L'Étranger (band)
Encyclopedia
L'Étranger was a Canadian
punk rock
band in the early 1980s. Named for the novel L'Étranger
by Albert Camus
, the band played a politically-minded brand of punk music that drew on both Clash
influences and the band members' social justice
-oriented Roman Catholic faith. The band was best known for their anti-apartheid single "One People", one of the first independent videos ever to gain airplay on the then-new MuchMusic
.
The band originally consisted of Andrew Cash
, Charlie Angus
and Peter Duffin. That lineup released one EP, Innocent Hands in 1982. Bruce P.M. was added to the line-up in time for the second EP, 1984's for Running Out of Funtown.
Subsequently, Angus left the band to form Grievous Angels
, and was replaced by Tim Vesely
for the band's final EP, Sticks and Stones in 1986. Angus is still mentioned in the EP liner notes as a group member, although it is acknowledged in those same notes that he did not participate in the EP's actual recording.
Following the band's breakup, Cash began performing as a solo artist. His first solo release was a reissue of Sticks and Stones. He went on to record several albums as a solo singer-songwriter and as a member of The Cash Brothers
, and also worked as a freelance journalist. Duffin later co-founded the acoustic pop band Barnhouse Static with Canadian songwriter Kathy Evans.
As of 2011, Angus and Cash are both in politics, sitting in the Canadian House of Commons
as members of the New Democratic Party
caucus.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band in the early 1980s. Named for the novel L'Étranger
The Stranger (novel)
The Stranger or The Outsider is a novel by Albert Camus published in 1942. Its theme and outlook are often cited as examples of existentialism, though Camus did not consider himself an existentialist; in fact, its content explores various philosophical schools of thought, including absurdism, as...
by Albert Camus
Albert Camus
Albert Camus was a French author, journalist, and key philosopher of the 20th century. In 1949, Camus founded the Group for International Liaisons within the Revolutionary Union Movement, which was opposed to some tendencies of the Surrealist movement of André Breton.Camus was awarded the 1957...
, the band played a politically-minded brand of punk music that drew on both Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
influences and the band members' social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
-oriented Roman Catholic faith. The band was best known for their anti-apartheid single "One People", one of the first independent videos ever to gain airplay on the then-new MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
.
The band originally consisted of Andrew Cash
Andrew Cash
Andrew Cash is a Canadian singer-songwriter and a Member of Parliament for the Toronto-area Davenport electoral district. He grew up in Toronto, where he befriended future MP, Charlie Angus, and along with Angus founded the Toronto punk band L'Étranger. In the late 1990s, he also became a...
, Charlie Angus
Charlie Angus
Charles Joseph Angus MP is a Canadian writer, broadcaster, musician, and politician. Angus entered electoral politics in 2004 as the successful New Democratic Party candidate in the Ontario riding of Timmins—James Bay. He was the NDP parliamentary critic for Canadian Heritage from 2004 to 2007,...
and Peter Duffin. That lineup released one EP, Innocent Hands in 1982. Bruce P.M. was added to the line-up in time for the second EP, 1984's for Running Out of Funtown.
Subsequently, Angus left the band to form Grievous Angels
Grievous Angels
Grievous Angels were a Canadian alternative country band, active from 1986 to 2004. The band's primary member was singer-songwriter Charlie Angus, who entered electoral politics in 2004 as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Timmins—James Bay....
, and was replaced by Tim Vesely
Tim Vesely
Tim Vesely is a Canadian musician and songwriter. He is best known as the bassist for the indie rock band Rheostatics, in which he shared lead vocal duties with bandmates Dave Bidini and Martin Tielli...
for the band's final EP, Sticks and Stones in 1986. Angus is still mentioned in the EP liner notes as a group member, although it is acknowledged in those same notes that he did not participate in the EP's actual recording.
Following the band's breakup, Cash began performing as a solo artist. His first solo release was a reissue of Sticks and Stones. He went on to record several albums as a solo singer-songwriter and as a member of The Cash Brothers
The Cash Brothers
The Cash Brothers are a Canadian alternative country/folk rock duo, consisting of brothers Andrew and Peter Cash.-Career:Prior to the creation of The Cash Brothers, Andrew and Peter Cash both had established careers as songwriters and musicians. Andrew was a member of the bands L'Étranger and...
, and also worked as a freelance journalist. Duffin later co-founded the acoustic pop band Barnhouse Static with Canadian songwriter Kathy Evans.
As of 2011, Angus and Cash are both in politics, sitting in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as members of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
caucus.