Pascal Humbert

Pascal Humbert
Background information
Born France
Occupation(s) Bassist
Instruments Bass guitar
Years active 1980-present
Associated acts Tanit, Passion Fodder, 16 Horsepower, Lilium, Wovenhand, Détroit

Pascal Humbert is a French bass player who has been in various bands like Tanit (1981-1985), Passion Fodder (1985-1991), 16 Horsepower (1992-1993, 1996-2005) and Wovenhand (since 2008). He was in Lilium, a duo formation (2000) and in Détroit, the latter with Bertrand Cantat (2013).

Career

Tanit

Humbert's first artistic involvement was with Tanit, a band he formed in Paris with the beginning 1980s with Elsa Drezner and Thierry Bertomeu.[1] The band released two EP records, Can an Actor Bleed and To Alaska.

Passion Fodder

After meeting Theo Hakola, he travelled to the United States and established himself in Los Angeles as part of the American rock formation Passion Fodder from 1985 until 1991, releasing five studio albums.

16 Horsepower

After Passion Fodder disbanded, he founded with David Eugene Edwards and Jean-Yves Tola the band Horsepower. Frustrated by misconceptions about the name Horsepower being related to heroin use, and inspired by a traditional American folk song about sixteen horses pulling the coffin of a beloved to the graveyard, the name was changed to 16 Horsepower.

The band was active from 1992 to 2005. Their first release was the eponymous 16 Horsepower EP. When Humbert temporarily left in 1993, he was replaced by Keven Soll as bass player. Humbert rejoined in 1996 and stayed with the band. Other members at various points included Rob Redick in 1996, Jeffrey-Paul Norlander in 1997 and Steve Taylor in 1998.

The debut full-length studio album Sackcloth 'n Ashes was released in 1996, garnering praise from the international music press followed by Low Estate and Secret South.

After releasing four studio albums, 2 EPs and after touring extensively, the group broke up in 2005, citing "mostly political and spiritual" differences.

Lilium

Concurrently at various times during this period, he developed a parallel project with Jean-Yves Tola (of 16 Horsepower). They soon released Transmission of All the Goodbyes. The second Lilium album was Short Stories in 2003, with guest musicians, singers and lyricists, including David Eugene Edwards, Kal Cahoone, Daniel McMahon, Jim Kalin, and Dana Colley and Billy Conway (of Morphine). The sound incorporated both American folk music and European musical heritage. After 16 Horsepower disbanded in 2005, Lilium expanded into a full band with the addition of Bruno Green and singer Kal Cahoone. But Humbert also joined Edwards' project new project Wovenhand in 2007. In 2009, Lilium finished their third record, Felt. The band returned to becoming a two-piece, now featuring Humbert and Green.

Wovenhand

After the split-up of 16 Horsepower in 2005, Pascal Humbert played solo and within the band Santa Cruz as a double bass player, until he was contacted by a newly formed Wovenhand by David Eugene Edwards, and Ordy Garrison, and joined them in their European leg of tours before being integrated in the official line-up in 2008 and in recording of albums by the band.

Détroit

Pascal Humbert's most recent collaboration has been the formation of the duo Détroit with rock musician Bertrand Cantat, formerly with Noir Désir that had been dissolved in 2011.

Others

Humbert and Cantat were also part of a collaborative project for Lebanese-Quebec artist Wajdi Mouawad in Le Cycle des Femmes: Trois histoires de Sophocle (known as Femmes trilogy) within the context of Festival d'Avignon. The resulting 17-track album Chœurs of Greek choir renditions for the play was credited to Cantat, Humbbert, guitarist Bernard Falaise and drummer Alexander MacSween. As Détroit duo, their debut album is called Horizons, out in November 2013. The debut single from the album is "Droit dans le soleil" taken from the album.

Discography

Albums

with Tanit
with Passion Fodder
with 16 Horsepower
with Lilium
with Wovenhand
Bertrand Cantat, Pascal Humbert, Bernard Falaise, Alexander MacSween
with Détroit

Singles

with 16 Horsepower
with Détroit

Various collaborations

References

  1. ↑ Rock made in France: Encyclopédie du Rock - Tanit