5 replies to this topic

[yasgursfarmhand]

RIP Pierrot Bidon, founder of Archaos


Will never forget their headlining show at Glasto 1990. Explosions, Cars flying down the side of the Pyramid, fireworks, chainsaws - absolutely unbelievable.

Have a look at this Archaos Panorama 1990


Would've loved to have seen them back for the 40th, that's he sort of thing we need to see at the end of the night.

[caramello]

RIP indeed, that was an awesome festy....a hot one IIRC, Archaos were explosively French fun.......cant see the HSE allowing anything like that anymore!
Great panorama shot, look how close people are camped!

[5co77ie]

Sad news - We had a great view of their amazing show from the tent. we could hardly stand that year!

I can see our tent in that picture - an old school orange one! Beside the blue bender and just in front on the white van. on the edge of the crowd line.

[5co77ie]

...and what's with the empty fields behind the main stage! wow It looks so different these days!

[eFestivals]

yasgursfarmhand, on Mar 19 2010, 09:40 AM, said:

RIP Pierrot Bidon, founder of Archaos


Will never forget their headlining show at Glasto 1990. Explosions, Cars flying down the side of the Pyramid, fireworks, chainsaws - absolutely unbelievable.

Have a look at this Archaos Panorama 1990


Would've loved to have seen them back for the 40th, that's he sort of thing we need to see at the end of the night.

I didn't really get why they were on stage at the time. I was thinking "this isn't a famous band".

I've seen them quite a few time in the years since (tho not for a long while now), and while it was always very good, I felt it had quickly become a bit of a cliche.

But at the time they were mindblowing.

[5co77ie]

The Mayors Thames Festival has - Archaos, Cirque de Caractère
all through the event from Thu 9 – Sun 12 September at The Bargehouse

Quote

Between 1988 and 1991 a radical French new circus company called Archaos scandalized the UK with their dangerous chainsaw-juggling antics, raunchy Gallic attitude and explosive, two-fingers-in-the-face-of Health & Safety performances. The UK circus scene was shaken to its very core and would never be the same again.

Over a very short period of time, Archaos grew from festival sensation to urban legend; each successive show growing in scale and pushing the boundaries of performance. Metal Clown, in 1991, involved laying a tarmac road inside a massive 2,500 seat tent called The Cathedral. Archaos toured the world, but they thrived at their best in the UK - press and audiences loved them and well over 100 Brits attempted to run away and join the maverick troupe. Perhaps predictably, the dream ended with a bang; bankruptcy ensued when The Cathedral tent was destroyed by gale force winds.

This exhibition tells the Archaos story in press clippings, video extracts and personal memories. There is anecdote from PR guru Mark Borkowski, a history by Sophie Kennedy Martin and photographs by Gavin Evans, Ian Patrick, Philippe Cibille and Dominique Margot.