La Ruda

La Ruda Salska was formed in 1993 in Saumur. The name, inspired by a Polish town, refers to the idea of combining rock, salsa and ska, but it is more simply called alternative rock, and in the cellar where they rehearse there are posters of « La Mano  » and « The Specials  ».

The same year the Saumur musicians record a five-track demo, including « Radio ska  », which is released on the French compilation « Ni Jah ni maître  », and « Porque no la vida  » on « 100% Latin ska  », a worldwide compilation produced by the American label « Moon Records  ».

The group reformed in 1995. Only Pierrot (vocals) and Manu (drums) remain from the original line-up. They are joined by Fred (guitar), Jam (bass), Richtoune (guitar), Roro (trombone), Daddy (trumpet) and François (saxophone).

La Ruda, as the band is already known, launches a subscription campaign and in 1996 releases a first album, « Le Prix du silence  », recorded in a garage. The record reeks of camboui and urgency. The audience grows ever larger and more chaotic.

François leaves the band in 1997 and is replaced by Philly. The second album, « L'Art de la joie  », pushes things further in 1999, again recorded with whatever means were at hand. Long series of concerts then begin for La Ruda.

The band, which started out by « tapant la manche  » (busking for coins), plays round the clock and hits every road in France at a frantic pace. Pee-Why replaces Jam on bass.

In 1999 a contract is signed with Patricia Bonneteau and the label Yelen Musiques, which releases the live album « En Concert  » from that tour. For the first time the track « L'instinct du meilleur  » is fixed, a symbol of the extraordinary energy the musicians deploy on stage.

In 2001 comes « Passager du réel  », produced at Black Box studio, where the lyrics take an even greater place in the band's personality. The band then creates its own structure, « Les Associés du Réel  », and celebrates by releasing an OMNI « Loïc Da Silva joue La Ruda Salska  »…