Les Chats Sauvages (French for "The Wild Cats") was a French rock and roll band formed in 1961 in Nice, France. Alongside Les Chaussettes Noires, they are recognized as among the first groups to perform and popularize rock and roll music in France during the early 1960s.
Origins and Formation
The group's origins trace to singer Hervé Forneri (later known as Dick Rivers), who, after winning a singing contest, decided to form a band. He connected with the Roboly brothers and initially named the group "Les Drifters," after trying other names such as "Tommy Steele and the Steelmen" and "Jerry Joyce and the Joycemen." The name "Les Chats Sauvages" was chosen as a literal French translation of "The Wild Cats," the name of a British band fronted by Marty Wilde, of whom Dick Rivers was a fan. After unsuccessful attempts to gain recognition in France and Italy, the group moved to Paris in spring 1961. On April 24, 1961, they auditioned at the Pathé-Marconi studios in Boulogne and adopted the name Les Chats Sauvages.
Original Members
The original lineup consisted of:
- Dick Rivers (Hervé Forneri, 1945–2019) — lead vocals (1961–1962)
- John Rob (Jean-Claude Roboly, born 1942) — lead guitar
- James Fawler (Gérard Roboly, born 1945) — rhythm guitar
- Jack Regard (Gérard Jacquemus, 1943–1973) — bass
- Willy Lewis (William Taïeb, born 1944) — drums
The drum position saw several changes over the group's career, with Willy Lewis succeeded by Armand Molinetti, Dean Shelton, André Ceccarelli, and finally Michel Santangeli.
Career and Success (1961–1963)
Les Chats Sauvages released their first extended play record on May 12, 1961, which achieved immediate national success. They were signed to the Pathé-Marconi record label from May 1961 to May 1964, with their stage career extending into early 1965. The group was the principal rival of Les Chaussettes Noires during this period.
In December 1961, the band performed as the opening act for The Shadows during a Musicorama broadcast, and subsequently adopted the same Fender instruments used by the British group. In January 1962, they headlined at the ABC theater in Paris for three weeks.
In February 1961, the British music magazine NME reported that a concert at the Palais des Sports de Paris, where the group headlined alongside Vince Taylor, had turned into a full-scale riot.
Departure of Dick Rivers and Later Years
Dick Rivers left the group during the summer tour of 1962 due to internal disagreements, intending to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by Mike Shannon (Michel Simonet), who joined in October 1962. The departure affected the group's popularity, though they continued to record and perform. Their song "Derniers baisers" (an adaptation of "Sealed with a Kiss") became a notable success and was later covered by C. Jérôme in 1986 and Laurent Voulzy in 2006.
In 1963, guitarist John Rob traveled to New York with the group's American manager to explore television opportunities, including a potential appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, but restrictive laws for overseas entertainers prevented the group from meeting the requirements at that time.
Disbandment and Reunions
Les Chats Sauvages ceased their artistic activity at the end of 1964, with their final extended play released in May 1964. They performed a few additional concerts in France and abroad (including Tunisia and Italy) through early 1965. The group officially separated in 1965.
The band briefly reunited on three later occasions:
- In 1982, an album titled Love, Love, Love was released on RCA to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the group's formation, featuring Dick Rivers.
- In 1987, an album titled Mike Shannon et les Chats Sauvages was released.
- In 1999, the Roboly brothers assembled a new lineup of musicians to record new material, which led to a legal dispute with Dick Rivers over the use of the group's name. A court in Nice ruled that the name belonged to all original members collectively.
Discography Highlights
The group's studio albums include:
- Est-ce que tu le sais (1961, with Dick Rivers)
- Oh ! Oui (1962, with Dick Rivers)
- Venez les filles (1963, with Mike Shannon)
- Love, Love, Love (1982, RCA)
Their extensive catalog of extended plays and singles includes notable titles such as "Twist à Saint-Tropez," "Derniers baisers," "Sherry," "Ma p'tite amie est vache," and "Obsession." The group recorded over one hundred songs during their three-year contract with Pathé-Marconi, with approximately three-quarters being French adaptations of Anglo-Saxon hits by artists such as Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Sam Cooke.
Legacy
Les Chats Sauvages are regarded as pioneers of French rock and roll and part of the "yéyé" movement of the 1960s. Their music has been reissued in numerous compilations across francophone Europe and Quebec. Bassist Gérard Jacquemus died in 1973 following complications from anesthesia during heart surgery. Dick Rivers continued a successful solo career until his death on April 24, 2019.
