Untitled Document

Interview Christophe Marquilly
avril 2008, by Y. Philippot-Degand

RTJ : It's with a great pleasure, Christophe, That I met you again this year in Charmont, and I thank you for answering some questions for RTJ. First, did you know Charmont's reputation before going here this year?

C. Marquilly : No, not precisely, that's those guys, « Plug and Play », they invited me.

RTJ : At least, how did you find this festival?

C. Marquilly : I found it very well organized, people believing in their project and 400 persons at the finishing line,
well done.

RTJ : All the observers I talked with have emphasized the quality of your show, it impressed us all.
How did you live it on stage?

C. Marquilly : On stage, it goes fast. My formula trio doesn't let any place to a mistake, and my titles are not easy to play when we're only three, therefore I take professionnal musicians... But on stage, it flies to fast !!

RTJ : During this show, you met all the eras, from the first Stocks album to your last two-titles CD, about we'll speak later. However with the Outsliders, you carefully avoid the songs you wrote, except "Rêve d'Irlande".
Furthermore, you play in a power-trio, just like you did at Stocks' era. Can we say that Marquilly's concerts
are henceforth the extension of Stocks' career?

C. Marquilly : Stocks is the band I'm the founder and the writer and composer for all the titles, therefore there is a continuity in the compositions, rather an evolution. Outsliders, it's like a toy to play with, I play with people I like,
but it's not me…

RTJ : About your trio, can you present your new partners, Fabrice Debels (bass and vocals) and Thomas Gonzalez
(drums and backing vocals)?

C. Marquilly : Fabrice, on bass and vocals, sings very well, a voice near mine, humble guy, pro, nothing but good.
Thomas on drums plays very well, solid mind, he will be a great rock drummer and he sings to. I like those guys, they
take risks, it changes me from the opportunists, making this job to pay the fags!!!! (I have some names if necessary).

RTJ : How is built your set-list? According to your feeling? Was it special in Charmont?

C. Marquilly : Set-list according to my feeling pursuant to timing, nothing is drawn up.

RTJ : How was decided this unexpected but firing with enthousiasm version of "J'vais craquer" with Plug'n play?

C. Marquilly : Plug and Play did me honour to play one of my titles, and it's always moving, this song sounded really well. That's that, when it's in the right feeling, it's magic … Thanks to them.

RTJ : For we know us, you know how important your music was in my musical evolution, now I founded later this influence by John Molet from Calibre12 and by Plug'n Play, and I suppose that we are far to be the only ones. Are you conscious that you marked a whole generation of musicians, that you serve as a reference for them, and how do you live it?

C. Marquilly : Ho, I don't know if I have a lot of influence on that stage. So much the better if it's the case: I know that those guys are pure and true, and that, it's a rare stuff man, you can believe me (here I have some names too!!!).

RTJ : You just released a new two titles CD, with very elaborate lyrics. Since "Trois", we feel a maturity, that finds expression by a new depth and a new diversity in the lyrics. Can you talk about this evolution?

C. Marquilly : Feeling has to be combinated with a story in french, it's hard but that's the way I swot. I ain't pop!!!
I don't like it, music supplies, so I'm reflecting that something would perhaps come to stay. A song, it's soul stuff, otherwise it's crap…

RTJ : If I have well understood, this new CD is the first stage from a rocket that has also to comprise a whole album.
Have you some precise details to give us about this project? Will we be lucky enough to get the opportunity to listen to the magnificent "Rêve d'Irlande" 's studio track, as splendid in electric trio than in accoustic duet with Outsliders?

C. Marquilly : CD ? Well, if I have some people to help me to release it, but true ones, not jackasses like those
I knew on the "3" Stocks' album, but yes, it's in view, but not no matter how... We'll see, prudence…

RTJ : Whether it be in "Rêve d'Irlande" or in "Fiora", we detect more and more celtic influences in your music.
Does it result from your frequent stays in this magnificent country that Brittany is?

C. Marquilly : I like the celtic side, I'm in love with Brittany! My little boat is expecting for me each year, I will spend the end of my life here as soon as possible: Brocéliande, Merlin, the oysters in Cancale with a little swig of white wine, what could be better? The sky changes all the time, like the sea, it's so beautiful you can die, especially because the Parisians carry on to make themselves scorch the rind in St Trop' ! That gives place… Over there, you've got four seasons in two hours, just like in Ireland.

RTJ : Likewise, we also find in some of your lyrics this care for the harmony between the mankind and the nature, a particularly sensitive subject for the Bretons that you regulary meet, hardly hit, as we know it, by oil slicks and the intensive farming's excesses. Has this feeling been always in you, or does it appear gradually more recently?

C. Marquilly : Nature is essential. I have hunted since I'm 14, I know a lot of birdnames, I also fish and I see the damages in both activities, the abuses too, I don't like neither the "meatmakers" nor the fascist eco-freaks, in short : death to the dumbasses! «Quite a lot to get through» answers the General (that's true : De Gaulle). (Authentic, during a meeting in 1968: C. de Gaulle had also a very original sense of humour… NdR)

RTJ : About 25 years ago (!), your lyrics described with a dead right manner the individual problem of "different",
authentic people, concerned with the fact of not simulating or toting a mask, but having a hard time "taking their place in the traffic", like in the song (Francis Cabrel's one, NdR), and at that time a lot of people could identify with. We notice it again today in some magnificent songs like "Tellement fragile", but it seems now that your lyrics focus a little more
on more "general" or altruistic problems. How do you explain this evolution of your inspiration?

C. Marquilly : The lyrics change like the scars, there are stronger words. I like to touch people, because we know that the pains are the same for all, it's commonplace as a matter of fact. Then with music around, it eases … I write différently today, fortunately …

RTJ : We know your links with John Molet, but what do you know from the "new" southern rock wave in France, Natchez et Plug'n play, which were in Charmont, but also General Lee Band, Truckers, Texaroma, Diesel Dust, Mainstreet, and even your neighbours Swamp, excluding the return of Bacchus and Michel Levet with his Mimi King ? Do you follow the evolution of that stage?

C. Marquilly : John Molet and I, we don't see often each other, and each time, it's like it was yesterday. If I choke before him and he doesn't go to my funeral, I'll sulk in my box… That's all the guys like John that let me move forward too.

RTJ : What kind of music Christophe Marquilly is listening to in spring 2008?

C. Marquilly : I listen to classical music !! Piano, Mozart, Verdi's Requiem, Samuel Barber to cry, then I cry !!! Rock, AC-DC, ZZ Top, sometimes Winter, Johnny eh, not the other there, Ophélie ! Although she's very bonny!! And the radio when I want to hurt me (with the "nouvelle chanson française" !! There I have sôôô much fun)… And Biréli Lagrène, it's so
"up" that he's making me want to stop the guitar!!!!

RTJ : Today, what can we wish to Christophe Marquilly, besides having a good fishing this sommer in the Channel?
C. Marquilly : I'd like to make Taratata (a french TV musical programm NdR) and "Rêve d'Irlande" with 10 bagpipes behind me to show them that…

RTJ : As you know, on RTJ, we often conclude with a musical question. Can you quote the five guitarists
you confess they influenced the most your playing, your writing and your inspiration?

C. Marquilly : Steve Ray, Gallagher, Billy Gibbons and a friend of mine (at least I hope so) Gildas Arzel who is a great musician, guitarist composer, in short irritating you know !! Full of talent… and nice also.

RTJ : Well, that's four, it will do the trick! Thanks a lot Christophe, and I'm looking forward meeting you soon.
C. Marquilly : See you soon, man, kenavo !

Christophe Marquilly: www.marquilly.com