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Short History, Discography & Links

History

Ever since the beginning of the eighties, when his career took a start with the self-produced home-made album "Taking Snapshots", the enlightened musical spirit of Luc VAN ACKER stood out like the proverbial fish on a bicycle. First in his hometown Tienen (Belgium), where a teenager pulling guitar strings and fiddling the knobs of synthesizers was considered a parish renegade; later in the midst of a wave of homegrown Belgian rock too conservative for its own good and through various projects that established his name on an international level.

A bit of a recluse, Luc in his early days operated from the basement under his parents' china shop, where with the aid of a 4-track tape machine he concocted a special brand of avant-anarcho-techno loud enough to make the goods upstairs rattle and to attract a crowd of followers. Amongst them Jean-Marie AERTS, producer and guitarist of TC MATIC, who would coach the recordings for the mindblowing EP "Fear In My Heart", raw and vitriolic outburst of energy. Luc at that time displayed an intense interest in the Buddhist faith, and during a stay in Tibet he was impressed by the ascetic lifestyle of the local monks and their use of music as a means of purification. "Zas" embodied the Buddhist principles of repetition, trance and, ultimately, catharsis.

The man and his reputation started to travel, at home as well as abroad. VAN ACKER recorded with compatriots RED ZEBRA and Jo LEMAIRE and took part in the making of POLYPHONIC SIZE's debut album "Live For Each Moment" as musician and co-producer (Sharing credits with Jean-Jacques BURNEL). At one of their gigs, he made the acquaintance of SHRIEKBACK and became a contributing member of the group, while EMI signed him as a solo artist. The album "Luc Van Acker", containing classic songs as "The Ship", "Wild And Angry" and "Zanna" (A duet with New York chanteuse Anna DOMINO) resulted in worldwide appreciation and media coverage. Never content with easy action, Luc however continued to broaden his horizons. With Al JOURGENSEN (MINISTRY) and Richard 23 (FRONT 242) he set up REVOLTING COCKS, he collaborated with SHRIEKBACK-bassplayer Dave ALLEN in NOISE ABROAD, and in Belgium teamed up with the successful duo ARBEID ADELT! (Jan VANROELEN and Marcel VANTHILT).

Luc's contemplative and searching nature in 1986 urges him to take time off for another ethno-musical venture: under the influence of THE RESIDENTS "Eskimo" album, he travels to the Antarctic to study the ritual music of the eskimos. His growing awareness of eco-political issues leads him to his contribution to "Animal Liberation", an album compiled by the American association People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. And he records several songs with THREE ANGRY POLES, an electro-trash unit consisting of himself, Jean-Marc LEDERMAN (THE WEATHERMEN) and Dee Jee (LA MUERTE). He is then also much in demand as a producer (WON TON TON, THE NEON JUDGEMENT, ...) and divides his time between Europe and America, where tours with REVOLTING COCKS blossom into mad safaris involving disgraceful conduct, large quantities of illegal substances and deranged sexual behaviour.

In 1989 Luc sets up his own label WORLD DOMINATION, and produces and releases albums by the English collective MUSSOLINI HEADKICK and DANCEABLE WEIRD SHIT (Of which he is a part). When ARBEID ADELT! reform in 1991, Luc again takes up his place in the spotlight of public attention. Watch out for the next stage in this story of a man and his music.

(Source: Catalogue inner notes - 1992)

Discography

THE FEAR IN MY HEART (12")
The Fear In My Heart - Jump And Shout

ZAS BUDDHIST (MLP)
Samadhi - Buharata - Matasohito - Dohan

Links

Official Luc VAN ACKER site
Luc VAN ACKER fan site