Stereo Total

I was going through old photos and came across a photo of a ticketstub of Stereo Total (with Momus) at 7th Street Entry for November 3, 2001. 21+ and standing room #26 for $10.

I have no memory of this show, so it’s possible that, based on the unused/untorn ticket, that I did not go. You see, back in those days, I had purchased the ticket months in advance, and plans and things have changed. I believe at this time, I had a friend visit and stayed with me and we may have gone out during the day, and the simple fact was that I just forgotten about the show until it was too late.

Of course, since then, I’ve seen Stereo Total headlined the Triple Rock Social Club in May 2005, and I’ve previously seen Momus at the 400 Bar in Nov 1999… but it would have been really cool to see both musicians performed on the same bill.

I’m not sure I was a massive Stereo Total (didn’t even know their name is pronounced “stereo tow-tal”) back in 2001, but I love whatever I heard from the Berlin-based band. Before Stereo Total, Françoise Cactus was the French drummer of Les Lolitas. They did pretty well, playing the USA in the early 90s and world tour… until they broke up in 1992.

According to Françoise, the secret origin of Stereo Total was meeting Brezel “Prezel” Göring in front of a bakery in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin. They had a list of criteria for their new Stereo Total project, which includes no instrumentals costing more than $50 (or £25?) and their lyrics should be multi-language, and absolutely no contemporary (modern) style. Their goal was not to be pick up by a major label, but rather serve a small niche, but passionate music label. Their sound? It should sound like a weird fleamarket.

Despite trying to sound like a cheap vinyl, Stereo Total created this weird electropop, electroclash, very DIY music style. It wasn’t just the music style, but I felt like perhaps the same rules were applied to their clothing fashion! Their top and bottom certain clash in a weird fashion style that came from the 50s and 60s.

As you know, I was heartbroken to hear that Françoise died of breast cancer February 2021, at the age of 56. I wrote, “the music world barely noticed.” It still rings true, I don’t think Stereo Total touch many fans, but, in some ways, I don’t think Françoise ever wanted to be worshipped as a superstar… although as I’m reading online, I guess Stereo Total had big success in Japan (everything’s big in Japan!), Brazil, and the USA.