Nicolas Moog
musician, author, cartoonist
Arnaud Le Gouëfflec
novelist, comic book writer, musician

United Mutations: When I mentioned (and ordered) this book a couple of days ago, I expected it to be some sort of pocket sized book... Was I wrong... "Undergound" is a large (24 x 32 cm), hardcover bound book that counts over 300 pages. It's all bandes dessinées. It's a gigantic comic book presenting short stories about the musical artists that made an everlasting impression on the authors, Arnaud Le Gouëfflec (writer) and Nicolas Moog (artist).
Quite some familiar sounding names in there, as well as lots of names that need some investigation. The Residents, Sun Ra, Raymond Scott, Merrell Fankhauser, Eugene Chadbourne, Captain Beefheart,... But also: Colette Magny, Tall Dwarfs, Eliane Radigue,... The book kicks off with a 5-page story on Moondog, the New York Viking.
I decided to read this book while listening to some of the artists' music. I assume it's intended to do it like this. I'm already convinced that there are quite some discoveries to be made.
There is no story about Frank Zappa in the book. He does appear or is mentioned in some of the other stories, though. (The Residents, Captain Beefheart, Raymond Scott.)

Jean-Jacque Birgé: A Volume 2 is announced for 2025 which will expand the selection, and Vivre Libre ou Mourir, Punk et Rock Alternatif en France, 1981 - 1989 will be published by then!

List of artists in the book

Moondog, Daniel Johnston, Colette Magny, The Residents, Sun Ra, Tall Dwarfs, Kevin Coyne, Yma Sumac, Sky Saxon, Jonathan Richman, Éliane Radigue, John Fahey, Raymond Scott, Boris Vian, Giant Sand, Chris Black, XIXA, Golden Boots, The Cramps, Merrell Fankhauser, Lydia Lunch, Can, Neu!, Kraftwerk, Faust, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Alex Chilton, Nico, Billy Childish, Nurse with Wound, Eugene Chadbourne, Crass, Captain Beefheart, Brigitte Fontaine, Lee Hazlewood, Kim Fowley, Dub, Patti Smith, Un Drame Musical Instantané, Black metal, Les Légions Noires, Townes Van Zandt, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Ivers.

Links

Arnaud Le Gouëfflec
Nicolas Moog
Casbah Records: Interview with Arnaud Le Gouëfflec

Bookshops

Glenat
Decitre
amazon.fr

Jean-Jacque Birgé: The English version of Underground, the wonderful comic book by Arnaud Le Gouëfflec and Nicolas Moog, cannot compete with the French original, but it has the considerable advantage of radiating all over the planet. The format is much smaller, and I preferred Michka Assayas' preface to Michael Moorcock's. On the other hand, Edward Gauvin's translation and Lauren Bowes' lettering seemed faithful to me.

Bookshops

amazon.com US
forbiddenplanet.com UK