Biography dirk Blanchart
last update September 1998

"One of Belgium's most consistent and best kept musical pearls. Quality guaranteed ... ."
from OOR's MUZIEKENCYCLOPEDIE, Amsterdam 1996

Once More / Luna Twist (1980-1984)
dB solo with Statik / UK (1984-1988)
dB in Krautland (1989-1991)
I'm on a fab label now, my future is bound (1992-1996)
dB in Dutch (1998-???)
dB as producer
dB on the stage

°February 18, 1958, Ghent

1980-1984 : Once More / Luna Twist

dB is first heard of when he joins Once More in 1980. With them he records the album 'Stress conference' in London, with Jean-Marie Aerts as producer.
At the end of 1980 the band is reshuffled and named Luna Twist, at the time one of Belgiums most promising pop groups with excellent singles (African Time, Look out ...) and an highly acclaimed album 'A different smell from the same perfume'. Intelligent pop songs, hypnotizing rhythms, a (for the time) sharp and clean self-production. The band has an impressive live-reputation and has played about 300 concerts in 4 years. In 1982 the band played as an opener for Roxy Music at Vorst Nationaal, encores included, with a wildly enthousiastic press afterwards.

In April 1998 'The Original Recordings 1981/1983', or the complete and collected recordings of Luna Twist (16 songs) was released on cd (in the Masters Series of Mercury / Polygram) for the first time. According to Humo "the best of that period saved for oblivion."

1984-1986 : dB solo at Statik (UK)

In 1984, dirk Blanchart finds a recording home as a solo-artist with the English Statik-label. The well-known singles 'Fool yourself forever', 'Cockpit' and 'I don't mind (if the sputnik lands)' are the results of this. The videoclip for this last song was about the first clip of a Belgian artist to be aired frequently on MTV America. The 12" version climbed up the American dance-charts. His first solo-LP, the exciting 'Europe Blue' of 1985 received almost unanimous approval.

Partly due to the bankrupcy of Satik in 1986, the predicted international breakthrough doesn't follow. dB is forced to abide by his contract and remains inactive for 18 months. He fills his days with producing Elisa Waut (the ep 'Elisa Waut' and cd 'Commedia', for many their best known album with the hitsingle Four times more).

1988-1991 : dB in Krautland

At the end of 1987, Blanchart suddenly re-emerges with the single and 12" 'Railway Tracks' for the German label BMG-Ariola. They also release his second album 'About the rain' (the album will be released on cd in the spring of 1999, together with 'Europe Blue', on his own label !) and sign him as an artist. This would result in 'Mama Luba', a very consistent and well-written album with The Groove Quartet featuring Patrick Riguelle, Piet Van den Heuvel & Mich Van Hautem. Some of the highlights from the BMG-period : 'No regrets', 'The magical moon', 'Heart beats faster','Talkin' about the rain' .

1992-1996 :
'I'M ON A FAB LABEL NOW, FORTUNE IS BOUND..'
(from 'Letter to Alex')

At the end of 1991, dB makes a move to EMI who release in that order 'Blow', 'The best of Blanchart' en 'Mindsurfin''. As Humo wrote in a review of his 'Best of' in 1993 : « That dirk Blanchart hasn't produced one single record that was less than good in all his career (18 years since his first paid concert, 10 from the start of his solo career) is unique even by international standards ... ».

The 1995 cd 'Mindsurfin'' gets recorded partly in New York with among others Chris Whitley, Sarah Bettens (K's Choice), the New York Preservation Gospel Choir and Guo Yue (Chinese fluitist, guest at the Belgian Night of the Proms in 1996). The single 'It's about time (that the future begins)' becomes a radio-hit on Belgian radio, a good fortune that also befell 'L'amour ça va' and 'Building an empire' (from 'Blow').

1998-??? : dB in Dutch

With the programme "Vrij Vertaald" ("translated freely") and a repertoire of songs in Dutch (translations of his own songs, some covers and some new songs with a little bit of help on the lyrics by belgian writers and musicians such as Herman Brusselmans, Hugo Mathysen and Luc De Vos ) he has toured the country and has performed at a series of festivals (Boterhammen in het Park, Gentse Feesten Koornmarkt, Nekka 1998) during the last year. The result of this can now be found in the record stores on the cd 'Schietstoel' (Oorwoud / VIA Records cat. OOR 2298012).

dB as a producer

Apart from producing his own recordings, dirk Blanchart has also produced for groups such as Elisa Waut (2 cd's), Richenel, Kloot Perwez, The Sunriders, Ivan's Land, Arthur Ebeling (NL), Blanc de Blanc, The Rezistance, He Bit Me (with Jo Bogaert), Stormdaisy, Frank & the Face, Chrome Yellow ( 3rd Humo's Rock Rally 1998) ...

He also has contributed to the Flemish films 'Boys' (production of the song 'Coco') and 'De Zevende Hemel' (idem 'Tears on my pillow'), has programmed for Alain Bashung (FR) and has written songs for other artists (such as the song Waterdrager on the Clouseau-cd 'Oker', 1994).

Being a renowned songwriter/musician/producer, dB also has given workshops and initiation courses such as at the Centre of Amateur Arts (1 week songwriting, zomer 1994), Rockschool Antwerpen (juni 1997), the musical project Artiboko for youngsters (Koning Boudewijnstichting 1990)..

dB on the stage

His concerts, in trio "electrically unplugged" (such as his current group Ménage à 3), with The Groove Quartet (from 1990 to 1992) or with a full band always get a lot of approval. He has opened for acts such as Crowded House, Tim Finn (both in Utrecht, 1993), Tears for Fears (Luna 1997) and has stood on almost every stage in Belgium. He can also take credit for bringing a lot of new talent to the spotlight in one of his live-bands and/or recordings, such as was the case with Eric Melaerts (1985), Patrick Riguelle (1988), Vincent Pierins (1993).

Booking & Management
THE HEART & SOUL Co. :
+32 (0)9/2276588 (tel & fax)
email : dirkblanchart@pandora.be