Guerilla Poubelle
Guerilla Poubelle is a French punk band that emerged in 2003, translating to ‘Dustbin (Garbage Can) Guerrilla’ in English. The band, led by singer and guitarist Till, embraces anarchist and existentialist beliefs, embodying a DIY ethos. Till also founded the record label and concert promoter Guerilla Asso in 2004.
History
Initially forming as a four-piece after the disbandment of the ska-punk group Les Betteraves, Guerilla Poubelle had a unique touch, incorporating a painter who contributed visuals and backing vocals during performances. Their debut album, Il faut repeindre le monde… en noir (The world must be repainted… in black), hit the scene in 2005.
Undergoing some lineup changes, the band transformed into a three-piece configuration. Known for their steadfast refusal to register with the French royalties collection society SACEM, the band adheres to their values despite achieving substantial independent success.
Guerilla Poubelle’s discography includes splits, EPs, and four albums, with releases on their own Guerilla Asso label, Asian Man Records, and Crash Disques. Notably, they collaborated on a split album with Coquettish in 2006, coinciding with a major Japanese tour. Over the years, the band has toured extensively, covering France, Europe, Japan, Canada, and the USA, accumulating a remarkable tally of over 1,000 live performances.
Musical Style and Influences
Remaining consistent in their approach, Guerilla Poubelle delivers predominantly fast, short punk rock songs sung in French. Till Lemoine’s vocals are characterized by urgency and grit, contributing to the band’s distinct sound.
Members
- Till: Guitar and Vocals
- Antho: Bass
- Paul: Drums
Past Members
- Chamoule: Drums
- Jokoko: Painter
- Ken: Bass and Vocals
- Axel: Drums
- Alex: Drums
- Kojack: Bass
- Jamie: Bass
Sexual Assault Allegations against Till
In May 2021, an investigation revealed allegations of abuse, harassment, and sexual violence against Till Lemoine by three former partners. Accusations include toxic influence, assaults, humiliations, and non-consensual, unprotected intercourse between 2006 and 2008. The singer defended himself against these allegations in the same investigation.
Quotes
“(We) do not want our music consumed like yogurt. I want people to be open-minded […] and not to swallow every word I pronounce… Too many in the French punk scene act this way and for me they are just slaves.” — Till
“When you tell people to recycle, they tell you ‘oh that’s great, how good of you!’ It’s not great or nice, it should be fucking normal.” — Till
Discography
Demo
- Dégoût et des couleurs (2003)
Shared Releases
- Discographies 2000-20’4 (split album with Butter Beans) (2005)
- Ninjas & guerilleros (split album with Coquettish) (2006)
- Petit hommage entre amis (split album with Justin(e) and Dolores Riposte, tribute to Zabriskie Point) (2007)
Albums
- Il faut repeindre le monde… en noir (2005)
- Punk = Existentialisme (2007)
- GUERILLA POUBELLE + CHARLY FIASCO (2009)
- Amor Fati (2013)
- La nausée (2017)
- L’ennui (2020)
