View source for Allez Allez

{{Short description|Belgian funk band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Allez Allez
| origin          = [[Brussels]], Belgium
| genre           = [[Funk]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[pop music|pop]]
| years_active    = 1981-1984, 2017-present
| associated_acts = [[Marka (singer)|Marka]], [[Hooverphonic]]
| current_members = * Kris Debusscher (guitar)
* Marka (bass)
* Robbie Bindels (drums)
* Roland Bindi (percussion)
* Paul Curtiz (guitar)
* Thom Dewatt (keyboards)
* Kyoko Baertsoen (vocals)
* Marie Delsaux (vocals)
| past_members    = * Nicolas Fransolet (guitar)
* Sarah Osborne (vocals)
* Jackie Irwin (vocals)
}}
'''Allez Allez''' is a Belgian [[funk]] band founded in 1981. They disbanded in 1985 but subsequently reformed with a line-up change for several concerts in 2017.<ref>[http://houbi.com/belpop/groepen/allezallez.htm Houbi.com]</ref>
==History==
On the verge of an international breakthrough in 1981, funky Belgian [[New wave music|new wave]] band Marine lost their singer Marc Marine while in London to record a [[John Peel|Peel session]]. Quickly replaced by Sarah Osborne of Repetition, they recorded the planned Peel session and changed their name to Allez Allez.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Allez+Allez Discogs.com]</ref>
The group had local hits with "She's Stirring Up", "Allez Allez" and "African Queen", the latter a tribute to [[Grace Jones]]. Their mini-album ''African Queen'' achieved gold status and earned them an appearance at the [[Rock Werchter|Torhout-Werchter]] festival in 1982.<ref>[[:nl:Rock Werchter#1975|Rock Werchter 1982]]</ref>
The band then signed with major label Virgin and released the polished pop album ''Promises'' in November 1982, though Osborne subsequently left the group and married [[Glenn Gregory]] of [[Heaven 17]]. American singer Jackie Irwin replaced Osborne, but mainstream success still eluded the band.<ref>[http://www.lesdisquesducrepuscule.com/promises_african_queen_twi086cd.html lesdisquesducrepuscule.com]</ref>
Under the name [[Marka (singer)|Marka]], their bass player later became a well-known singer in French music circles. He is also the father of the acclaimed singers [[Angèle (singer)|Angèle]] and [[Roméo Elvis]]. Christian Debusscher and Nico Fransolet became members of [[Les Snuls]], and both have subsequently worked as directors.
Members of the band decided to reunite to do some gigs in 2017, including their first appearance at the [[Les Francofolies de Spa]] festival in July. This was followed by several other dates. As two key members - Fransolet and Osborne - declined to be involved, the group chose to work with two female singers, Kyoko Bartsoen (who had sung with [[Hooverphonic]]) and Marie, and Paul Curtiz who also joined them on guitar.<ref>[http://www.meletout.net/allezallez/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/le-soir-allez-allez-22-juillet-2017.jpg Article in Le Soir (in French)]</ref>
At the same time, bassist Marka wrote a book of memoirs about his time in the band, ''Allez Allez'', published by Lamiroy.<ref>[https://lamiroy.net/collections/2017/products/allez-allez Allez Allez, Lamiroy]</ref>
==Discography==
===Albums===
* ''African Queen'' (1981 - EMI/Scalp)
* ''Promises'' (1982 - Virgin)
* ''African Queen + Promises'' (1997 - Virgin CD)
* ''Best of Allez Allez'' (2008 - Eskimo CD)
* ''Promises + African Queen'' (2013 - Les Disques du Crepuscule CD)
===Singles===
* "She's Stirring Up" (1981), Scalp
* "Allez Allez/African Queen" (1981), Scalp
* "Valley of the Kings/Wrap Your Legs" (1982), Virgin
* "Flesh and Blood/The Time You Cost Me" (1982), Virgin
* "Don't Bother Me/Strange People" (1984), Vogue
* "Boom Boom/The Brain" (1984), Sounds of the Future
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Belgian pop music groups]]
[[Category:English-language musical groups from Belgium]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Brussels]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1981]]
{{authority control}}