Dirty District
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| Dirty District | |
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| Country | Sèvres, France |
| Years active | 1985 – 1996 |
| Genres | Varies |
| Labels | Autoproduit (1989 – 1990) Houlala Bondage (1990 – 1993) Dan Dare (1993 – 1995) Sriracha/MSI Records (1995 – 1996) |
| Members | Cachou Ifif Leuji Yvo Abadi Miguel Saboga Igor Nikitinsky |
Dirty District are an eclectic band from Sèvres, France which was formed 1985 under the name of Great Gangsters From The Dirty District (until they changed it to just Dirty District later). A vast majority of their songs were sung in English, except for the first EP and two songs on Pousse au crime et Longueurs de temps. influenced by the likes of Joe Jackson, The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Reggae, Ska and Rhythm and blues. They released the much delayed Pousse au crime et Longueurs de temps which were a fusion of reggae, ska, punk, dub, and rap with heavily political based lyrics based on street crime, Steve Biko and fighting National Front. But like most groups their music was very much slept on, due to that type of fusion of musical styles been not heard at the time. Pousse Au Crime.. was noticed by fellow French Punk/World Music band Mano Negra, and the band where invited them to play on their album Patchanka. After a whole host of musicians had been and gone Dirty District finally got a steady line-up when they released their second album Life In The Dirty District in 1993. DD showed their eclectic roots yet again on this album, sounding like France's answer to up and coming rap metal movement, and Mike Patton's original band Mr. Bungle. During in this time Cachou, Philipphe and Miguel started a little known sideproject called Les Dieux (The Gods). after taking 2 years off (most members like Yvo, Philipphe, Miguel had been contributing to other French musicians) DD released the final EP Welcome To The Next Level In 1995, which was one of more heavier efforts and included a very bizarre cover of The Prodigy's Jericho, and the song Speech Over explored the sound which would later explode in Ethnician. The band disbanded in 1996. Vocalist Cachou went onto do co-vocals for metalcore group Boost and then formed another metalcore/punk-metal band called Noxious Enjoyment in 1998, who are influenced by the likes of The Exploited and Agnostic Front, while Yvo (who also is a contributor of drums/ percussions to many other bands before and after joining in 1993), Miguel, Igor now play in drum and bass and world music band Ethnician amongst other projects, Philipphe is now a House musician and bassist Leuji has now his own musical career and hosts his own website.
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[edit] Members
Cachou is the vocalist and live guitarist for DD.Originally called Cachou, (which translates as a sweet that hides the odour of tobacco) he has also been called Shook, Shooka and KSHOO. He usually has a Rather Rudeboy look, sporting Dreadlocks and singing in Anglo-Jamician accent. He also contributed vocals to Death Metal Band Boost and Punk supergroups Les Dieux, and Noxious Enjoyment. Bassist Leuiji named him as la tête de mule du punkhardcore français which roughly translates as the head Mule of French Punk and hardcore music.
- Leuji
Leuji is the bassist that replaced little known DD bass guitarist Mishko on later albums. He later joined P18 after DD, and is releasing his own album Zi ALBEUM sometime in the near future.
- Yvo Abadi
Yvo an expert drummer and percussionist of the band, who joined in 1993. Since leaving DD, Yvo has contributed drums and percussions to other artists, such as Ethnician and Dennis Morris.
- Philipphe
Philippe (also known as Ifif) was the guitarist after Gille's departure. he played on the Life In The Dirty District . he now lives in London and makes house music under the name of Lenzini. He has also played guitar on Lofofora's song, Baise Te Vie.
- Miguel Saboga
Miguel is second Drummer/Percussionist of the band. He started drumming in The Brigades and He has contributed drums to Lofofora's song Irie Style. He does vocals on DD's song No Head (and does vocals in Ethnician) and is fluent in French, Portuguese and English.
- Igor Nikitinsky
Igor is Sampler and Keyboards man of the group. He replaced Geo and is also in the group Ethnician.
[edit] Former members
- Gilles
Guitarist on first album. His spot was filled by two other guitarists, who where later replaced by Philippe.
- Geo
Geo was the keyboardist on the first album. is usually recognized for wearing a scarf/ Turban around his head on live shows. Geo was a former member of Marabunta before he joined DD.
- Fred
Fred was the bassist on the first album. he replaced by Xavier, who then later was replaced by another bassist called Mishko, who was later replaced by Leuji.
- Garbis Baharian
Garbis did most of the sample and sound engineering on the first album, and is now in Ethnician.
[edit] Discography
- Great Gangsters From The Dirty District EP (1989)
- Pousse au crime et Longueurs de temps (1991)
- Life In The Dirty District (1993)
- Welcome To The Next Level EP (1995)
They also appear on the French punk rock compilations À Bas Toutes Les Armées with Reggae tune Paddy Field, and Cette Machine Sert A Tuer Tous Les Fascistes ('This Machine Is Used To Kill All The Fascists') with anti racism song Blast it and more recently Rap Metal Masters with NY Crap.
