The story of Front 242 begins in 1981 when Daniel B. presents his ideas in a first single: Body to Body. Patrick Codenys (keyboards) and Jean-Luc De Meyer (vocals) join the band for the first album “Geography” in 1982, followed by Richard 23 (singer/performer) in 1983.
Gaining experience in major European festivals and concerts in the USA since 1985, the band establishes itself as a very strong live band and EBM spreads throughout Europe.
The albums “No Comment” (1985), “Official Version” (1987) and “Front By Front” (1988, including HeadHunter and Welcome to Paradise) The international success of 242 and its status as an innovative and pioneering band.
Front’s vision continues to mature after the acclaimed album “Tyranny For You” (1991).
The next two albums, “06:21:03:11 Up Evil” and “05:22:09:12 Off” (1993) break the classic Front formula by bringing in new singers, live guitars and drums, along with a new producer, Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Sonic Youth).
This began to reshuffle roles and rules within the group, while maintaining the breadth of invention and radical attitude that characterized Front 242’s music.
During a 4-year hiatus (1993-1997), the band released the albums “Live Code”, recorded during their last world tour, and “Mut@ge – Mix@ge”, a compilation album where artists such as the Prodigy, The Orb, Underworld, Rico Conning and others offered innovative mixes of Front 242 tracks.
The original 4 members of the band reunited in 1997 and, with German drummer Tim Kroker, began performing live. Several live albums followed, with their energy and different versions of their music on stage being the dominant element.
After a long absence from the studio, the EP “Still & Raw” and the album “Pulse” come in 2003, records based on the aesthetics of the 70s and 80s. Here Front 242 recreate the original sound that was at the center of their art, enriched with 20 years of experience.
Analog technologies and vintage machines pulsate among their music where emotion and energy are still conveyed by a purely electronic attitude.
Having re-released their entire catalog in newer, enriched versions, Front 242 continue to play all over the world with the same level of intensity, with the same success as always, having crowds of loyal fans by their side.
*Discography Front 242
1981 – PRINCIPLES (7″)
1982 – U-MEN (7″) –
1982 – GEOGRAPHY (albumCD)
1983 – ENDLESS RIDDANCE (CDS) – TWO IN ONE (CDS)
1985 – NO COMMENT (albumCD)
1985 – POLITICS OF PRESSURE (CDS)
1986 – INTERCEPTION (CDS)
1987 – BACK CATALOG (albumCD)
1987 – OFFICIAL VERSION (albumCD)
1988 – HEADHUNTER (CDS / CDV)
1988 – FRONT BY FRONT (albumCD)
1989 – NEVER STOP! (CDS) – MASTERHIT (CDS)
1990 – TRAGEDY > FOR YOU < (CDS) – TRAGEDY > FOR YOU < TWO (CDS)
1991 – TYRANNY > FOR YOU < (albumCD)
1991 – MIXED BY FEAR (CDS) – RHYTHM OF TIME (CDS)
1993 – RELIGION (CDS)
1993 – UP EVIL (albumCD)
1993 – OFF (albumCD)
1993 – ANGELS VERSUS ANIMALS (CDS)
1994 – LIVE CODE (albumCD live)
1995 – MUT@GE.MIX@GE (album CD) (Mixes from Prodigy, Underworld and The Orb)
1998 – RE:BOOT LIVE (albumCD)Live)
1998 – HEADHUNTER 2000 (4 CDS mixes)
2003 – STILL & RAW (CD EP)
2003 – PULSE (CD album)
2008 – “MOMENTS” – Double Live CD – Vinyls
2018 – Re-release GEOGRAPHY + NO COMMENTS re-mastered collector versions.
* FRONT 242 – VIDEOGRAPHY *
1982 U-Men – (dir: Marc Demeyer)
1984 Operating tracks – (dir : BRT/Roodfonk)
1984 Take One – (dir : BRT/Roodfonk)
1986 Quite Unusual – (dir : Serge Bergli /RTBF)
1988 HeadHunter – (dir : Anton Corbijn)
1988 Welcome to Paradise – (dir : Anton Corbijn)
1991 Rhythm of Time – (dir : Chris Christofferson)
1992 Integration – Compilation (The only commercial videocassette released)
1993 Religion (dir : Jon Klein /Conspiracy)
1994 Animal (dir : John Wentworth/ Assymetrical Prod.)
1996 Happiness – (dir : Etienne Auger / V-Form)
2005 – “Catch the Men” – Live DVD