Biography
DOGS, The Story
1973
Original line-up:
Dominique Laboubée - vocals, guitar
Paul Péchenart - guitar
François Camuzeaux, aka Zox
- bass
Michel Gross - drums
The band covers Flamin Groovies, Kinks and Velvet Underground songs,
and begins to write its own compositions.
First gig at the casino of Veulettes, others in many places around the Normandy
coast.
1974
The band plays few gigs around Rouen, playing covers and their own compositions.
After playing at the famous Golf Drouot hall,
their energetic reputation was born. At this gig, they played a mixture of
own material and covers (Gene Vincent, and Pretty Things). At this gig, they
had their first write-up in the music press (Rock &
Folk), the enthusiastic review was by Philippe
Manuvre. This event also appears in his book "Lenfant
du Rock" (1985) .
1975
The band practises in the holidays and plays many gigs around Rouen.
Gig in Paris with Little Bob Story at lElysée
Montmartre, and opening for Little Bob Story at Le Havre .
People start to talk about the band, and there are write-ups in the local
press .
Larry Martin, a studio guitar player, gets in
touch with them in order to produce the band in a harder rock style. Dominique
and Michel refuse but financial benefits attract Zox
and Pauls interest. They both leave the
band to play with Larry Martin.
1976
Zox and Pauls departure leaves Dominique
and Michel all at sea. They contact Hugues
Urvoy de Portzamparc, a fellow student and ask him to join the band.
Hugues has been playing the bass guitar for a week and he only knows two tunes
: Oh yeah (Shadows of Knight) and Smokin in the boys
room (Brownsville Station) but he is very enthusiastic.
They start practising again. Hugues makes great progress.
1977
They meet through the music store «Melodie Massacre» in Rouen,
Jean-Yves Garin, a guitar player. Jean-Yves becomes
the fourth member.
They play a new repertoire : Stooges, Gene Vincent, Chocolate Watch Band (Dont
need your lovin anymore), they also work on personal compositions
and do several gigs.
Opening for Telephone and Bijou.
1978
They record their first single (3 titles: Charlie
was a good boy, No Way, Nineteen) in January. It is made in the cellar
of a record-dealer from Rouen, Lionel Herrmani,
and it is distributed by Skydog. 3 500 records are sold within a short time.
This first single is regarded as the most sought-after collector of the Dogs.
The title Nineteen is selected to feature in the British
compilation Streets released at Beggars Banquet. As a
result the British rock magazine «New Musical Express» publishes
a few lines about the Dogs.
Jean-Yves Garin leaves the band because he lacks
free time.
Release of the second maxi single (5 titles :
Teenage Fever, Go where you want to go, Here comes my baby, My life, Youre
gonna loose me) in June. It is recorded in Boulogne in only 48 hours !
Here comes my baby is specially selected to be on Skydog
Commando distributed by Skydog with Bijou and Starshooter. Gigs in
Le Havre, Paris and Rouen and opening for Jam.
Contract with Phonogram.
1979
Now there are only three Dogs.
Dominique composes the music of legendary Fier de
ne rien faire for Les Olivensteins,
the lyrics are written by Eric Tandy.
They appear with Bijou, Go Go Pigalle and other bands in the French
Rock Mania festival at the Palais des Sports in Paris on June 9th.
A 6 title single is given free, including Gotta
tell her, written by Dominique. An album of the
festival is recorded live and made during the night to be on sale the
following day.
The band is given a good reception in the summer festivals (Orléans
and Orange).
The first album called Different (13 titles) is released during the
summer containing 3 covers (Nobody but me, Fortune Teller, Im real)
and Dominique Laboubées new compositions.
In September, Dogs play three songs for french TV program Chorus.
Algomania is filmed for Philippe Puycouyoul's film La
brune et moi.
French tour.
1980
French, Swiss and Belgian tours.
The second album Walking Shadows is recorded
in Rennes and released in October (the 10 songs are composed by Dominique
Laboubée). It is very different from the first one, with a more aggressive
sound. Lionel Herrmanis name appears on the sleeve.
First single in French: Trouble fête,
Cette ville est en enfer.
1981
Contract with Epic/CBS.
The Dogs appear in the Trans Musicales in Rennes.
French tour.
Antoine Masy-Périer, a fan since the beginning,
joins the band. He is a guitar player who played with the Gloires Locales
and the Snipers, and with the Dogs in encores at the time of previous gigs.
They start practising the titles of the next album.
1982
The third album Too much class for the neighbourhood
is recorded in London at the Battery Studio and it is produced by Tony Platt
(Trust, AC/DC). It is released in June.
Criticism from the papers is unanimous : the album becomes a reference. It
sells well in Belgium, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Israel and South Africa.
Gig with the Fleshtones at the Palace in Paris
on April 15th.
Big French, Swiss and Belgian tour during the autumn (35 dates). British tour
(15 dates, opening for Dr Feelgood).
The band takes part in Vincent Lamys "Echo
des Bananes" on FR3 (French television channel) with several live
songs from Too much class for the neighbourhood.
1983
The fourth album Legendary Lovers is recorded
in London and produced by Vic Maile (Inmates, Dr Feelgood, Eddie and the Hot
Rods). It amazingly covers Gene Vincents Bird Doggin. The
record is released in October and it is as well-received as the previous one
by the rock papers; it is even declared third album of the year by the monthly
magazine "Best".
A French tour starts in November.
1984
Big European tour : France, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, The Netherlands,
Sweden, Norway, Germany.
Release of the single Secrets (French version) as well as Mon coeur
bat encore / Down at Lulus produced by Jeff Eyrich (Plimsouls, Gun
Club) with the guest appearance by Calamités.
The Dogs take part in the TV programme "Les Enfants
du Rock" in March.
1985
The band follows Marc Zematis (manager)
advice to record Shout live at the prodigious
Rockfield Studio in Wales (Dave Edmunds produced -among others- Stray Cats
and Flamin Groovies there). Dave Charles (Dave Edmunds drummer)
plays the invaluable role of sound engineer. At the start the band had money
to record a single; they make an album (sound mixing included) in only 6 days.
Gigs in France and tour in Europe (Scandinavia, Spain) and in Japan.
The Dogs also play in Berlin with Sean Tyla and Nick Lowe.
1986
Back to London to record the sixth album More, More,
More. The record is produced by Bob Andrews (Graham Parker and
the Rumours keyboard) and Colin Fairley (Elvis Costello and Nick Lowes
sound engineer).
The band takes part in Gilles Tandys (ex
Olivensteins) album La colère monte produced by Dominique.
Gilles Tandy will open some Dogs gigs afterwards.
The Dogs appear at the Printemps de Bourges.
Hugues leaves the band. Paul
Péchenart comes back, on the third guitar. Philippe
Loison is recruited as a bassist.
1987
Philippe
Loison leaves, he is replaced by Christian Rosset
(bassist, Tupelo Soul). Paul Péchenart
leaves too. End of the short 3-guitar period.
François
Godefroy aka Gene Clarksville (Roadrunners
keyboards) arrives.
Release of the compilation Shakinwith the Dogs.
Gigs in France.
1988
Dominique composes the music of Louise Férons
first single Tomber sous le charme which is released at Virgin. Over
50000 records are sold. Jean-Louis Murat will
cover Tomber sous le charme in one of his next albums.
The seventh Dogs album A million ways of killing
time is released at New Rose. It is recorded at the Mix-It Studio
in Paris by Charles Hurbier and Eric Debris (ex Metal Urbain) and is produced
by Dominique and Jean Labbé.
1989
Release of the promo video Something Magic
and the single CD (Mix-It / New Rose) which includes two original numbers
(see discography).
New edition of the first two albums Different and Walking Shadows on
CD.
Michel Gross (drummer) leaves the band. Bruno
Lefaivre takes over him (he played the percussions in the latest album).
Antoine starts Tony Truant & the Million
Bolivar Quartet.
1990
Louise Férons first album is released
at Virgin. The music is made by Dominique, the lyrics by Louise Féron.
John Cale (ex Velvet Underground) is the producer.
The Dogs take part in the recording. Dominique
and John Cale make the sound mixing in New York.
The album sells well (20 000 records are sold).
In May, Gene Clarksville leaves the band.
1991
Many gigs in France.
1992
The compilation Tribute to Johnny Thunders
contains a title by Dogs: I wanna be loved.
Sony releases Too much class for the neighbourhood, Legendary
lovers, Shout and More more more for the first in CD format.
Making of the eighth album.
Antoine leaves the band at the end of the year
to entirely dedicate to Tony Truant.
1993
There are only three Dogs again.
The eighth album Three in a crowd is released
at Skydog. It is recorded at the Studio de la Seine in Paris. Philippe
Almosnino (guitar player) who gave a hand at the time of the previous
album takes part in a few titles. It is produced by Colin Fairley who worked
on More, More, More.
Many gigs in France and abroad.
1994
Release of the single CD The end of the gang / I wanna be loved.
Dominique is the producer of Frank Le Galls
four title CD Fermer les yeux.
1995
Dominique takes part in Little Bobs gig
celebrating twenty years in the trade, in La Courneuve and Le Havre.
He also appears in December in a show dedicated to John Lennon in Paris, with
the Road Runners, Dominique Sonic,... He performs three titles with Phil (Wampas):
Run for your life, Youve got to hide your love away and Im
a loser.
1996
Laurent Ciron (ex Bookmakers guitar player),
a fan since the beginning joins the band. Now, there are four Dogs. They practise
the repertoire and work on new titles.
First gig with Laurent Ciron in March in Le Mans.
First recording of the songs for the coming album.
1997
The band still works on new songs and records a second series of trials.
Initial contact followed by a meeting with Jean Gamet
(Studio de lHacienda) who will produce the next record.
Gigs in France.
1998
Recording in Tarare (69) at the Studio de lHacienda of the new album
which will be released in two volumes.
The first one Four of a kind vol. 1
(Night and Day) is released in October.
Dominique produces Cesiums (punk-rock band
from Rouen) first record.
He also plays the guitar with Chainsaw and records
a 6 titles CD.
Two Dogs songs (Shes a wind up and Sugar Shaker) are selected
to feature in the record Tribute to Lee Brilleaux -
vol. 1 (Outside Records).
1999
Tour all over France (30 dates).
In June, the gig in Grenoble is professionnally filmed for a future DVD release.
This project was never achieved and the film remains unseen.
The band appears in the usual gig of the 24 H du Mans.
A different kind - Four of a kind Vol. 2
(Night and Day) is released in October. The album contains three songs in
French and three live songs including the so great Fier
de ne rien faire, co-written by Dominique and Eric
Tandy (ex Oliveinsteins).
2000
Dominique takes part in March in the TV programme
"Top Bab" on Canal Jimmy with Philippe
Manuvre.
He relates the bands story and plays Hometown
with an acoustic guitar. "Top Bab" also offers two songs from the
Dogs gig in Grenoble (June 1999) : I wanna be your dog and Little
Doll (the Stooges).
Gigs in France and Belgium.
For the second time the band takes part in the record Tribute
to Lee Brilleaux - vol. 2 (Outside Records) with one song, 20 yards
behind.
2001
At the beginning of the year, sound mixing in Tarare at the Studio de lHacienda,
of the next live album made from the gigs recorded between 1997 and 2000.
The songs are mixed by Manu Gares who had already mixed the live song Walking
Shadows on the previous album.
The Dogs appear in the TV programme "Rock Press
Club" dedicated to David Bowie and compèred by Philippe
Manuvre
(Canal Jimmy). They perform Suffragette City and Hang on to yourself.
The live album Short Fast and Tight (2
CD / 29 songs) is released in August at M10.
Gigs in France.
2002
In Febuary and March, tour in France and Spain.
In April, the band play 2 songs live for the french TV program Des
Mots de Minuit.
In September, the band go the United States for the
first time. A 6-gig tour on the east coast is scheduled, with Boston
band Ball Busters. Bruno Lefaivre not being able to leave for the US, so drummer
Richard "Richie" Boisson joins in.
On September 25, Dominique falls on stage during the first show. He's led
to the Worcester hospital, where a cancer is diagnosed. Dominique allows the
other musicians to continue the tour without him. Both bands unite and play
under the name Dogs.
Dominique,
immersed in an artificial coma, dies on October 9 in
the Worcester Hospital; he was 45.
His funnerals takes place at Rouen cathedral on October 22. Dominique Laboubée
rests at Mont-St-Aignan cemetary.
Too much class for the neighbourhood is re-released in digipack by
Sony.
2003
On February 10, french radio France Culture broadcasts a program on punk movement
with an interview of Dominique (recorded during summer 2002).
On February 15, on french TV France2, tribute is paid to Dominique during
"les Victoires de la Musique".
At the initiative of Catherine Laboubée a concert
tribute to Dominique Laboubée is organized on May 13 at Exo7
in Rouen. Participants include former members of Dogs and friends.
Different and Walking Shadows are re-released in CD by Mercury/Universal.
Laurent and Christian form The Cinders with Jeff
Crane of Ball Busters (USA) and Sébastien Buffet.
2004
In April, France 3 broadcasts reporting "Dogs,
les années électriques" devoted to the first half
of the band's history (until 1986).
2006
In September Stories of the Dogs - Histoires pour
Dominique is released. This collection of novels and stories is
a tribute to Dominique Laboubée and Dogs, inspired by their repertoire
and written by 22 authors of polar and black literature (Krakoen editions).
It was reissued in April 2013. More details on krakoen.fr
or tributedogs.ardko.info.
A double CD tribute Stories of the Dogs - Songs
for Dominique accompanies this collection with 48 covers of Dogs
(Lollipop label / Pias distribution). See discography.
2007
Place Dominique Laboubée is inaugurated
in Rouen on July 12. It lies rue Massacre, in
front of the old store Mélodies Massacre.
2009
Different and Walking Shadows are re-released in vinyl by
Mercury/Universal.
On September 19, a tribute to Dogs is organized
at l'Oreille Qui Traîne in Rouen. Five groups from Rouen play Dogs songs:
Tupelo Soul (band with Christian and Bruno), Louise Féron, Ramines,
Poseurs and Screaming Dead Frogs.
2010
A facebook page dedicated to Dogs and run by
fans and Catherine Laboubée is created: www.facebook.com/pages/Les-Dogs/66969176720
Sony releases a remastered edition of Too much class for the neighborhood,
Legendary lovers and Shout in a 3 CD box.
2011
Exhibition "Walking Shadows" by Jef
Aerosol at the 106 in Rouen.
A portrait of Dominique by Jef
Aerosol now adorns Place Dominique Laboubée in Rouen.
2013
Publication of "Too much class... Dogs, l'histoire",
the biography of Dogs and Dominique Laboubée by Catherine
Laboubée. The book is reviewed in the french rock press, especially
in Rock & Folk who writes a 4-page article in its August 2013 number.
2017
Publication of Rehearsals 1974, an EP
with 5 unreleased songs from Philippe Manuvre's archives. Pressed at
600 ex. only, it became instantly a collector.
2018
Mimi, the first drummer, deceases
on January 22nd after a stroke. He is paid tribute by Frenck rock media.