Barricade (5)

A Marseille based left-field experimental group formed in the late 1960's. Barricade existed in a variety of incarnations, sometimes with different factions of the band running parallel at the same time. The band was the starting point for three important musicians in French alternative and progressive rock: Joseph Racaille and Hector Zazou who went on to form ZNR, and Cyrille Verdeaux who founded Clearlight. Barricade's music was never documented via a release at the time. It is reckoned that although they did plan to record and release an album for the Futura label, it never happened. Not until some 30 odd years later could the world experience what a radical and creative bunch they were. Captain Beefheart was a primary influence, politics were important, psychedelic rock, jazz and avant-garde all played a part. But the results were quintessentially French, daring and still fresh decades on.