Resurrection in old freshness

Frank von Niederhäusern12-19-20252 min. read

Galliano have been touring the clubs again for a year now. Now the London acid jazz band is ending its European tour with a concert in Zurich.

He always had the right words at the right time. Rob Gallagher recently said at a concert that it was time for Galliano to bring a little peace to this gloomy world. In fact, nothing had been heard from the legendary acid jazz band from London for 25 years. But at the beginning of 2024, they suddenly returned and went on tour with a new album. Band leader Gallagher's cryptic explanation: “Hard to say whether it was an idea or just happened.”Unlike many other former cult bands, Galliano's comeback is probably not a revival for financial reasons. Mastermind Gallagher (59) stands on stage alongside siren-voiced singer Valerie Étienne and original drummer Crispin Taylor, just like in the old days. The lively trio is accompanied by a changing cast of friends who are full of enthusiasm for playing. As a reminder, Galliano was one of those bands that blended jazz with other genres in the late 1980s, specifically funk, soul, reggae, and above all rap. Gallagher's rapid-fire rap was lulled by Étienne's melodic hymns. Despite their love of experimentation, the band's sound was catchy and very danceable. Galliano found a receptive audience in Gilles Peterson, the then cult London DJ, radio producer and producer, whose father came from Thalwil in Zurich. Peterson released the band on his Talking Loud label, which gave their career an unprecedented boost.

Coolness and political statements

Gallagher, Étienne, and Co. struck a chord with the zeitgeist and soon landed in the charts. They relied not only on coolness, but also on political statements. With their hit “Prince of Peace,” they reached the peace movement, while “Skunk Funk” was a postulate for the liberation of oppressed peoples. And with his knitted hat, Rob Gallagher also liked to present himself as an environmental activist. After four albums, the band broke up in 1998. Gallagher started a solo career as Earl Zinger, Étienne lent her fantastic voice to several bands and is still touring with Jamiroquai today. The current revival is not intended to be a flash in the pan. Since the 2024 album, the band has been continuously releasing new songs and remixes online, which will soon fill another album.Frank von Niederhäusern, kulturtipp
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