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2019 - 
2015 - 
1999 - 
1995 - 
1992 - 
1989 - Members
4 Male
Origin
Paris, FR
Genre
Pop
Style
Folk
Mood
Passionate
Born
4 Male
Origin
Paris, FRGenre
PopStyle
Folk
Mood
Passionate
Born
1982
Active
1982 to Present...
Cutout
Most Loved Tracks3 users
Les Innocents - L'Autre Finistère3 users
Les Innocents - Colore3 users
Les Innocents - Un homme extraordinaire3 users
Les Innocents - Fous à lier2 users
Les Innocents - Un monde parfait
Music Video Links Les Philharmonies mart... |  Fous à lier |  Quand la nuit tombe |
 Colore |  Une vie moins ordinaire |  Danny Wilde |
 Saint Sylvestre |  Mon dernier soldat |  … et le temps n'attend... |
Artist Biography
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Les Innocents is an iconic French pop rock band, formed in 1982 in Paris by singer and guitarist Jean-Philippe Nataf, known as « Jipé » (born 1963), influenced by the Parisian punk rock scene of the 1970s. Emerging from his earlier band Les Privés, Jipé gathered friends to create Les Innocents, a name inspired by a surprise concert by The Clash under the pseudonym « The Innocents ». The original lineup included Bertrand « Tramber » Sansonetti on guitar, Richard « Rico » Ganivet on bass, and Pierre Morin on drums. Their first concert took place at the squat des Cascades in Paris that year, marking the start of a collective journey marked by lineup changes and boundless creativity.
The 1980s laid the foundation for their success. In 1985, they released their first independent 45 rpm single, Pamela, produced by Patrice Fabien and distributed by New Rose. Signed by Virgin Records in 1986 after a demo produced by Jay Alanski, they broke through in 1987 with the single Jodie, selling 150,000 copies and reaching 34th on the Top 50. This was followed by Et le temps n'attend pas in 1988 and their debut album Les Innocents in 1989. Jean-Christophe Urbain, known as « Jean-Chri », joined as a keyboardist during a Palace gig, later replacing Sansonetti on guitar in 1989, forming the iconic creative duo with Jipé.
The 1990s brought their peak. The album Fous à lier (1992) was a triumph with hits like L'Autre Finistère, Un homme extraordinaire, and Confessions d'un vieux serpent, a blend of poetic and quirky lyrics that propelled them to fame. Post-partum (1995), recorded with Dominique Blanc-Francard, solidified their success with tracks like Un monde parfait, Colore, and Dentelle dominating the airwaves. The band won three Victoires de la Musique awards as Group of the Year between 1994 and 1997, performed with Les Enfoirés in 1996, and toured extensively. The self-titled Les Innocents (1999), featuring Bernard Viguié on bass and Christopher Board on drums, included songs like Sur la terre arrosée and Une vie moins ordinaire, but received a lukewarm reception amid artistic differences.
The group disbanded in 2000 after 18 years together. Jipé Nataf pursued a solo career with albums like Plus de sucre (2004) and Clair (2009), while Jean-Chri Urbain explored personal projects. A 15-year hiatus followed until their acoustic duo reformation in 2013 (Jipé and Jean-Chri), with tours in France and Quebec unveiling unreleased tracks like Love qui peut and Les Philharmonies martiennes.
Their triumphant return peaked with the album Mandarine (2015), earning a Victoire de la Musique for Rock Artist of the Year, followed by a tour of over 150 dates. In 2019, they released 6 ½, an intimate album reflecting a newfound balance and letting go, praised by Télérama and the press. Still active, Les Innocents embody timeless French pop, blending catchy melodies, introspective lyrics, and rock energy, influencing generations with their raw authenticity and absurd humor.
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