Cassius (band)

{{short description|French musical duo (1988–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Cassius | image = Cassius Festival RockAdel 2012.jpg | caption = Cassius performing at RockAdel Festival in 2012 | landscape = yes | alias = La Funk Mob | origin = Paris, France | genre = {{hlist|Synthpop|French house}} | years_active = 1988–2019 | label = {{Flatlist| * Virgin * Ed Banger * Because Music * Interscope}} | past_members = * Zdar * Boombass }}

'''Cassius''' was a French musical duo active from 1988 to 2019 and consisting of producers Philippe Cerboneschi and Hubert Blanc-Francard, better known as '''Zdar''' and '''Boombass''' (or sometimes '''Philippe Zdar''' and '''Hubert Boombass''').<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/cassius-biography/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911031935/http://www.imorecords.co.uk/house-2/house-artists/cassius-biography/ |url-status=dead |title=Cassius Biography |website=IMO Records |location=London |archive-date=11 September 2012 |access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cassius-mn0000193444/biography |title=Cassius - Biography & History - AllMusic |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=3 July 2019}}</ref> Under its different incarnations the duo is likened to the "French touch" movement of electronic music in the second half of the 1990s.

==Members==

===Boombass===

'''Hubert Blanc-Francard''' ({{IPA|fr|ybɛʁ blɑ̃ fʁɑ̃kaʁ|lang}}; aka '''Boombass'''), born 31 March 1967,<ref>{{cite book |last=Blanc-Francard |first=Hubert |title=Boombass. Une histoire de la French touch|date=2021|publisher=Léo Scheer|page=14|isbn=978-2756113548}}</ref> is a French musician and producer. He is the son of sound engineer Dominique Blanc-Francard and the older brother of the French musician Mathieu Blanc-Francard, better known by his stage name Sinclair.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/sinclair/biographie |title=Sinclair - Biographie : naissance, parcours, famille… - NRJ.fr|website=NRJ|access-date=2020-08-10}}</ref>

===Zdar===

'''Philippe Cerboneschi''' ({{IPA|fr|filip sɛʁbɔnɛski|lang}}, {{IPA|it|tʃerboˈnɛski|lang}}; aka '''Zdar'''; born 28 January 1967 in Aix-les-Bains and died 19 June 2019 in Paris)<ref name="ParisMatch"/> was a French musician, producer and sound engineer, of Italian descent. Zdar was Dominique Blanc-Francard's assistant at studios +XXX (Plus30) when he met Boombass in 1988. Outside the Cassius group, Zdar was a producer and sound engineer. He was the owner of the French recording studio Motorbass (inspired by the name of his group with Étienne de Crécy).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/2015/08/08/musique/musique/motorbass-ou-lhistoire-dun-studio-deja-mythique/|title=Motorbass, ou l'histoire d'un studio français déjà mythique|website=Les Inrocks|access-date=2020-08-03 |date=2015-08-08}}</ref> He notably recorded several albums of -M-, Phoenix and Chromeo. He also recorded for Franz Ferdinand, Beastie Boys, Lou Doillon and Sébastien Tellier among others.<ref name="ParisMatch">{{cite web |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Culture/Musique/Philippe-Zdar-mort-d-un-pionnier-1633284 |title=Philippe Zdar, mort d'un pionnier |website=Paris Match|first=Aurélie|last=Raya|access-date=14 November 2019 |date=30 June 2019|lang=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/culture/musique/philippe-zdar-un-homme-solaire-a-l-ombre-des-studios_2085173.html |title=Mort de Philippe Zdar du duo Cassius : un homme solaire à l'ombre des studios - L'Express |website=L'Express|access-date=14 November 2019 |date=20 June 2019}}</ref> He was in a relationship with the French actress Aure Atika with whom he had a daughter (Angelica) and then with Dyane de Serigny with whom he had two other children (Pénélope and James).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Culture/Musique/Philippe-Zdar-et-Dyane-de-Serigny-couple-solaire-et-eternel-1634086 |title=Philippe Zdar et Dyane de Serigny, couple solaire et éternel|website=Paris Match|access-date=2020-08-10}}</ref>

==History== {{More citations needed|section|date=April 2024}} Zdar and Boombass started working together in 1988, producing albums for the French hip-hop artist MC Solaar. In 1991, they created their first project, called La Funk Mob, and the following year, they started to increasingly experiment with electronic sounds. Zdar's experience with electronic music was influential in his involvement with Étienne de Crécy in the project Motorbass, who released a solo full-length album, ''Pansoul''.

In 1996, Zdar and Boombass then created "Foxxy", their first self-released house music track, under the name Cassius, and the moderate success that followed lead to them remixing tracks for acts such as Air. In January 1999, they released their first single to become a mainstream hit, "Cassius 1999". It was published by Virgin Records, and entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 7.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 97}}</ref> This was soon followed by their debut album, ''1999'', which had two more singles released from it, "Feeling For You" and "La Mouche". The music videos for "Cassius 1999" and "Feeling for You" portrayed the character Deadman, from DC Comics, as a DJ superhero.

2002 saw their second album release, ''Au Rêve''. This featured the "empowered female disco" track "I'm a Woman", with Jocelyn Brown on vocals, as well as the hit single "The Sound of Violence", featuring Steve Edwards on vocals. This album also had collaborations with Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah and Leroy Burgess.

Cassius returned to the studio in 2006, for the more experimental single "Toop Toop", but the next album, titled ''15 Again'', featured more vocal collaborations than the duo had done with ''Au Rêve''.

While rehearsing their ''15 Again'' album tour, Cassius provided the community with the a cappella track of their single "Toop Toop" and encouraged fans and friends to start remixing the song. It became an immediate success: the band started the Cassius Workshop project and released more acapellas for remixing purposes. They claim to have received more than 400 remixes.<ref>{{cite web |title=CASSIUS |url=http://www.myspace.com/cassius15again |via=MySpace |access-date=5 September 2012 |date=30 November 2010}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2021}}

Cassius's song "I <3 U So" was sampled on the track "Why I Love You" on Jay-Z and Kanye West's 2011 collaboration album ''Watch the Throne''.

In 2016, Cassius released their fourth album, ''Ibifornia'', with Pharrell Williams, Ryan Tedder, Cat Power, Mike D and Matthieu Chédid (as guitarist of the album) as guests.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cassius revient ensoleiller la rentrée avec "Ibifornia" et un set à Rock en Seine |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/musique/electro/cassius-revient-ensoleiller-la-rentree-avec-quot-ibiforniaquot-et-un-set-a-rock-en-seine_3391943.html |website=France Info |access-date=9 December 2019 |language=fr |date=23 August 2016}}</ref>

On 19 June 2019, two days before the release of Cassius's fifth album ''Dreems'', Zdar died after accidentally falling from a  building in Paris. He was 52 years old. On the release day of ''Dreems'', the band announced that the album was the final album from Cassius.<ref>{{cite web |title=Philippe "Zdar", membre du duo électro Cassius est mort (agent) |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/20190620-philippe-zdar-membre-duo-electro-cassius-est-mort-agent |publisher=France 24 |access-date=20 June 2019 |language=fr |date=20 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Snapes |first1=Laura |title=Cassius's Philippe Zdar dies in fall from Paris building |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/20/cassius-philippe-zdar-dies-fall-paris-building-phoenix |website=The Guardian |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=20 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cassius Philippe Zdar - Grammy Winning Music Producer Dies in Accidental Fall at 52 |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/cassius-philippe-zdar-grammy-winning-music-producer-dies-in-accidental-fall-at-52/ar-AADahyN?ocid=spartanntp |publisher=MSN |access-date=20 June 2019 |date=20 June 2019}}</ref>

Following the death of Philippe Zdar, Ed Banger and Glitterbox Recordings have come together to release the final collaborative Cassius production, with the blessing of Boombass and Zdar's family. It's a remix of the song 'I'm Not Defeated' by Fiorous. The song was released on 21 February 2020 on limited vinyl edition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsugi.fr/ce-remix-sera-la-toute-derniere-production-de-cassius/|title=Ce remix sera la toute dernière production de Cassius - TSUGI|website=Tsugi|date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>

After Zdar's death, Boombass continued his solo career. Being alone now, he says in May 2020, that Cassius has no more reason to be.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jack.canalplus.com/articles/lire/boombass-cassius-n-a-plus-de-raison-d-etre|title=Boombass : "Cassius n'a plus de raison d'être" - Jack|website=Jack|date=22 May 2020|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> On 20 September 2019, Boombass released a remix of "Grand petit con" performed by -M-.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/lettre-infinix-ep/1479059155|title=Lettre Infinix - EP by M on Apple Music|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref> He unveils on 14 May 2020, "Pour que tu", which is present on EP ''Le virage'', consisting of 5 songs and released on 5 June 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://handsupelectro.fr/news/boombass-devoile-pour-que-tu-extrait-de-son-projet-solo/|title=Boombass dévoile "Pour que tu", extrait de son projet solo ! - Hands Up|website=handsupelectro.fr|date=18 May 2020|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> On 25 August 2021, Boombass published a book entitled ''Boombass. Une histoire de la French touch'' in which he recounts his career in the music industry. The book is published by Léo Scheer Editions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/info-culture/culture-d-ete-boombass-moitie-du-duo-cassius-se-confie-dans-un-livre_4717493.html|title=Culture d'été. Boombass, moitié du duo Cassius, se confie dans un livre|website=France Info|date=24 August 2021|access-date=2021-08-25}}</ref>

== Discography == ===Albums=== ====Studio albums==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:16.5em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18.5em;"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''1999'' | * Released: 25 January 1999 * Label: Virgin Records * AUS: 76<ref name="ARIA history pages">{{cite web|url= https://imgur.com/a/FYcU1MD | title=Cassius ARIA chart history to 024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=2 November 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> * UK No. 28<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> |- ! scope="row"| ''Au Rêve'' | * Released: 17 September 2002 * Label: Virgin (Europe), Astralwerks (US) * AUS: 164<ref name="ARIA history pages"/> |- ! scope="row"| ''15 Again'' | * Released: 11 September 2006 * Label: EMI |- ! scope="row"| ''Ibifornia'' | * Released: 26 August 2016 * Label: Ed Banger, Because Music, Interscope Records * AUS: 161<ref name="ARIA history pages"/> |- ! scope="row"| ''Dreems'' | * Released: 21 June 2019 * Label: Because Music |- |}

====Compilation albums==== * ''The Mighty Bop Meets DJ Cam et La Funk Mob'' (as La Funk Mob, with Bob Sinclar and DJ Cam) (1995) * ''The Bad Seeds 1993–1997'' (2004) (as La Funk Mob) * ''CASSIUSPLAY: Nike+ Original Run'' (2008) * ''Best Of 1996-2019'' (2024) * ''Cassius Club (DJ Mix)'' (2025)

=== EPs === * ''The Rawkers E.P.'' (2010) * ''Ibifornia (Remixes)'' (2017)

=== DJ mixes === * ''I Love Techno'' (2011)

=== Singles === '''Cassius''' {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16.5em;"| Single ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"| AUS <ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=pdf|pages=52}}</ref><ref name="ARIA history pages"/> ! width="35"| BEL <ref>{{cite web|title=Zoeken naar: cassius|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?search=cassius&cat=s|work=Ultratop|publisher=Ultratop.be|access-date=5 September 2012|language=nl, en}}</ref> ! width="35"| FRA <ref>{{cite web|title=Recherche pour: cassius|url=http://lescharts.com/search.asp?search=cassius&cat=s|work=Lescharts.com|access-date=5 September 2012|language=fr, en|year=2003–2012}}</ref> ! width="35"| GER <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=cassius&x=0&y=0&country=de |title=Suche nach 'cassius' |work=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |publisher=GfK Entertainment |language=de |trans-title=Search for "cassius" |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140707092453/http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=cassius&x=0&y=0&country=de |archive-date=7 July 2014}}</ref> ! width="35"| IRE <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=The Irish Charts – All there is to know |work=Irishcharts.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=2 June 2009}}</ref> ! width="35"| NLD <ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=cassius&cat=s|title=Dutch Charts |website=Dutchcharts.nl}}</ref> ! width="35"| SWE <ref>{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?search=cassius&cat=s|title=swedishcharts.com – Swedish Charts Portal|website=Swedishcharts.com}}</ref> ! width="35"| SWI <ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=cassius&cat=s|title=Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community|website=Hitparade.ch}}</ref> ! width="35"| UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> ! width="35"| US Dance <ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/cassius-p361015/charts-awards/billboard-singles|title=Cassius|author=John Bush|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Foxxy" | 1996 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | rowspan="4"| ''1999'' |- ! scope="row"| "Cassius 1999" | rowspan="3"| 1999 | 77 | 25 | 17 | — | 14 | 35 | 52 | — | 7 | 8 |- |- ! scope="row"| "Feeling for You" | 72 | 52 | 72 | 76 | — | 57 | 57 | — | 16 | 6 |- ! scope="row"| "La Mouche" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 53 | 27 |- ! scope="row"| "I'm a Woman" (with Jocelyn Brown) | rowspan=2| 2002 | 143 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | — | 7 | rowspan="3"| ''Au Rêve'' |- ! scope="row"| "The Sound of Violence" (with Steve Edwards) | 143 | 58 | — | — | — | 29 | — | 79 | 49 | 1 |- ! scope="row"| "Thrilla" (with Ghostface Killah) | 2003 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Toop Toop" | 2006 | — | 52 | 39 | — | — | — | — | 76 | — | — | rowspan="2"| ''15 Again'' |- ! scope="row"| "Rock Number One" | 2007 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Youth, Speed, Trouble, Cigarettes" | 2009 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "I <3 U So" | 2010 | — | 15 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | ''The Rawkers EP'' |- ! scope="row"| "Action" (featuring Cat Power and Mike D)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/action-feat-cat-power-mike-d-single/1444877547|title=Action (feat. Cat Power & Mike D) - Single by Cassius on Apple Music|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=3 July 2019}}</ref> | rowspan="4" | 2016 | — | — | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | rowspan="4" | ''Ibifornia'' |- ! scope="row"| "The Missing" (featuring Ryan Tedder and Jaw)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/fr/album/the-missing-feat-ryan-tedder-radio-edit-single/1330533786|title=The Missing (feat. Ryan Tedder) [Radio Edit] - Single par Cassius sur Apple Music|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=3 July 2019}}</ref> | — | — | 121 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/?ye=2016&we=35|title=Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 35, 2016)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=fr|access-date=5 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003052417/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/?ye=2016&we=35|archive-date=3 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row"|"Go Up" (feat. Cat Power & Pharrell Williams) |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |- ! scope="row"|"Ibifornia" |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |- ! scope="row" | "W18"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/w18-single/1392331274|title=W18 - Single by Cassius on Apple Music|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref> | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | rowspan="4" | ''Dreems'' |- ! scope="row"|"Calliope" | rowspan="3" |2019 |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |— |- ! scope="row"| "Don't Let Me Be" (featuring Owlle)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deezer.com/us/album/97399012|title=Don't Let Me Be - Cassius, Owlle - Deezer|website=Deezer|date=24 May 2019|access-date=15 August 2019}}</ref> | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- ! scope="row" | "Rock Non Stop"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/rock-non-stop-single/1460693245|title=Rock Non Stop - Single by Cassius on Apple Music|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=15 August 2019}}</ref> | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |}

'''La Funk Mob''' * "Tribulations Extra Sensorielles" (1994) * "Casse Les Frontières, Fou Les Têtes En L'Air" (1994, re-release in 1996) * "357 Magnum Force" (2004)

===Production credits=== ====Albums produced by Cassius==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:16.5em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:200px;| Artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Credits |- ! scope="row"| ''Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo'' | 1991 | rowspan="4" | MC Solaar | Production by '''Boombass''' and Jimmy Jay |- ! scope="row"| ''Prose Combat'' | 1994 | Production by '''Boombass''' and Jimmy Jay Co-production by '''Zdar''' |- ! scope="row"| ''Paradisiaque'' | 1997 | rowspan="2" {{N/A}} |- ! scope="row"| ''MC Solaar'' | 1998 |- |}

====Tracks produced by Cassius==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:16.5em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:200px;| Artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Credits |- ! scope="row"| "Tranquille" | 1994 | Sinclair | ''Que justice soit faite! '' | Production by '''Boombass''' Mixed and recorded by '''Zdar''' |- ! scope="row"| "Burning Bridges" | rowspan="2" | 2013 | rowspan="3" | OneRepublic | rowspan="2" | ''Native'' | Production |- ! scope="row"| "Something's Gotta Give" | Songwriting and production |- ! scope="row"| "Oh My My" | 2016 | ''Oh My My'' | Featured artist |- ! scope="row"| "Adieu mon amour" | 2019 | -M- | ''Lettre Infinie'' | Additional production |- |}

====Albums produced, mixed and recorded by Zdar==== * MC Solaar – ''Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo'' (1991) * Phoenix – ''United'' (2000) * Cut Copy – ''Bright Like Neon Love'' (2004) * Chromeo – ''Fancy Footwork'' (2007) * Phoenix – ''Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix'' (2009) * Chromeo – ''Business Casual'' (2010) * Two Door Cinema Club – ''Tourist History'' (2010) * Housse de Racket – ''Alésia'' (2011) * Beastie Boys – ''Hot Sauce Committee Part Two'' (2011) * The Rapture – ''In the Grace of Your Love'' (2011) * Lou Doillon – Places (2012) * Kindness – ''World, You Need a Change of Mind'' (2012) * Phoenix – ''Bankrupt!'' (2013) * Jackson And His Computer Band - Glow (2013) * Sébastien Tellier – ''Confection'' (2013) * Sébastien Tellier – ''L'Aventura'' (2014) * -M-, Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki Diabaté – ''Lamomali'' (2017) * Franz Ferdinand – ''Always Ascending'' (2018) * -M- – ''Lettre infinie'' (2019) (Recorded and mixed by '''Zdar''' except "Superchérie" et "L'autre paradis") * Hot Chip – ''A Bath Full of Ecstasy'' (2019) * Sons of Raphael – ''Full-Throated Messianic Homage'' (2021)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/philippe-zdar-vive-la-resistance Philippe Zdar RBMA video lecture session] *[http://www.pi-pole.com/ Pi-Pole - Cassius DJ booking] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506183414/http://www.pi-pole.com/ |date=6 May 2018 }} *{{Discogs artist|artist=Cassius}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassius}} Category:1988 establishments in France Category:Alternative dance musical groups Category:French electronic music duos Category:French house music groups Category:French synth-pop groups Category:Musical groups established in 1988 Category:Musical groups from Paris Category:Nu-disco musicians Category:French remixers Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2019 Category:2019 disestablishments in France Category:Because Music artists