Etron Fou Leloublan were originally called Etron Fou, a
trio comprising vocalist and saxophonist Eulalie Ruynat (real name Chris Chanet),
Ferdinand Richard (bass guitar) and Guigou Chenevier (drums, percussion). Their first concert was on 27 December 1973, when they opened for the French
progressive rock band,
Magma. Etron Fou then went on to produce a "viable, musical alternative to both French rock'n'roll and French free jazz", which had stagnated at the time. They also played at the second RIO festival in
Milan in April 1979, organised by RIO's
Italian representative,
Stormy Six. In November 1979, Etron Fou Leloublan toured the
United States, and performances at the Squat Club in
New York City and
Trinity College in
Hartford, Connecticut were recorded and released on a live album, ''En Public aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique''. Etron Fou Leloublan became a
quartet in 1980 with
Bernard Mathieu replacing Grand on saxophone, and the addition of multi-instrumentalist and singer Jo Thirion. In mid-1980, the band recorded with former Henry Cow guitarist
Fred Frith in France and
Switzerland, and appeared on one side of Frith's 1981 solo
LP,
Speechless. Frith produced Etron Fou Leloublan's next album,
Les Poumons Gonflés (1982), on which he also guested on two of the tracks, playing violin and guitar. For their fifth album,
Les Sillons de la Terre (1984) the saxophonist changed again with Bruno Meillier replacing Mathieu. Etron Fou Leloublan recorded their last album,
Face Aux Éléments Déchaînés in August 1985 as a trio of Richard, Thirion, and Chenevier, not bothering to fill the recurring vacant saxophone position. Frith produced the album and guested on four of the tracks. The band broke up in 1986. ==Members==