Dionysos

Dionysos

Dionysos. Rock group established in Montreal in 1969 consisting of Paul-André Thibert (voice, recorder), Éric Clément (guitars), Jean-Pierre Legault (bass guitar), replaced by Fernand Durand in 1971, Robert Lepage (drums), and André (keyboardist) Mathieu (electronic keyboards). The flutist and keyboardist Philippe Bech also worked with the group 1973-4, as did the pianist and saxophonist Jean-Pierre Forget after 1975. Dionysos began just at the end of the 1960s, when the repertoires of most Quebec groups consisted mainly of French versions of US hits. Following in the footsteps of L'Infonie and Robert Charlebois, Dionysos was among the first Quebec groups to sing original rock compositions in French. In 1969 it undertook a series of concerts which resulted in the LP Le Grand Jeu (Jupiter YDS-8032). In 1971 it took part in the Montreux Jazz Festival and made a second LP, Le Prince croule (Zodiaque ZOX-6001). It then toured Quebec, New Brunswick, and Ontario, and in 1974 members of the group composed and performed the music for the Montreal production of The Tooth of Crime, a rock opera by Sam Sheppard. After a voluntary 18-month retirement the group re-formed in the autumn of 1975, and an LP, Dionysos (Deram XDEF 125), was followed by a week of concerts in Old Montreal. 'L'Àge d'or' and 'Suzie' were among the best-known songs of the group, which ceased to perform in 1978. Thibert made a solo LP, Musique de mes amis Dionysos (Solo SO-25507).