(Unknowns bassist Dave Doyle recounts the band’s 1990 reunion and transatlantic travels, complete with video!)
The video embedded in this post came as a complete surprise to me; I knew that some must exist out there, but having never seen any footage back in the day I didn’t know what had become of the record of our time in France.
So in short form this is how this video came to be: Mark Neill, Craig Packham and I had recently moved to Georgia and were struggling to get a foothold. We decided to make a record with Bruce Joyner as The Unknowns and tour France. So out of this “Southern Decay” was produced, and a tour was set up to support the record. Making the record was a blur, as was getting to France!
It was late fall, cold and rainy as we crammed ourselves and gear into a white Peugeot van and headed off into the wilds of France. We played about 16 or so dates in just under a month of traipsing across France and Switzerland. Here’s a performance of “Dream Sequence” in Plouneour-Trez, Brittany, Oct. 30, 1990, at “Les Hespérides”:
Some of the details are sketchy, but I can’t forget the highlights: more cigarette smoke than I’d ever experienced in my lifetime. Craig walking right past the guards in the Louvre to view the Mona Lisa while I had been stopped. Losing my mind trying to do laundry and dealing with nouveaux Francs and anciens ones (pre-Euro, mind you…). Beer-can hockey with baguettes in the dressing room at Le Mans (Bruce was the instigator I swear…). Being stopped once by the gendarmes and having the van searched by dogs and miniskirted babes with submachine guns. (OK, the miniskirt part is a fabrication, but nothing is hotter than a woman holding a lethal weapon.)
Watch the Unknowns’ lost documentary!
And oh yeah, the shows! The audiences were très superbe! I recall very enthusiastic crowds across the country and that multiple encores were de rigueur. The French enjoy their live music and at that time supported it far more vigorously than was ever done so here. Ah, c’est la vie …
— Dave Doyle
AWESOME!!!!
C’est si bon!!!!
Why this song hasn’t yet been used for the opening scenes (or closing credits) of at least a million movies is beyond me…it’s a perfect blend of atmosphere, mystery and drama.
It sets the stage of cool.
Such a great clip and fun “seat of our pants” tour story, it made my day. Thanks for posting it Mr. Doyle…
Magnifique!
Remarkably, indoor smoking has been banned, and when I was in Paris a couple of years ago it was apparent that people accepted stepping outside to smoke. Who would have believed that just a few years ago?
Great vid Dave! But it’s hard to see you. Is there a law in France about filming bassists? Maybe some sort of Napoleanic thing? weirdos in France…
Man, we have the coolest music scene on earth San Diego.
DF, I dunno it would have been a great source of grease for stockpiling weapons of mass con-funk-shun!
Eric, thanks! It was an interesting find, certainly more will surface (hopefully nothing too embarrassing…)
Paul, great to hear. Between the Gitanes, Gauloises and the Marlboros our driver smoked I’ve had more than my share of the damned things!
DR, I know right? And all one sees of Craig is his hands! Weird! Pizza’s here…
San Diegos best band…………..
Thank you !!
I would lke to know when Bruce Joy,er will release a new album. Do you know it ?
MAN! Are you guys tight as hell in this! As being road-tested does. I’m awed, and I always had been.
Such a great telling, Dave.
How has another 10 years passed since you wrote this?
God bless the good ship The Unknowns, and those who sailed on her.