Ludwig von 88

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Ludwig von 88 is a French punk rock and alternative rock band mostly active in the 1980s and 1990s, and which gained an important success in the underground scene of its country. The band has not released any new material since 2019, but has not disbanded and is thus officially still active. Their music is quite similar to that of influent French punks Bérurier Noir: two-fingered and distorted guitar chords and drum machine as a drummer. Their lyrics evolved along their career from nonsensical and often juvenile humour to something more serious and sometimes social and political.

The band had different line-ups, among which the most famous from the late 80’s featured Karim Berrouka on vocals, Nobru (real name Bruno Garcia, his new pseudonym is Sergent Garcia) on guitars, Laurent and then Charlu on bass, and Jean-Mi on programming.

They made their reputation through endless and delirious shows performed by disguised musicians. Among their notable stage clothing: cycling jerseys, diving suits, Mexican ponchos and various funny headgear.

Some of their songs are satires on stars like Louison Bobet, Nicolae Ceauşescu, Maria Callas, Jacques Chirac, Jodie Foster, Clint Eastwood ["Harry Callahan (I wanna be a poulet)"] or TV series such as Star Trek ("Spock around the clock") and parodies (album 17 plombs pour péter les tubes) of commercially successful songs by artists such as Julien Clerc ("Laissez entrer le soleil"), Sabrina Salerno ("Summertime Love (Boys, Boys, Boys...)") Led Zeppelin ("Stairway to Heaven") or Mylène Farmer ("Libertine"). Others deal with more serious topics like war: "Libanais raides", "Hiroshima";^[1] drugs: "Le Manège enchanté", "Kaliman"; cults: "Les Allumés de Krishna", "Jim Jones" "Christ Cosmique"; and misery: "LSD for Ethiopie", "In the Ghettos"—always with irony.

Discography[]

Albums[]

• Houlala 1986
• Houlala II "la mission" 1987
• Ce jour heureux est plein d'allégresse 1990
• Tout pour le trash 1992
• 17 plombs pour péter les tubes 1994
• Prophètes et Nains de jardin 1996
• Houlala III "l'heureux tour" live, 1998
• La révolution n'est pas un dîner de gala 2001
• 20 chansons optimistes pour en finir avec le futur 2019

Singles, 45 rpm, EP[]

• "Live?" 1985
• "Les trois petits keupons" 1987
• "Louison Bobet for ever" 1987
• "Guerrier Balubas" 1988
• "Sprint" 1988
• "Sardellen Filet" 1989
• "L.S.D. for Ethiopie (We Are The World)" 1990
• "New Orleans" 1991
• "In the Ghettos" 1993
• "TAMERANTONG" 1993
• "Hiroshima (50 ans d'inconscience)" 1995
• "Le crépuscule des fourbes" 1996
• "La sacrée grole" 1997
• "Ludwig von 88", live 1997
• "St-Valentin" 1998

Compilation albums[]

• De l'âge du trash à l'âge du zen 2004
• De l'âge de la crête à l'âge du bonze 2004

References[]

External links[]

• (in French) Site officiel
• (in French) Interview of Karim Berrouka
• (in French) The story of Ludwig von 88
• (in French) Reviews of the records of Ludwig von 88