# Allez Allez

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{{Short description|Belgian funk band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Allez Allez
| origin          = [Brussels](/source/Brussels), Belgium
| genre           = {{hlist|[Funk](/source/Funk)|[soul](/source/Soul_music)|[rock](/source/Rock_music)|[pop](/source/pop_music)}}
| years_active    = {{hlist|1981–1984|2017–present}}
| current_members = * Kris Debusscher (guitar) 
* Marka (bass)
* Robbie Bindels (drums)
* Roland Bindi (percussion)
* Paul Curtiz (guitar)
* Thom Dewatt (keyboards)
* Kyoko Baertsoen (vocals)
* Marie Delsaux (vocals)
| past_members    = * Nicolas Fransolet (guitar)
* Sarah Osborne (vocals)
* Jackie Irwin (vocals)
}}

'''Allez Allez''' is a Belgian [funk](/source/funk) band founded in 1981. They disbanded in 1985 but subsequently reformed with a line-up change for several concerts in 2017.<ref>[http://houbi.com/belpop/groepen/allezallez.htm Houbi.com]</ref>

==History==
On the verge of an international breakthrough in 1981, funky Belgian [new wave](/source/New_wave_music) band Marine lost their singer Marc Marine while in London to record a [Peel session](/source/John_Peel). Quickly replaced by Sarah Osborne of Repetition, they recorded the planned Peel session and changed their name to Allez Allez.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Allez+Allez Discogs.com]</ref>

The group had local hits with "She's Stirring Up", "Allez Allez" and "African Queen", the latter a tribute to [Grace Jones](/source/Grace_Jones). Their mini-album ''African Queen'' achieved gold status and earned them an appearance at the [Torhout-Werchter](/source/Rock_Werchter) festival in 1982.<ref>[Rock Werchter 1982](/source/%3Anl%3ARock_Werchter)</ref>

The band then signed with major label Virgin and released the polished pop album ''Promises'' in November 1982, though Osborne subsequently left the group and married [Glenn Gregory](/source/Glenn_Gregory) of [Heaven 17](/source/Heaven_17). American singer Jackie Irwin replaced Osborne, but mainstream success still eluded the band.<ref>[http://www.lesdisquesducrepuscule.com/promises_african_queen_twi086cd.html lesdisquesducrepuscule.com]</ref>

Under the name [Marka](/source/Marka_(singer)), their bass player later became a well-known singer in French music circles. He is also the father of the acclaimed singers [Angèle](/source/Ang%C3%A8le_(singer)) and [Roméo Elvis](/source/Rom%C3%A9o_Elvis). Christian Debusscher and Nico Fransolet became members of [Les Snuls](/source/Les_Snuls), and both have subsequently worked as directors.

Members of the band decided to reunite to do some gigs in 2017, including their first appearance at the [Les Francofolies de Spa](/source/Les_Francofolies_de_Spa) festival in July. This was followed by several other dates. As two key members - Fransolet and Osborne - declined to be involved, the group chose to work with two female singers, Kyoko Bartsoen (who had sung with [Hooverphonic](/source/Hooverphonic)) and Marie, and Paul Curtiz who also joined them on guitar.<ref>[http://www.meletout.net/allezallez/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/le-soir-allez-allez-22-juillet-2017.jpg Article in Le Soir (in French)]</ref>

At the same time, bassist Marka wrote a book of memoirs about his time in the band, ''Allez Allez'', published by Lamiroy.<ref>[https://lamiroy.net/collections/2017/products/allez-allez Allez Allez, Lamiroy]</ref>

==Discography==
===Albums===
* ''African Queen'' (1981 - EMI/Scalp)
* ''Promises'' (1982 - Virgin)
* ''African Queen + Promises'' (1997 - Virgin CD)
* ''Best of Allez Allez'' (2008 - Eskimo CD)
* ''Promises + African Queen'' (2013 - Les Disques du Crepuscule CD)

===Singles===
* "She's Stirring Up" (1981), Scalp
* "Allez Allez/African Queen" (1981), Scalp
* "Valley of the Kings/Wrap Your Legs" (1982), Virgin
* "Flesh and Blood/The Time You Cost Me" (1982), Virgin
* "Don't Bother Me/Strange People" (1984), Vogue
* "Boom Boom/The Brain" (1984), Sounds of the Future

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Belgian pop music groups
Category:English-language Belgian musical groups
Category:Musical groups from Brussels
Category:Musical groups established in 1981

{{authority control}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Allez Allez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allez_Allez) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allez_Allez?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.