Les Wampas

Formed in 1983, Les Wampas, who take their name from a tribe mentioned in an episode of Rahan, revolve around the eccentric and charismatic personality of Didier Chappedelaine, the group's singer, who was very quickly renamed Didier Wampas.

This stage surname was subsequently adopted by other members of the line-up, such as Niko Wampas (drums) and, more occasionally, Philippe Martinot – aka Philippe Wampas – one of the band's first guitarists.

Drawing of course on the punk wave, but also on rockabilly and French "yé-yé", the group released their first 45 rpm single, "Dracu bop", in 1985, followed by their first album "Tutti Frutti" in 1986.

Recognised by the wider public in 2004 for their appearance in the final of the Victoires de la Musique, Les Wampas enjoyed a second spell in the media spotlight in 2005 thanks to their single "Chirac en prison", which was banned from the airwaves.

The group, who had already made their mark two years earlier with the scathing "Manu Chao", have no equal when it comes to combining punk rock with absurd lyrics, which they do with determination on "Rock'n'Roll Part 9" (2006) and "Les Wampas Sont la Preuve Que Dieu Existe" (2009).

In 2014, after two solo excursions, Didier Wampas and his band returned to celebrate thirty years of career, as is only fitting, with "Les Wampas Font la Gueule".

Respecting no conventions, the group did not use this round number to release a first compilation and waited a further two years before issuing "Never Trust a Best-Of".

On their most recent album to date, "Tempête, Tempête", three years after the very good "Sauvre Le Monde", the group surrounded themselves well: Lionel Limiñana (The Limiñanas) produced, and Nicolas Quéré (The Arctic Monkeys, Delgres) handled the recording and mixing.