Pierpoljak

Pierpoljak

Pierpoljak and his singers during a concert in Maignelay-Montigny on June 28th, 2014.
Background information
Birth name Pierre-Mathieu Vilmet
Also known as Pékha
Born (1964-09-07) September 7, 1964
Paris, France
Genres Reggae
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Years active 1995–present
Labels Barclay Records
Website pierpoljak.fr

Pierpoljak (born Pierre-Mathieu Vilmet on September 7, 1964 in Paris), is a French reggae and pop singer.

Biography

Pierre Vilmet was born in Paris and grew up in the Parisian suburb, first in Savigny-sur-Orge and then in Colombes. At the end of the 1970s, he played drums within the punk group Samu 92,[1] where he was nicknamed "Pierrot le Fou" ("The Mad Petey").[2]

In 1978, he went to London to meet his favorite groups, as Sham 69 or Skrewdriver; there, he lived in a squat, where he discovered reggae.[3] In 1995, after several prison stretches, then based in the Nièvre department, Pierre decided to record his first solo album at home. The Barclay record label noticed him and produced his first album, entitled Pierpoljak.

One year later, in the Barclay permises, Clive Hunt offered him a stay in Jamaica so as to record a remix of the song La Music, released on his first album. Pierre's second album, entitled Jamaican Rides, was released in 1996.

In 1997, at the Rencontres Trans Musicales in Rennes, Pierpoljak was a success.[1]

Success

Pierre, nicknamed Pékah at the time, took again the road for the studios at the beginning of 1997, so as to record his third opus, Kingston Karma. This album was a success and sold more than 350 000 copies.

His fourth solo album, Je fais c'que j'veux, was released in 2000 and was awarded with a double-gold.[4] He won Victoires de la Musique in 2001 thanks to his song Maman.[5]

During his concerts, many incidents due to the singer's and the musicians' violence were reported.[6]

The fall

In 2011, Pierpoljak fell ill. Following an intensive consumption of different substances such as cannabis, tobacco, ecstasy or cocaine, a first pneumothorax appeared in his left-hand lung. After a stay at the hospital, he went to New Caledonia for a festival. Soon after his arrival, he was arrested by the local police for having agressed a stewardness during the flight. During his return to France, he contracted a new pneumothorax. In total, he performed four stays at the hospital and underwent two operations.

Then, he decided to leave for the Canary Islands and Cape Verde aboard his sailboat, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to reach Martinique. This trip lasted near three years.[7]

Comeback

Pierpoljak during a concert in Aulnay-sous-Bois on November 8th, 2006.

Back to France, Pierpoljak began to compose his fifth solo album, Stim urban, which was released during the 2003 summer. In March 2006, his sixth solo album, Je blesserai personne, was released; during the composition of this album, Pierpoljak was helped by the Jamaican musician Elephant Man.

The next year, he released (under the pseudonym Pékah) Tuff Gong Blues, an album recorded in 2000, simultaneously with Je fais c'que j'veux. This album was composed by the Jamaican singer Doniki and his musicians. Soon after its released, Tuff Gong Blues was forbidden due to copyright issues with the lyricist and the musicians of the album, but also because of publication right issues with the Barclay record label.

Pierpoljak's eighth solo album, Légendaire Sérénade, was released at the beginning of 2010. The next year, in September 2011, a best-of of Pierpoljak's works was released by Universal Music.

Pierpoljak released his last album, entitled Général Indigo, on March 2, 2015.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the French Wikipedia.
  1. 1 2 (French) "Pierpoljak, Celui que l'on appelle aujourd'hui le rasta blanc n'a pas toujours épousé la cause rastafari.". www.rfimusique.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  2. ↑ (French) "L'interview décalée : Pierpoljak (24/03/2010)". www.gazette-cotedor.fr. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "Interview Pierpoljak (10 février 2010)". pierpoljak.fr. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  4. ↑ (French) "Pierpoljak - Légendaire Sérénade (Album)". lescharts.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  5. ↑ (French) "Victoires de la musique 2001, 16ème édition.". www.rfimusique.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  6. ↑ (French) Binet, 1 Stéphanie; Masi, Bruno (23 March 2001). "La face cachée de Pierpoljak". Libération.
  7. ↑ (French) "Ardisson ; "tout le monde en parle", vidéo : Interview biographie Pierpoljak,". www.ina.fr. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
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