Belgian pioneering electronic group Front 242 have three gigs this week to celebrate their 40th Anniversary:
15.07.22 GLASGOW at Slay
16.07.22 LONDON at O2 Academy SOLD OUT!
17.07.22 LONDON at O2 Academy EXTRA SHOW
Front 242 began in 1981 developing their own independent recording and graphics facilities, as well as a unique on-stage presentation. In 1984, Front 242 signed a US deal with the Chicago-based label Wax Trax! and released the EP Take One. The albums No Comment (1985), Official Version (1987) and Front By Front (1988), including the indie hits ‘HeadHunter’ and ‘Welcome to Paradise‘ sealed their international breakthrough and status as an innovative and pioneering outfit.
Front 242’s 1993 albums 06:21:03:11 Up Evil and 05:22:09:12 Off were radical in their production by bringing in new vocalists, live guitars and drums, plus an outside producer in Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Sonic Youth). A hiatus between 1993-1997 saw the release of Live Code (recorded during their most recent world tour) and Mut@ge – Mix@ge, a compilation album for which star names such as The Prodigy, The Orb and Underworld provided innovative remixes of Front 242 songs.
The original quartet reunited in 1997 and (with German drummer Tim Kroker) and began performing again and after a lengthy absence from the studio, the EPs Still & Raw and album Pulse were both released in 2003. They were enriched by 20 years of experience; analogue technologies and vintage machines pulsing into deconstructed tracks where emotion and research were still conveyed by a purely electronic attitude.
Front 242 continue to perform worldwide, encouraged by crowds of loyal fans celebrating the band’s uniqueness and renowned integrity. It’s a thrill to have these gigs in Glasgow and London plus they have reissued their back catalogue in newer, enriched editions. What a joy to be able to hear this music live again. For tickets please check here.
Fore more information on Front 242 please check out their facebook and bandcamp.
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