Les BB

Background History

Patrick Bourgeois and François Jean were active in the 1980s as backing musicians. They played for the comedy troupe Rock et Belles Oreilles in 1986 and 1987, as well as for singer-songwriter Marie Carmen. They also participated with Carmen in Marc Drouin’s 1986 musical review Vis ta vinaigrette, performing as the “Les Beaux Blonds.” François Jean were later romantically involved for about a decade.

In 1989, the band was signed to La Maison de Disques Isba. The label was associated with a revival of French pop-rock in the late-1980s, including groups and singers like Nuance, Les Taches, Laymen Twaist, and Mitsou. Les BB was initially called “Patrick Bourgeois & Les Beaux Blonds.” This was then shortened to “Les B.B.” and finally to “Les BB” in 1989, when their self-titled debut album was released.

Career Highlights

The band’s debut album, Les BB (1989), was an instant hit. It was certified double platinum in Canada for selling more 200,000 copies. (See Music Canada Sales Certifications.) Three of its singles — “Loulou,” “Fais attention” and “T'es dans la lune” — performed well on the charts. The album was a major success at the 1990 Félix Awards. Less BB won for band of the year, performance of the year, and best rock album. The band was especially popular with young women. In 1990, Les BB opened for French singer Patrick Bruel at the Zénith in Paris.

In 1991, the band released the album, Snob. It was certified platinum in Canada for sales of more than 100,000 copies. Les BB also earned five nominations at the 1992 Félix Awards. They won for best band of the year. Like their debut album, Snob also produced three hit singles: “Snob,” “Donne-moi ma chance” and “Seul au combat.”

The band split from their record label in 1993 and moved to Les Disques Tox. It was with this label that they released their only live album, Une Nuit Avec Les B.B. (1993).

The band’s third album, 3 (1994), wasn’t quite as successful as their first two, though it still sold more than 50,000 copies and was certified gold in Canada. The band nonetheless at the Montreal Forum that year — an important milestone and accomplishment for any major Quebec act. Les BB broke up shortly afterward, in 1995.

Solo Projects

Each of the members attempted a solo career, though none were successful. Patrick Bourgeois released two solo albums in 1998 and 2001 and wrote the music for the film Karmina. He also hosted a Radio-Canada program called Fa Si La Chanter in 1997 and 1998 and worked in advertising for many years.

François Jean issued a solo rock album, Moi, in 1996. He told La Presse in a 2008 interview that he toured small blues clubs and that the album only sold 8,000 copies. Alain Lapointe, who had previously played keyboards with artists like Michel Pagliaro, briefly joined with the band Zone X after Les BB broke up. He later found work in a music store before becoming a music teacher for children with learning disabilities.

Reunion

In 2003, the band reunited and performed on Canadian Idol in the show’s debut season. The performance was well-received and encouraged the band to get back in the studio. They released their fourth album, Bonheur Facile, the following year. In 2008, they performed two hour-long sets at the FrancoFolies music festival in Montreal. The performances were highly anticipated and well-received. In an interview before the shows, François Jean told La Presse that he had struggled with drug use since the age of 13 and had tried a number of different therapies to address his drug problems

The band released their fifth album, Univers in 2011, though neither of their last two albums performed as well as their first three. A special 25th anniversary tribute album, Les BB 25 (2015), includes such special guests as Roch Voisine, Jean-Marc Couture, Mara Tremblay and Damien Robitaille. The album’s release also led to a tour across Quebec.

Patrick Bourgeois passed away in 2017, and François Jean died in 2020.

Family Connections

Patrick Bourgeois’s son Ludovick followed in his father’s footsteps, both in terms of singing and appearing on a televised singing contest. Ludovick won the 2017 edition of the singing contest La Voix. Ludovick released a solo album, and in the last few years of his father’s life, he accompanied him and the other members of Les BB onstage. At the 2015 edition of the FrancoFolies, they performed in front of 50,000 people.

Ludovick Bourgeois released four albums between 2017 and 2022.

Awards

Félix Awards

• Band of the Year (1990, 1992)
• Performance of the Year (1990)
• Best Rock Album (1990)

Discography

• Les BB (1989)
• Snob (1991)
• Une Nuit Avec Les B.B. (live album, 1993)
• 3 (1994)
• Bonheur Facile (2004)
• Univers (2011)