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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZNEGRESSES VERTES, LesThe Green Black Women, a French pop band naming itself after abuse, fusing cabaret, pavement café and flea-market chic with rai, rock, ska horns and French folk plus a dash of flamenco, a (rare) successful French pop export perhaps because they are impossible to categorize. Original lineup: Helno (Noel) Rota de Louracqua, vocals; Stefane Mellino, guitar; Paulo, bass; Gaby, drums; Mathieu Caravese, accordion; L'Ami Ro, piano; Braham, trombone; Michel Ochowiak, trumpet; Iza Mellino, backing vocals; augmented further on recordings. They came together '87 from working-class Paris neighbourhoods and the Camargue in Southern France; signed to Paris indie Off The Track and released on various Polygram labels overseas, their first album Mlah '89 (North African for 'cool') was an immediate hit at home, while 'Zobi La Mouche' was programmed by BBC Radio One disc jockeys in England. Famille Nombreuse '91 had a new drummer, Ze Verbalito; 'Famille Huereuse' got radio play in the UK, 'La France A Ses Dimanches' was a riotous waltz. Helno d 23 Jan. '93 of a heroin overdose. The group was shaken, but his problem had already been interfering with his writing; the first album had been credited to the group, songs on the second to individual writers, and Mellino took up the slack. Stopgap 10 Remixes 87-93 leaned to a techno sound, dissipating the charm of the originals, but EP Aperitif and new album Zig-Zague '95 were back on form. Furthe albums were live En Public and studio Green Bus, both '96; Trabendo, |