Les Reines Prochaines


Les Reines Prochaines are a collectively organised pop band and performance group based in Basel, Switzerland. Their highly lyrical songs are rooted in various genres, including tango, folk, and classical music.

History

Les Reines Prochaines were founded in 1987 as Les Reines des Couteaux by Teresa Alonso, Regina Florida Schmid, and Muda Mathis; in the following year, they were joined by Fränzi Madörin and Pipilotti Rist. Years later, Gabi Streiff, Sus Zwick, Sibylle Hauert, Michèle Fuchs, and Barbara Naegelin joined as well.
Touring members have included percussionist Dave Kerman, who also appeared on their 2013 release Blut.
2019 thy were honoured with the Swiss Music Award.

Musical style

The group started as a synth-only band. At present the musicians play bass, drums, accordion, guitar, clarinet, trompette, and flute. In spite of this their arrangements are quite minimalistic, incorporated into a larger multimedia framework. Their lyrics are poetic and political, and often quite provocative. In their performances, each musician has a unique role; instruments are traded, and the format shifts between song, dance, and spoken word.
Their repertoire includes a number of cover songs, including Opfer dieses Liedes and Evening, a sparse cover of the Rolling Stones' As Tears Go By.

Concerts on tour

  • 1987: Engel haben nie weit, Opera and Concertprogram, Les Reines des Couteaux: Regina Florida Schmid, Teresa Alonso, Muda Mathis
  • 1988/89: Zorniges Lamm, multimedia performance, open air in the Bassin of the old Stückfärberei, Basel and concert programme, Les Reines Prochaines: Teresa Alonso, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Regina Florida Schmid, Pipilotti Rist
  • 1989: Die Tempodrosslerin saust, with: Teresa Alonso, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Regina Florida Schmid, Pipilotti Rist, technician: Roli Frei
  • 1990/9: Seien sie Flugdame!, with: Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Regina Florida Schmid, Gabi Streiff, Pipilotti Rist, technician: Sus Zwick
  • 1991/92: Komm mit mir auf's Floss, with: Muda Mathis, Fränzi Madörin, Piplotti Rist, Gabi Streiff, technician: Sus Zwick
  • 1993/94: Lob Ehre Ruhm Dank, with: Muda Mathis, Fränzi Madörin, Piplotti Rist, Gabi Streiff, technician: Sus Zwick
  • 1994/95: Les Reines Prochaines wollen ihre Welt vergrössern, with: Sibylle Hauert, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Gaby Streiff, technician: Sus Zwick
  • 1995/96: Le coeur en beurre doublegras, with: Sibylle Hauert, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Gaby Streiff,technician: Sus Zwick
  • 1997: Sandale Haus Pfirsich Brot, performance on tour, by and with Sibylle Hauert, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Sus Zwick
  • 1998/99: Les Reines Prochaines gehen in die Tiefe, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Sus Zwick, Technik: Barbara Naegelin
  • 2000/01: Das schlaue Mammut tobt oder die sieben Stufen des Glücks, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Sus Zwick together with Nathalie Persillier & Lily Besily, anyaffair Sibylle Hauert, Daniel Reichmuth, technician: Barbara Naegelin
  • 2002/03: Es gibt immer was zu tun – Protest und Vasen, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Barbara Naegelin, Sus Zwick, technician: Tina Z'Rotz
  • 2004/05/06: Halluzination, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Barbara Naegelin, Sus Zwick, audio technology and set Tina Z'Rotz
  • 2006/07/08: Fest der Organe, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Barbara Naegelin, Sus Zwick
  • 2009/10/11: Vol d’art – der Kunstraub, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Sus Zwick
  • 2013/14/15: Blut – Syrup Of Life, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis und Sus Zwick
  • 2015/16/17: Fremde Torten im falschen Paradies, with: Michèle Fuchs, Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis und Sus Zwick
  • 2018/19/20/21/22: Schildkrötenritt, with: Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Sus Zwick
  • 2022/2023: Rubination, with: Fränzi Madörin, Muda Mathis, Sus Zwick
  • 2023: Late-Night zum Ring-Festival with: Marcel Schwald, Jonas Gillmann and Les Reines Prochaines, Theatre Basel

    Discography

  • 1990: Jawohl, sie kann's. Sie hat's geschafft.,
  • 1993: Lob Ehre Ruhm.,
  • 1995: Le coeur en beurre double gras,
  • 1999: Alberta
  • 2003: Protest und Vasen.,
  • 2005: Starke Kränze.,
  • 2013: Blut.,
  • 2017: Schlafen ist individuelle Anarchie.,
  • 2020: Zu unserer Verfassung.,
  • 2021: Let's sing Arbeiterin*!.,
  • 2024: Scissor*hood, Album unrecord

    Film

  • Claudia Willke. Les Reines Prochaines – Alleine denken ist kriminell. Documentary DE/CH, 2012, 77 minutes.