Guitarist Fred Chichin died the other day. He was 53. Along with singer Catherine Ringer, they were the French-language band Les Rita Mitsuoko. Under that odd French Italian Japanese name, they baffled listeners with synth-disco, avant garde oddness, Latin-tinged dance singles and even some straight rock.
With enthusiasts ranging from the equally eccentric American duo Sparks, to producer Tony Visconti, Iggy Pop and director Jean-Luc Godard, Fred and Catherine collaborated, careened and collapsed all over Europe in the 80's, and their challenging music videos even managed to escape the confines of France and intrigue the English-speaking market.
Though their big hits are old (first album 1984) they were still coming up with fresh material and recorded a new album this year, in both French and English versions. Fred was diagnosed with cancer only two months ago, and he died November 28th.
The band's too quirky to be represented by only one or two tracks, so you have three to choose from. You can take 'em all, too, and that barely scratches the surface of this eccentric band, since they had many International hits beyond these things: Le Petit Train (skittery synths that veer into Eurythmics territory, jumpy dance beat, precocious high-pitched diva vocals), Les Histoires 'd Amour (some actual rockin' out on the vocals, which switches mid-tune from punk stomp to retro Grapelli coyness and syncopation and stomps back again) and the highly commercial Blondie-esque disco romp Ding Dang Dong (done!)
Listen to some ill de France...
LE PETIT TRAIN
LES HISTOIRES 'D AMOUR
DING DANG DONG
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