Noir Désir

French alternative band Noir Désir formed in the early-'80s, comprised of Bertrand Cantat, Serge Teyssot-Gay, Frédéric Vidalenc, and Denis Barthe. The group's first EP was released in 1987. Two years later, Noir Désir released their debut full-length, Veuillez Rendre l'Âme (À Qui Elle Appartient). By second album Du Ciment Sous les Plaines (1990), the band's harder, more punk-inspired elements began to come to the fore, and the progression remained on 1992's Tostaky. The band continued throughout the early 2000s, releasing albums every couple years. In 2003, lead singer Bertrand Cantat was charged with the murder of actress Marie Trintignant. ~ John Bush