Short version
MACHIAVEL
BIOGRAPHY (short version)
Mario GUCCIO : Vocals
Thierry PLAS : Guitars
Roland DE GREEF : Bass
Marc YSAYE : Drums
Hervé BORBE : Keyboards
Machiavel is one of the most famous Belgian rock bands.
The band has collected 4 golden records and performed a lot of shows.
Machiavel has played twice sold-out at “Forest National” and four times even successfully
at the “Ancienne Belgique” in Brussels.
The power of an original music, a mix between rock and melodious songs together with
a well-balanced contrast between soft and hard sounds contribute to the ever growing
success of the band.
Christian Lejeune
BIO ( SHORT VERSION)
In the middle of the seventies two music freaks, Roland De Greef and Marc Ysaye, created a group called MACHIAVEL .
In April 1976, they released their first album (EMI music).
For the second album, the group's line-up changed. Jack Roskam was replaced Jean Paul Devaux on guitar and Mario Guccio was brought in as singer and showman to boost the live impact. Released in 1977, the second album « Jester » revealed surprising musical maturity. (EMI music)
The third album « Mechanical Moonbeams » (1978), confirmed the promise. The album and its superb single « Rope Dancer » was an enormous success. First gold record. (EMI music)
The fourth album « Urban Games », released in 1979, is the second gold. (EMI music)
Machiavel's will to move on and not remain encased in Eurock, allowing other influences into the mix, such as the reggae hints on « Over the Hill ». But the changes in style caused the departure of the keyboards player Albert Letecheur.
The Guitar player Jean-Paul Devaux was also replaced by the young Thierry Plas. These changes would have a major effect on Machiavel's career.
In 1980, the fifth album « New Lines » confirmed the radical change. Machiavel's music was a mix of many styles, with a much tougher edge than before. The public remained true to the band, again filling Forest National arena Third gold record (EMI music).
« New Lines » and the single « Fly » brought them a new audience in the northern part of the country, as well as live shows in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and France.
The sixth album Break Out was released in 1981. It was produced in the US by Derek Laurence Deep Purple's producer. (EMI music)
In 1983, their record company EMI released « Valentine’s Day », a live recording of their second Forest National show.
In 1987, Marc Ysaye, Thierry Plas, Roland De Greef and Mario Guccio recorded the album « The Cry of Pleasure » with the help of keyboard player Paolo Ragatzu. The single « Your Soul » featuring the harmonica playing of Arno. After this, the band was very discreet.
It has been almost ten years since Machiavel took to the stage. The opportunity came during the Francofolies festival in Spa in July 1996. This coincided with the release of the compilation 20th Anniversary Machiavel : « The Very Best Of ».
In 1977 Hervé BORBE was brought in as keyboards player. The tour which followed and the CD were highly successful.
In1998 the band recorded a new album « Virtual Sun » which was released by CNR Arcade in January 1999.
1999 will be remembered as the year of some Machiavel gigs and also as the year of the release of a double live record called « Machiavel Live » by EMI music.
The year 2000 was another busy one for the band, they appeared on the « Glitterng 2000 compilation », distributed by P.I.A.S. Machiavel covered and re-arranged « The Faith Healer », by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
The album « Break Out » was also released as a CD by Hans Kusters Music.
On the live front, 2000 saw the band play many concerts, notably at outdoor festivals such as Nandrin Festival (Belgium) Rock Affligem ( Belgium ) , Rock Um Knuedler (Luxembourg), support act for Bon Jovi Belgium Tour ( Belgian Coast ) etc…
2001 the release of the Machiavel double CD called « Anthology » distributed by EMI music.
The new album « Welcome to Paradise » was released in January 2003 and distributed by CNR Arcade Music.A new Machiavel tour will start in March.
Year 2004 was dedicated mostly to writing and producing songs for the new studio album called « 2005 » (Bang music)
In 2006, the band is on the road again and more than 60.000 people will have seen and applauded the shows.
In 2007, Machiavel release a new live album called “ LIVE IN BRUSSELS ” which is made of tracks of the gig recorded on March 2005 at "Ancienne Belgique" in Brussels. (Moonzoo music / Universal music)
End 2007, release of a DVD « Live at Coliseum » (Universal music).
Long version
THE GENESIS OF THE GROUP
In the middle of the seventies two music freaks, Roland Degreef and Marc Ysaye, created a group called Moby Dick . Shortly later, they met Albert Letecheur - a meeting that would prove important at a time when the musical style of European groups such as Yes, Supertramp, Genesis and Emerson, Lake & Palmer was becoming increasingly popular throughout Europe in general (and Belgium in particular). At the time, the style was called "Eurock" . Once the style was established, most countries had their own "Eurock" bands, except Belgium - much to the frustration of the public and press. In the small world of Belgian music in 1975-76, a place was up for grabs. Four French-speaking musicians thought they would give it a try. With Roland Degreef on bass, Marc Ysaye on drums and vocals, Jack Roskam on guitar, Albert Letecheur on keyboards; Machiavel was born, and about to become one of the country's most successful bands.
In April 1976, they released their first album called Machiavel , which was hailed by the press but even more by the public. In retrospect, it is clear that this album had tracks of varying quality. But the level of artistic potential and skill were impressive for a first album.
THE EUROCK PERIOD
For the second album, the group's line-up changed. Jack Roskam was replaced Jean Paul Devaux on guitar and Mario Guccio was brought in as singer and showman to boost the live impact. Released in 1977, the second album, Jester , revealed surprising musical maturity. Machiavel acquired their style, and additional fans.
The third album, Mechanical Moonbeams (1978), confirmed the promise. The album and its superb single Rope Dancer was an enormous success.The tour that followed including dates at the Rocking Belgium festival in Wavre and the Cirque Royal in Brussels was living proof of the band's capabilities.This was the golden age of Machiavel's Eurock period.
THE EVOLUTION
The fourth album, Urban Games, was released in 1979. Machiavel's will to move on and not remain encased in Eurock, allowing other influences into the mix (such as the reggae hints on Over the Hill . The audience followed, allowing them to be the first Belgian band to fill the Forest National arena for the Urban Games tour. But the changes in style caused a deep rift in the band leading to the departure of Albert Letecheur, one of the two pillars of the band. Guitar player Jean-Paul Devaux was also replaced by the young Thierry Plas. These changes would have a major effect on Machiavel's career.
In 1980, the fifth album New Lines confirmed the radical change. Machiavel's music was a mix of many styles, with a much tougher edge than before. The public remained true to the band, again filling Forest National arena on February 14 1981.
New Lines and the single Fly brought them a new audience in the northern part of the country, as well as live shows in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and France.
THE BREAK
The sixth album Break Out was released in 1981. It was produced by Derek Laurence (Deep Purple's producer) in the US, but did not meet with the same success as previous releases.
After their equipment was stolen during a tour, the band faced difficult financial problems. This, and a certain discouragement, led to the group cooling off somewhat. In 1983, their record company EMI released Valentine Days a live recording of their second Forest National show.
In 1987, Marc Ysaye, Thierry Plas, Roland Degreef and Mario Guccio reformed Machiavel and recorded the album The Cry of Pleasure with the help of keyboard player Paolo Ragatzu. The band was trying to find a compromise between their first musical love and the various influences the members underwent during their solo outings. Two tracks are worthy of note: the single No Way to Heaven and above all Your Soul featuring the superb harmonica playing of Ernest Hintjes (better known as Arno). After the release of the album, a mini-tour brought them to "L'Ecume des jours" in Louvain-la-Neuve and the "Eté du Botanique festival" in Brussels. Roger Wollaert, former drummer of the band Kleptomania, sat in for Marc Ysaye on drums. After this, the band was very discreet.
Coming back to their discography, a first compilation was released in 1991, followed by a boxed set in 1993. The latter comprised the first five albums with previously unreleased tracks, such as Don't Remember (1974) or alternative takes of tracks such as the home version of I'm not a Loser. The success of these releases confirmed that, though inactive, there was still strong interest in Machiavel.
Since 1981, the group members have had solo careers to varying degrees of success. Marc Ysaye and Albert Letecheur formed Twilight.Marc Ysaye playest drums with the Belgian blues outfit Burning Plague which exists since 1965 and with whom he recorded the album "Two" in 1995 and the live album called "Live at Last" in 1999. He also produced, Pierre Rapsat's album "J'ouvre les yeux" in 1989. After spending some time on the RTBF's Radio Une (for "Musique au petit déjeuner"), Marc has become the director and one of the best known voices of Classic 21 ("Les Classics" on Sunday between 09.00 A.M. and 12.00 A.M. CET and and his Monday blues radio show betwween 08.00 P.M. and 10.00 P.M. CET). More information about Classic 21
Website: http://www.classic21.be
Roland Degreef and Mario Guccio formed Beige Neige , releasing the CD "Movement One" in 1983. They have always been involved in music through their production house Rox Records. Mario Guccio was also a member of the Belgian group "Init" and produced bands, including "Shyness" from Liege. Thierry Plas became a highly appreciated session musician, playing live and in studio with Pierre Rapsat and Vaya Con Dios ,Berverly Jo Scot , B-Burnt . He was also a member of The Responsibles which released one album, "Every Germ is Sacred".
Thierry Plas and Marc Ysaye played with Purple Prose, a band of Dany Klein (ex Vaya Con Dios singer). A first album has been released by BMG Records in may 1999.
October 2004, Vaya Con Dios had released by Altermundo/Pias a new studio album called "The Promise" produced by Jean Pol Van Ham. Several tracks were recorded in the Zoo Studio by Thierry Plas and Simon Schoovaerts "le Saint".Thierry did the guitars on the songs "Je l'aime, je l'aime" "Take Heed" and "Illa" ( featuring Bonga,a famous singer from Angola". Thierry also did arrangements on "Illa" and "Je l'aime, je l'aime"
More information about Vaya Con Dios on
http://www.vayacondios.info.
THE REBIRTH
It has been almost ten years since Machiavel took to the stage. The opportunity came during the celebration of Jean-Luc Fonck (Sttellla) at the Francofolies festival in Spa in July 1996. This coincided with the release of the compilation 20th Anniversary Machiavel:The Very Best Of . The tour which followed was intended as a farewell to the stage. Yet the ten dates - and the CD - were highly successful. Few groups or singers, particularly in Belgium, could enjoy such a comeback after several years of absence.
1997 and 1998 have been busy years for the band. Lots of live dates, and 1998 ended with the recording of a new album, to be released on January 20th, 1999. The first single was already been released on November 27th, 1998.
The brand new album Virtual Sun was released by Cnr Arcade on 26th January 1999.
"1999 will be remembered as the year of some Machiavel gigs and also as the year of the release of a double live record called Machiavel Live by Emi Belgium, on September 20 th 1999".
THE YEARS 2000
The year 2000 was another busy one for our favourite band.
In terms of releases, Machiavel appeared on the Glitterng 2000 compilation, distributed by P.I.A.S. Machiavel covered and re-arranged The Faith Healer, by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Break Out was also released as a CD by Hans Kusters Music. It is also worth mentioning the release of their 3rd compilation called Original Hits through EMI Belgium.
On the live front, 2000 saw the band play many concerts, notably at outdoor festivals such as Nandrin Festival (Belgium) Rock Affligem ( Belgium ) , Rock Um Knuedler (Luxembourg), support act for Bon Jovi Belgium Tour ( Belgian Coast ), as well as appearing in numerous show events such as the two organised by Dexia bank at the Palais du Heysel in Brussels.
Everybody will remember year 2001 because of the release of the Machiavel double CD called Anthology and distributed by EMI Belgium.
This double CD included a new track composed by the band in 2001 and called Heaven's Rules. This song has been released as a single.
You can listen to this single on this site by double-clicking in the discography section.
For the very first time, this double CD also included in bonus track a few songs taken from solo projects of the Machiavel members as Beige Neige, Twilicht, the Responsibles and Purple Prose.
Moreover, in year 2001, Machiavel has performed big open air giggs as for example during the Wallonie Festival in Liège and in Namur ; for these two gigs, more than 25.000 people were present.
WELCOME TO PARADISE
Year 2002 will be dedicated to writing, recording and producing new tracks for the new album called Welcome to Paradise , which was recorded in ICP-, Zoo- and Rox- studios.
During 2002, Machiavel was on the road again like in Tournai and Libramont.
A first single taken from Welcome to Paradise and called Wild as the Wind was released in October 2002 and distributed by CNR Arcade Music.
The new album Welcome to Paradise was released in January 2003 and distributed by CNR Arcade Music.
A new Machiavel tour will start on Saturday, March 1 in Nivelles at the Waux Hall and will end on Friday, December 12 in Verviers at Spirit of 66.
During this tour there were very imprtant moments like Machiavel taking part in the Francofolies of Spa with their own songs and, also their cover of the song Je suis Moi during the evening dedicated to Pierre Rapsat.
There have been other exciting moments like the performance of the band during the Nandrin Festival and during the "Fêtes de Wallonie" in Namur.
On the discography side, a new "best of" called The Essential of Machiavel has been released in June 2003 by EMI.
THE YEAR 2004
For the band and their public, 2004 will be known as the year during which Albert Letecheur died (in May).
Year 2004 was dedicated mostly to writing and producing songs for the new studio album.The release with "Bangmusic" record company was planned in February 2005.
THE ALBUM 2005
The first single called "Chronic Love" has been released in the begin of January 2005.The new studio album called "2005"" has been released in the end of January 2005.The 2005 tour has been started in March 2005.In 2006, the band is on the road again and more than 50.000 people will have seen and applauded the shows.
LIVE IN BRUSSELS
In 2007, Machiavel release a new live album called “ LIVE IN BRUSSELS ” which is made of tracks of the gig recorded on March 2005 at "Ancienne Belgique" in Brussels. (Moonzoo music / Universal music)
End 2007, release of a DVD « Live at Coliseum » (Universal Music).
Christian Lejeune
October 2007
English version Stuart Scrivner
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