Pin-Up Went Down

Lore & Background

Pin-Up Went Down was formed in 2006 as a one-man project by Alexis Damien, a former member of Carnival in Coal and Wormfood, under the name Esthete Piggie. He was later joined by singer, writer, and photographer Aurélie "Asphodel" Raidron, who had sung for gothic metal band Penumbra, Howdy Effect, and Nowonmai. Asphodel found the new name for the band. On 25 April 2008, the duo released their first studio album, 2 Unlimited, through Ascendance Records, which fused power pop, progressive metal, death metal, funk, symphonic metal, and gospel music to critical acclaim. Their second album, 342, followed on 21 June 2010, also through Ascendance, further developing their unusual style and also receiving positive reviews. In 2010, Alexis's brother Nicolas Damien joined, making the band a trio. In 2012, they self-released the EP B-Sides through their Bandcamp page, containing four tracks. The band began work on a third album, Perfreaktion, in 2013, but Asphodel announced her departure in January 2014 to pursue other projects, and the album remains unreleased. Shortly after, she formed the duo öOoOoOoOoOo with Baptiste Bertrand, releasing their first album Samen on 21 October 2016. Pin-Up Went Down was inactive for several years until December 2017, when they announced a compilation album, Remasters, featuring re-mastered versions of their songs. In autumn 2019, Alexis announced his new band, No Terror in the Bang.

Reader's Guide

Pin-Up Went Down occupies a niche in French experimental music, notable for its genre-defying fusion of metal, art rock, pop, and avant-garde elements. Their two studio albums, 2 Unlimited and 342, were well received by critics for their eclectic blend of styles, including power pop, death metal, funk, and gospel. The band's significance lies in its brief but distinctive output, which showcased the creative partnership of Alexis Damien and Asphodel. After Asphodel's departure in 2014, the band became inactive, leaving their third album Perfreaktion unreleased. Their legacy is preserved through their two albums and the 2017 compilation Remasters, and they are remembered as a project that pushed boundaries within the avant-garde metal scene. The band's influence is also seen in Asphodel's subsequent work with öOoOoOoOoOo and Alexis's later project No Terror in the Bang.

Did You Know?

• Pin-Up Went Down was originally named Esthete Piggie before changing to its current name, which was found by vocalist Asphodel.
• After leaving Pin-Up Went Down in 2014, Asphodel formed the duo öOoOoOoOoOo with Baptiste Bertrand.
• The band's third album, Perfreaktion, was worked on from 2013 but remains unreleased following Asphodel's departure.