Campag Velocet
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Pete Voss |
| Products | Belts |
| Owner | Pete Voss |
Campag Velocet was a British rock ensemble that gained recognition during the late 1990s.
Career
Originating in London in early 1993, the group’s musical approach was shaped by influences such as Primal Scream, Public Image Ltd, Gang of Four, Spacemen 3, and Public Enemy. They were linked to the indie dance scene alongside contemporaries like Regular Fries. Their name appears to be inspired by the Campagnolo bicycle component, which is echoed in their cycling-related visual themes. Additionally, their language and imagery were heavily influenced by Nadsat, the invented slang featured in Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange. The track "Drencrom Velocet Synthmesc" incorporates Nadsat terminology for psychoactive substances, with excerpts shown in the opening sequence of the film adaptation.
The band consisted of Pete Voss on vocals, Ian Cater handling guitars, keyboards, and programming, Barnaby "Barney" Slater on bass, and Lascelles Lascelle covering drums, percussion, and samples.
Their first album, Bon Chic Bon Genre (1999), generated three singles: "To Lose La Trek," "Vito Satan," and "Drencrom [Velocet Synthmesc]." The latter was selected as NME's single of the week. In February 2000, "Vito Satan" reached number 75 on the UK Singles Chart. NME acclaimed them as the top new British band, featuring them on their 1999 cover and positioning them above Coldplay on the 2000 NME Tour lineup. Despite critical praise early on, disappointing sales resulted in the loss of their recording deal.
Subsequently, they signed with Pointy Records and released their sophomore album, It's Beyond Our Control, in 2004. This record included singles such as "Who Are The Trumping Men" and "Ain't No Funki Tangerine," which received a range of critical responses.
Campag Velocet dissolved in 2005. Following this, Voss established The Count in 2006 and now runs Voss Belts, a company specializing in belt production.
Discography
Albums
- Bon Chic Bon Genre (1999)
- It's Beyond Our Control (2004)