Offenbach (band)

Offenbach is a Quebec blues rock band, initially active from 1969 to 1985. Following a successful reunion tour in 1996, the band released a new album in 2005.

Formed in Montreal in the late 1960s as Les Gants blancs, the band went through a variety of names (including "7e Invention", "Grandpa & Company", "Offenbach Pop Opera" and "Offenbach Soap Opéra") before settling on Offenbach. The band initially consisted of vocalist and lyricist Pierre Harel, guitarist Johnny Gravel, organist and singer Gerry Boulet, bassist Michel Lamothe (son of country singer Willie Lamothe) and drummer Denis Boulet (Gerry's brother).

Offenbach Soap Opera released their debut self-titled album, Offenbach Soap Opéra, in 1971. Although the band's material was primarily in French, that album also included three English songs, "No Money No Candy":, "Bulldozer" & "High But Low"

Denis Boulet left the band in 1972, and was replaced by Roger (Wezo) Belval. In November of that year, the band performed a "Mass for the Dead" at St. Joseph's Oratory, which was released on album as Saint-Chrone de néant.

In 1973, Pierre Harel left the band to pursue a career as a filmmaker and the band toured France. They were based there for the next two years as they toured Europe extensively. Several performances from this era were documented in the concert film Tabarnak", directed by Claude Faraldo. In 1975, the band returned to Montreal.

Lamothe and Belval left in 1977 and were replaced by Norman Kerr on bass and Pierre Lavoie on drums; Jean Millaire also joined the band that year as a second guitarist, but left within the year and was replaced briefly by Doug McCaskill, then permanently by John McGale. Kerr and Lavoie departed in 1978, and were replaced by Breen Leboeuf on bass and Robert Harrisson on drums.

In 1976, the band recorded its first of two English albums, Never Too Tender, and toured across Canada to promote it. They subsequently released two more French albums, Offenbach and Traversion, before their second English language album, Rock Bottom, was released in 1980. Traversion won the band its first Félix Award for rock album of the year in 1979.

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