Camera Silens

Camera Silens

Company type	Punk band
Industry	Music
Founded	1981
Defunct	1988
Headquarters	Bordeaux , France
Products	Music albums, singles, demos

Camera Silens was a punk group originating from Bordeaux, France, active from 1981 until 1988.

The band's vocalist and bassist, Gilles Bertin, was involved in a bank heist in Toulouse on 27 April 1988, during which nearly 12 million francs were stolen. Bertin managed to avoid arrest for 28 years before eventually turning himself in.

Origins (1980–1982)

During the summer of 1980, Gilles Bertin encountered Benoît Destriau at Philippe’s flat located near Place Saint-Projet in Bordeaux. At that time, the Saint-Pierre neighborhood was known both for its marginalized youth population and the early stages of gentrification. The band members, former students from Lycée Camille Jullian with a rebellious streak, established their base at café Le Chiquito. Their musical style drew inspiration from British punk bands such as Stiff Little Fingers, UK Subs, and The Damned, as well as reggae and ska influences. They often traveled to England to immerse themselves in the punk culture.

The name Camera Silens alludes to solitary confinement cells used for prisoners affiliated with the Red Army Faction. Their generation, shaped by the aftermath of the 1979 oil crisis, identified with militant groups like the RAF, IRA, Red Brigades, and Basque ETA due to geographical proximity.

In 1982, the trio secured victory at the inaugural Rockotone contest held during Boulevard du Rock at the Grand Parc community center in Bordeaux, sharing honors with the then up-and-coming band Noir Désir. While Noir Désir declined the recording opportunity offered as a prize, Camera Silens took advantage by producing a demo at Toulouse’s Deltour Studio. Their song Pour la Gloire emerged as a defining anthem. Producer Patrice Blanc-Francard selected them for participation in a television feature focused on Bordeaux’s punk-oi! scene.

Despite enduring difficult circumstances—including squatting, substance abuse challenges, unpaid rents, equipment difficulties, and legal issues culminating in Gilles’s incarceration—Camera Silens became a cornerstone of Bordeaux’s punk environment alongside groups like Brigades, Parfum de Femme, and Strychnine.

Performances were infrequent; however, their notoriety expanded rapidly. Didier joined as their road manager and organizer, aiding in professionalizing their operations. A memorable show in Sauveterre-de-Guyenne drew a passionate crowd of punks and skinheads who frequently accompanied them on tours—although this loyal following sometimes restricted their reach beyond Bordeaux. Their confrontational image functioned as both an advantage and an obstacle; efforts to experiment with rhythm and blues and reggae styles in 1986 encountered opposition due to their firmly established hardcore reputation.

Emergence (1983–1984)

The year 1983 proved to be a turning point characterized by both validation and turmoil. The Irish group The Outcasts toured France, with Camera Silens serving as their opening act. Songs such as Pour la gloire and Réalité were featured on influential compilations, broadening their audience reach. In May, the departure of Philippe posed a significant threat to the band's continuity amid escalating drug-related and financial difficulties. The situation worsened in autumn when Gilles was imprisoned, intensifying the crisis. Benoît, the sole remaining founding member, contemplated disbanding despite the arrival of new members: bassist Éric (formerly of Eject) and manager Jean-Marc Gouaux.

A crucial performance took place on 26 October at Boulevard du Rock in Eysines, where Camera Silens shared the stage with prominent French alternative bands Oberkampf and Les Coronados. Although the lineup faced instability and Gilles's absence was felt, Benoît's delivery received strong audience support, enhancing the band's reputation both locally and nationally.

Throughout 1984, Camera Silens reinforced their standing within the French music scene by performing regularly and contributing to various compilations. With Gilles returning from incarceration to concentrate on vocals, the ensemble—comprising Benoît, Éric, and newcomer drummer Bruno (ex-Brigades)—solidified into a more cohesive four-piece. The band thrived within the dynamic oi! and street punk communities in Brest and Le Havre, sharing stages with notable acts such as Reich Orgasm, Single Track, Conflict, Brutal Combat, London Cowboys, and twice alongside their favored French band La Souris Déglinguée. Their presence gained momentum particularly through fanzine coverage.

The Chaos Festival held on 20 October in Orléans, infamous for clashes between skinheads and security personnel, underscored growing tensions between a right-leaning skinhead faction and punk audiences; fans from Bordeaux attended in large numbers. Their song Semaine Rouge appeared on the compilation Chaos en France vol. 2 released in June 1984. As creators of this track, Camera Silens aimed to secure rights and produce their debut album with Chaos Productions. Recording sessions commenced in August at Studio du Manoir located in Léon, Landes, where ten tracks were professionally recorded using a 24-track setup.

Nevertheless, financial challenges related to professional requirements—particularly SACEM registration—strained Chaos Productions’ resources, leading to a suspension of collaboration. With album release postponed, the band decided to co-produce alongside Studio du Manoir but lacked sufficient funds for pressing records. Establishing direct communication with New Rose proved pivotal: Patrick Mathé agreed to finance a pressing of 3,000 copies and oversee distribution. This partnership represented a significant milestone in advancing the band's commercial trajectory.