Formed: 1969, Montreal
Years Most Active: 1971-1985
Primary Members:
- Gerry Boulet (vocals)
- Johnny Gravel (guitar)
- John McGale (guitar from 1977)
- Pierre Harel (organ to 1974)
- Michel Lamothe (bass to 1977)
- Breen Leboeuf (bass from 1977)
- Roger (Wezo) Belval (drums to 1977)
- Robert Harrison (drums 1978-82)
- Pat Martel (drums from 1982)
Genre: Rock / Blues
Biggest Hits:
- “Faut que j’me pousse” (1971)
- “Câline de blues” (1971)
- “Promenade sur Mars” (1974)
- “La voix que j’ai” (1977)
- “Chu un rocker” (1977)
- “Le blues me guette” (1977)
- “Mes blues passent pu dans porte” (1979)
- “Je chante comme un coyote” (1979)
- “J’ai l’rock n’ roll pi toé” (1979)
- “Ayoye” (1979)
- “Le bar-salon des deux toxons” (1981)
- “Palais des glaces“ (1981)
- “Ouv’-moé ta porte” (1981)
- “Prends pas tout mon amour” (1983)
Offenbach evolved from a number of rock bands and name changes in the late ’60s. Like many outfits in the ’70s, they went through a number of personnel changes; Boulet and Gravel are the two that remained with the group through the span of their career. They released their debut album, Offenbach Soap Opéra in 1971, which consisted of contemporary standards, blues, and original material in French and English. Their sophomore effort, Saint-Chrone de Néant, was a recording of a late-1972 performance of its “Mass for the Dead“ at Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montréal.
The following two years, the band, based out of Paris, toured around Europe. After returning to Montreal in 1975, Offenbach moved to the forefront of Quebec rock groups. Albums in both English and French followed. But their biggest was 1979′s Transversion which spawned four major hits and the Rock Album of the Year Félix Award.
The group toured the Province that year and a live album was released garnering for them further Félix Awards in 1980, including Group of the Year. They became the first Québécois rock act to headline at the Montreal Forum. With their great success, Offenbach returned to France on tour. They disbanded in 1985, and the members all became involved in solo projects as well as working with other acts. After some hits as a soloist in the late-80s, including “Un beau grand bateau”, the Felix Song of the Year for 1989, Gerry Boulet died in 1990 having battled for four years with cancer. Offenbach reunited in 1996 for a reunion tour.
