Indochine (band)
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Indochine, a French rock and new wave band, came together in Paris in 1981. Their early lineup included Nicola Sirkis and Dominique Nicolas, who were soon joined by Dimitri Bodiansky, a cousin of a friend of Nicola’s. Nicola’s twin brother, Stéphane Sirkis, who had already played with them onstage, became an official member shortly after. In the 1980s, the group built a large following across French-speaking regions, Europe, and Latin America, powered by popular tracks such as L’Aventurier and Canary Bay.
Their popularity reached such heights that when they arrived for a concert in Stockholm, they were greeted by crowds of screaming fans, a scene compared to Beatlemania. Serge Gainsbourg directed the music video for “Tes yeux noirs,” which became one of the band’s biggest hits. To date, Indochine has sold over 10 million albums and singles worldwide.
Lore & Background
They soon added Dimitri Bodiansky. Stéphane Sirkis died on 27 February 1999 of hepatitis. The band continued after his death.
Reader's Guide
Indochine's significance lies in their sustained commercial and cultural impact across the Francophone world and beyond, particularly during the 1980s new wave era and their later resurgence. Their music evolved from new wave to darker, introspective tones influenced by acts like Nine Inch Nails and Placebo. Despite critical and commercial fluctuations, Indochine has sold over 10 million albums and singles worldwide, maintaining a dedicated fan base and influencing French rock music.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Indochine (band) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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