TC Matic
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1 January 1980 in Brussels, Belgium |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Brussels , Belgium |
Key people | Arno Hintjens (vocalist), Jean-Marie Aerts (guitarist) |
| Products | Music albums |
TC Matic (also written as T.C. Matic) was a rock ensemble from Belgium, established in Brussels in 1980. The group was primarily driven by vocalist Arno Hintjens and guitarist Jean-Marie Aerts, and was known for their "eurorock" genre, which fused elements of new wave, blues, funk, hard rock, avant-garde influences, and French chanson. Over their career, they produced four studio albums and enjoyed significant commercial acclaim before disbanding in 1986.
History
The roots of the band trace back to the duo Tjens-Couter, consisting of Arno Hintjens and guitarist Paul Couter, who performed rhythm and blues starting in the early 1970s. By 1977, the lineup had grown to include Ferre Baelen on bass, Rudy Cloet on drums, and Serge Feys handling keyboards, resulting in two album releases: Who Cares (1975) and Plat du Jour (1978). In 1980, the group adopted the name TC Matic, inspired by Yugoslav poet Dušan Matić. Shortly thereafter, Paul Couter was replaced by Jean-Marie Aerts, who contributed extensively to songwriting and produced their first three records. Their self-titled debut album TC Matic drew comparisons to bands such as Killing Joke and Gang of Four. Early Belgian chart successes included the tracks "Oh La La La" (1981) and "Putain putain" from their 1983 album Choco.
In 1984, Dutch bassist Michael Peet took over from Ferre Baelen. The band embarked on a European tour in 1985 as the opening act for Simple Minds, showcasing that Belgian acts could attain international commercial recognition. Their last studio effort, Ye Ye (1985), was produced by Howard Gray. The group dissolved in 1986.
After the breakup
Following the split, Arno Hintjens launched a solo career under the name Arno, continuing to collaborate with Jean-Marie Aerts, who shifted his focus mainly to producing records for artists such as Jo Lemaire and Urban Dance Squad. Additionally, former TC Matic members Rudy Cloet (drums) and Serge Feys (keyboards) also participated in these projects.
Members
- Arno Hintjens – lead vocals
- Jean-Marie Aerts – guitar
- Ferre Baelen – bass guitar (1980–1984)
- Rudy Cloet – drums
- Serge Feys – keyboards
- Michael Peet – bass guitar (1984–1986)
Discography
- TC Matic (1981)
- L'Apache (1982)
- Choco (1983)
- Putain Putain (1983)
- Ye Ye (1985)