"Cargo" He submitted his demos to Philippe Missir, artistic director of Mondio Music, who accompanied him in the elaboration of the "Cargo" demo on which Michel Eli, the director of the label immediately signed Bauer. The song came out at the end of 1983 with
Manu Katché on drums and Bauer on guitar. Michel Eli, who wrote the lyrics, was inspired by film
Pépé le Moko with
Jean Gabin. The cover of the single refers to the poster of the film
Querelle by
Rainer Werner Fassbinder. "Cargo" sold more than a million copies, earning a Gold record for Bauer. The song was covered by Roger Daltrey in 1987 under the title «
take me home ». Bauer chose to work with the director
Jean Baptiste Mondino on a video for the song. The video was shot in black and white, populated by muscular sailors in engine rooms and a nude girl dancing, inspired by
Francis Ford Coppola's film
Rumble Fish and
Fritz Lang's film
Metropolis. "Cargo" was the first French video to be broadcast on
MTV.
"Éteins la lumière" The following year, he became the first French artist to sign at
EMI international. He settled in London and began recording his debut album with director Dave Bascomb, producer of Tears for Fears. The album
Les nouveaux Seigneurs was released in 1987. After a few years spent in the UK, Axel left EMI, returned to
Paris and signed with Mercury (Universal). In 1990,
Sentinelles was released, produced by Ben Rogan (Polnareff, Daho, Sade). It was considered an unpolished blending of disparate genres such as rock and electro with multiple collaborations, with the song "Éteins la lumière" becoming a success and being certified gold record. The song remains notable for its guitar riff. Axel then left for a long tour with musicians such as bassist
Phil Spalding, on guitar Pierre Jaconelli or drummer Mathieu Rabaté.
Simple mortel Simple mortel, his third album, was released in 1998. However, Bauer's record company found the album to be out of format, with the songs too long for the radio and although having received a good reception in the press, they did not promote it.
"À ma place" Axel worked with his guitarist Juan Tamayo on "Mens moi" and the bassist Arnaud Giroud of Emigrates for his next album. After listening to some demos with French artist
Zazie, they got really deep by writing a song called "À ma place". Zazie wrote the lyrics, Axel composed the music and both sung. A song with compelling energy and emotion that won an enormous success, selling nearly 600,000 copies, was nominated for the Victoires de la musique and won an NRJ music Award. The album became a golden record with 170,000 copies sold. À ma place" was not included on Zazie's studio album, but only on Bauer's ''Personne n'est parfait'' on which it appears in an extended version, then on Bauer's best of
La Désintégrale (2003). In 2003, the live version performed during Zazie's tour was added on her live album
Ze live!! and in the collector edition of
La Désintégrale. The song, as well as the music video (on the DVD), were also available on Zazie's 2008 greatest hits
Zest Of. Invited by Zazie, he joined the troupe of the "Restos du cœur". Triumphing at the Olympia in 2002, he created the surprise entering the stage with a string orchestra and electro-rock musicians.
Bad Cowboy In 2003 released his first best of,
La désintégrale. In 2006 he signed with Polydor, worked on
Bad Cowboy produced by Dan Presley (The Breeders). With Franck Pilant on guitar with whom he started the album's composition and pre-production, Drummer Geoff Dugmore (Killing Joke, Johnny Hallyday), bassist and former boxer Gabriel Barry. The album was recorded live in Ireland at Grouse Lodge Studios. For the video of "Tu me Tues" Axel, Gabriel and Franck incarnated a band of urban cowboys penetrating the city on horseback in search of their alter egos. At the same time, he left Universal and became producer. In 2010, he participated in the opera rock Dracula composing the single "in trance ... ylvanie" with singer of BB Brunes, Adrien Gallo. End of 2010, again with Zazie, they perform a new duet: Double Axel.
Peaux de serpent In 2013, Axel Bauer launched
Peaux de serpent.
Live à Ferber Live à Ferber is a
live album released in June 2017 recorded live at the
Ferber Studio in Paris. The album includes some of his greatest hits started in 2013. The videos of the recordings were released on Bauer's YouTube channel. == On the side ==