Albeit this picture was taken in 2014, it tells a hard-hitting story of how musicians struggle to make ends meet when the mic is no longer your source of income. I hope things have improved significantly for this individual (if you know him...lol) and this also makes me want to know this:

Are musicians smart enough to go into contract with a major band? And if yes, do they get paid enough to live well?

Do major band leaders (the Koffis, the werras, the JB...etc) have a plan for their musicians when their roles are diminished and produce less and less?
I used to love this guy when he first  came on, but somehow he's now forgotten and seeing him in the jackets tells me that Europe is not what it seems to be unless you are the band leader. These guys, they get used and tossed out as if they never brought anything to the table.

Again, I hope things have gotten better for him.




Still waiting on who's going to tell who this guy is. Lol

Bebe Kerozene

no they are not paid enough to live well but receive enough money to organize themselves but the problem is they want to show that they live well so they are in nightclubs week in week out making "competitions of champagne",they want to have a new car every year or every 6 months and boast about it,this is were guitarists are much much smarter, for example sunda bass  and ficarre have respectively 2 and 3 houses because instead of the party life they chose to think long term,i think coreen of maison mere is also like that to name a few
 notice that its mostly singers and atalakus who change work when they remain in europe because they might not get as often offers for session work than guitarists
and no they do not have a plan for them,most of them consider you as an important person if you are at your best,if you are not there is somebody there to take your position,or there are some rare leaders who stick to their loyal musicians through thick and thin

no they are not paid enough to live well but receive enough money to organize themselves but the problem is they want to show that they live well so they are in nightclubs week in week out making "competitions of champagne",they want to have a new car every year or every 6 months and boast about it,this is were guitarists are much much smarter, for example sunda bass  and ficarre have respectively 2 and 3 houses because instead of the party life they chose to think long term,i think coreen of maison mere is also like that to name a few
 notice that its mostly singers and atalakus who change work when they remain in europe because they might not get as often offers for session work than guitarists
and no they do not have a plan for them,most of them consider you as an important person if you are at your best,if you are not there is somebody there to take your position,or there are some rare leaders who stick to their loyal musicians through thick and thin

Thanks, Archos. But these guys have to be smarter and I can see how atalakus and singers are out of work. That's why you pick up those sticks when you are not animating and learn to play the drums (Titina Al Capone does both) or learn to play guitar (Flamme does both). They also have to learn that fame is not permanent!

Bebe Kerozene

Which one?  The shorter one?

The one on the left

Bebe Kerozene, I have been listening to his works when he was with Les Marquis the past couple of days. It's common sense that you save some money for the future because you never know when you are going to need it.  They musicians in Europe need a regular job since they are not making enough doing music, hence why they are session artists and not full-time. 

Bebe Kerozene

Which one?  The shorter one?

Ehh that is a legend, his face looks the same but more puffy.

On the left.



Interestingly, this interview was done around the same time. With many of the Europe based artists, their lives on cameras and their lives off camera are completely different.

He still does songs from time to time. His latest:


Disclaimer- it's a Coupé décalé song

Bebe Kerozene, I have been listening to his works when he was with Les Marquis the past couple of days. It's common sense that you save some money for the future because you never know when you are going to need it.  They musicians in Europe need a regular job since they are not making enough doing music, hence why they are session artists and not full-time.

Life is difficult in Europe and generally in 'Poto'.
A numbe rof firends I know hwo live there have to hustle to make a living and some of the jobs they do would surprise locals here at home. Generally musicians and sportsmen have this problem, becuase their skills are very short-lived and unfortunately these talents are not advised to make hay while the sun shines.

Session musicians rarely get work, and wiht the combattants in Europe this is triple harder. not surprised that the is resorting to such jobs to survive.
Life is tough as a musician....

I miss his voice.

I miss his voice.

Here you go. With his other teammate Brigade. Their team was the best IMO. He went at it at the 3:30 mark. Effraka and Affaire D'etat are still hot. At one point, he could have been the next Bill Clinton.

Same here@ Congomusiclover001. I really miss him. Their combo (Brigade and him) was extremely hot!!!

Here you go. With his other teammate Brigade. Their team was the best IMO. He went at it at the 3:30 mark. Effraka and Affaire D'etat are still hot. At one point, he could have been the next Bill Clinton.

Koffi believed so too for about 2 years, but bébé Kero's kiss of death was when he started loosing his voice and animation flow at relatively important concerts after Affaire d'état. Some concerts turned into a Brigade, Bouro, and occasionally Fally animation show when Kero had vocal issues.

Acide wazambi and Apocalypse were added to the line up.. and rather quickly Kero lost his stature as they took over his role leading to Monde Arabe.

I still maintain that Falsetto animation is one of the toughest roles in a band since there is so much pressure to perform live as well they sound in albums for 3-4 hours in order to make everyone dance; over a period of years.

Though job indeed to stay alive and deliver animations for several hours. I remember Brigade lost his voice too in that Paris concert with WMMM years ago. The one guy in that department who still delivers in Bill. His voice has been consistent over the years. And Bebe wanted to prove that he was capable of holding on his won when he left QL. I remember him on the PPU and a solo animator. I think he gets monotonous when by himself but better when he shares with another atalaku. The last good animation he did by himself the Eyinda album of the Chic Men. I hope he comes back one day. He's greatly missed.