The Inspector Cluzo

When they’re not on tour all over the world (they have played in about 40 different countries so far), Laurent Lacrouts and Mathieu Jourdain run an organic farm in southwestern France, in the Gascony area, where they breed geese. This is not your average rock band. These gentlemen farmers apply their artisan DIY ethics to their music career: they started their own record label and they prefer being their own managers. Their band name, The Inspector Cluzo, is a reference to Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the famous protagonist in Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther films. As band members, Laurent and Mathieu have chosen aliases: they become Malcom and Phil, playing guitar and drums respectively – hence the name of their label, Fuckthebassplayer Records. In the great tradition of bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys, they work as a duo and don’t need any help from a bass player, thank you very much.

Since they started the band in 2008, the two friends have released six albums, based around rock and blues, but also exploring funk and groove music. This year, they celebrate their tenth anniversary with a new album called We The People of The Soil. They recorded it in Nashville with Vance Powell, the American producer whose masterpieces include works by Jack White (with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, or solo), Seasick Steve, Arctic Monkeys, etc. Even when they make songs in a different country, they remain true to their principles with a thunderous energy and a raw sound. Long live the “rockfarmers”!

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