Machiavel (band)

Machiavel
Machiavel in live in the Nostalgie Beach Festival, (2016).
Background information
OriginBrussels, Belgium
Genres
Years active1974 (1974)–present
LabelsHarvest, EMI, Warner, Accord, Tempel, Moonzoo, CNR, Indisc, Musea
MembersMarc Ysaye
Roland Degreef
Hervé Borbe
Christophe Pons
Past membersAlbert Letecheur
Jack Roskam
Jean-Paul Devaux
Mario Guccio
Thierry Plas
Paolo Ragatzu
Websitemachiavel.be

Machiavel is a Belgian rock group formed in 1974. The band's first few albums were progressive rock, while their later albums shifted towards new wave. By mid 1970s, Machiavel had established themselves as one of the most popular Belgian groups.[1]

History

Early years (1974-1987)

Machiavel were founded in 1974 by Roland De Greef (bass) and Marc Ysaÿe (drums and vocals),[2] named after Niccolò Machiavelli. At the time, they were playing in a group called Moby Dick with Jack Roskam (guitar) and Albert Letecheur (keyboard). They released their first eponymous album in 1976.[3]

Jack Roskam was soon replaced by Jean-Paul Devaux. Mario Guccio joined the group as lead vocalist[3] due to his move out to Yugoslavia. The new formation released Jester in 1977.[1] The next year saw the release of the album, Mechanical Moonbeams.

Urban Games was the band's most successful album to date. It attempted to move away from the Eurock style and proposed songs leaning on disco ("Dancing Heroes"), hard rock ("The Dictators"), reggae ("Over the Hill"), and Eurock still ("City Flowers"). Albert Letecheur and Jean-Paul Devaux left the group in 1979.

New Lines was released in 1980, with Thierry Plas on lead guitar. The single "Fly" was an immediate success, but the group's next attempt with the album Break Out produced by Derek Laurence in 1981 did not meet success, and after The Cry of Pleasure in 1987, the group went inactive for a number of years

End of hiatus (1999-present)

The band resumed activity in 1999 with Virtual Sun, followed by Welcome to Paradise in 2003 and 2005 in 2005.[3] In 2010, Thierry Plas left the band because of musical differences and went in search of other projects. A new album Eleven was released featuring new guitarist Christophe Pons.

Members are active in radio and promoting and supporting new acts in Belgium.

Mario Guccio died at the age of 64 on 21 January 2018.[4]

Band members

1976
  • Marc Ysaÿe – lead vocals, drums
  • Jack Roskam – guitar
  • Albert Letecheur – keyboards
  • Roland De Greef – bass
1977–1979
  • Marc Ysaÿe – lead vocals, drums
  • Jean-Paul Devaux – guitar
  • Albert Letecheur – keyboards
  • Roland De Greef – bass
  • Mario Guccio – lead vocal
1979–1983
1987
  • Marc Ysaÿe – lead vocals, drums
  • Thierry Plas – guitar
  • Paolo Regatzu – keyboards
  • Roland De Greef – bass
  • Mario Guccio – lead vocal
1997–2010
  • Marc Ysaÿe – lead vocals, drums
  • Thierry Plas – guitar
  • Roland De Greef – bass
  • Mario Guccio – lead vocal
  • Hervé Borbé – keyboards
2010-today
  • Marc Ysaÿe – lead vocals, drums
  • Christophe Pons – guitar
  • Roland De Greef – bass
  • Mario Guccio – lead vocal
  • Hervé Borbé – keyboards

Discography

Studio albums

  • Machiavel (EMI, 1976, LP Vinyl)
  • Jester (EMI, 1977, LP Vinyl)
  • Mechanical Moonbeams (EMI, 1978, LP Vinyl)
  • Urban Games (EMI, 1979, LP Vinyl)
  • New Lines (EMI, 1980, LP Vinyl)
  • Break Out (EMI, 1981, LP Vinyl)
  • Valentine's Day (EMI, 1982, LP Vinyl)
  • The Cry Of Pleasure (INDISC, 1987, LP Vinyl)
  • 40th Anniversary (2015, Vinyl, Limited Edition, Special Edition)

Compilation albums

  • The Best of Machiavel (EMI, 1991, CD)

Reissues

  • Machiavel (EMI, 1993, CD)
  • Jester (EMI, 1993, CD)
  • Mechanical Moonbeams (EMI, 1993, CD)
  • Urban Games (EMI, 1993, CD)
  • New Lines (EMI, 1993, CD)
  • 20th Anniversary Machiavel – The Very Best Of (EMI, 1996, CD)
  • Virtual Sun (CNR Arcade, 1999, CD)
  • Machiavel Live (EMI, 1999, CD)
  • Break Out (Hans Kuster Music, 2000, CD)
  • Original Hits (EMI, 2000, CD)
  • Anthology (EMI, 2001, CD)
  • Welcome to Paradise (CNR Arcade, 2003, CD)
  • The Essential of Machiavel (2003, EMI, CD)
  • Mechanical Moonbeams (2005, EMI, CD)
  • 2005 (2005, Bang, CD)
  • Best of Machiavel (2006, More Than Télémoustique, CD)
  • Acoustic (2009, Moonzoo Music, CD)
  • Eleven (2011, Moonzoo Music, CD)
  • Colours (2013, Moonzoo Music, CD)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Allen, James. "Jester – Credits, Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. ^ "The History of That Belgian Band Called Machiavel". Machiavel. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Hill, Gary. "Machiavel – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Zanger van Machiavel overleden". Focus.knack.be. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
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