The Honeymoon Killers (Belgian band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Yvon Vromman, J.F Jones Jacob, Gérald Fenerberg |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Brussels , Belgium |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Honeymoon Killers emerged as a Belgian experimental rock ensemble, established in 1974 by Yvon Vromman, J.F Jones Jacob, and Gérald Fenerberg. Primarily active in Brussels during their early years, their sound combined elements from rockabilly, punk, French chanson, and free jazz.
Initially performing under the name Les Tueurs de la lune de miel (the French translation of "The Honeymoon Killers"), they released their first album, Special Manubre, in 1977. This debut was produced by Marc Moulin for his Kamikaze label.
By 1980, the band’s roster grew to include Vincent Kenis and Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul, along with vocalist Véronique Vincent. Their 1981 European tour coincided with commercial recognition, particularly following their rendition of Charles Trenet's "Route Nationale 7," which achieved significant radio and television airplay in France and Belgium. The follow-up album, Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel, garnered widespread praise across Germany, France, and the UK. It notably earned a 1982 NME cover story—a rare distinction for groups not performing in English. During the 1980s, transgender hardcore trailblazer Liza 'N' Eliaz also became part of the lineup.
Their live shows incorporated pre-recorded drum machine loops combined with live instrumentation including guitar, bass, drums, percussion, organ, and alternating vocals shared by Vromman and Vincent. Certain compositions extended up to 20 minutes and were marked by characteristic dub echo effects.
The band dissolved in 1985; Yvon Vromman died in 1989. The album Les Tueurs De La Lune De Miel was honored as the "best Belgian rock album ever" by the Belgian magazine Mofo and ranked among the top ten Belgian albums by Le Vif/L'Express in 2008.
In 2012, the UK publication The Guardian featured their track Décollage within its list "The History of Belgian Pop in 10 Songs," emphasizing the band’s innovative fusion of indie pop, jazz, and African rhythms as embodying a spirit akin to Talking Heads without direct imitation.
In 2014, Véronique Vincent and Marc Hollander issued Ex-Futur Album under the name Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul with The Honeymoon Killers, presenting early 1980s recordings involving Vincent Kenis and other members. Additionally, the album Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel was re-released on vinyl in 2016.
Véronique Vincent passed away on 5 October 2025 at the age of 68.
Discography
- Spécial Manubre (vinyl LP, Kamikaze, 1977; reissued on CD by Crammed Discs, 2009)
- Route Nationale 7/Histoire à Suivre (7" single, Crammed Discs, 1981)
- Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel (vinyl LP, Crammed Discs, 1982; reissued 2016)
- Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel CD edition with eight bonus tracks (Crammed Discs, 2003)
- Décollage (7" single, Crammed Discs, 1982)
- Subtitled Remix (12" vinyl EP, Crammed Discs, 1983; included in CD reissue of second album)
External links
- The Honeymoon Killers. The Belgian Pop & Rock Archives
- The Honeymoon Killers on the Crammed Discs site