work.
SATAN JOKERS has never been a group of nice and dull guys. With Laurent, we had some great time working out the "concept”, but we also were quite aware that the "costume” would be heavy on our shoulders, the "attitude” hard to keep up 24 hours a day and the "balance” difficult to preserve. Indeed, on the one hand, the fascination we exerted over some people could only be compared to the hatred we generated among others (a bunch of shmucks, of course !), whereas, on the other hand, for us, the "game” was "only Rock n’ Roll” !
SATAN JOKERS wasn’t a respectful group, but a respected group. SATAN JOKERS was the group you loved to hate or hated to love. But, above all, although the sound of the recordings of that time is somewhat outdated nowadays, SATAN JOKERS kept being the most innovative and "killing” group of its generation.
So, though nothing has been invented for a long time in this kind of music, I admit it, the repeated requests coming from some festival organizers and from Pascal MULOT (another great bass player and a close friend of Laurent’s) have convinced me to make new songs and show my vision of what SATAN JOKERS could be today.
This new SATAN JOKERS album we’re recording right now, with guitarists Michael ZURITA and Olivier SPITZER, brings me back 24 years ago. All the more so since Stéphane BONNEAU appears in it. I’ve taken up with him again and we’ve resumed our friendship ... now that we’ve both grown up ! (His guitar playing on "Sorcier”’s 2008 remix is as sharp as in 1985 !)
You HAVE TO understand that when I play SATAN JOKERS, I put on SATAN JOKERS briefs again, I breathe SATAN JOKERS, I eat SATAN JOKERS, I speak SATAN JOKERS with all the arrogance it requires, I live SATAN JOKERS with love and hate. Then, I appreciate and accept those who understand the game and I bugger or ignore those who lack the intelligence, subtlety and ability to get far beyond the appearance or below the surface of things.
Though I used to say that I would never revive SATAN JOKERS as long as Laurent would be dead, I’m sure that, up there, he must be both proud and creased up with laughter !
So, ... see you soon !
Renaud HANTSON
P.S.: Half of the royalties of "Laurent’s Song” will be paid back into the fight against toxicomania.
