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    Billy Bao
    Billy Bao

    Spanish experimental/noise-punk/free improv band, established in late 2004 by Basque experimental musician Mattin and a mysterious Nigerian refugee Billy Bao (with very scarce biographical details and no Billy's photos available, it's arguably a fictitious alias). Billy Bao ensemble featured [url=https://discogs.com/artist/1187671]Alberto López Martin[/url] on drums, Xabier Erkizia and Anla Courtis on guitars, and Pablo Reche (electronics), among others.


    In 2005, Mattin's private imprint W.M.O./r presented the band's debut [url=https://discogs.com/release/532554]7" single[/url] and [url=https://discogs.com/release/594241]CD album[/url]. Since then, Billy Bao released seven full-length albums and various EPs, cassettes, 7" singles and CD-Rs. Some of the notable labels that featured the band include Parts Unknown Records (New Jersey) and S-S Records (California) in the USA, [url=https://discogs.com/label/132937]PAN[/url] (Berlin, Germany), Parts Unknown Records and Parts Unknown Records in Spain, Parts Unknown Records (Macedonia) and [url=https://discogs.com/label/118896]Afterburn Records[/url] (Australia).

    "When I came from Lagos (Nigeria) to San Francisco (Bilbao), life was tough here or there.
    I did not mind, I had a purpose in my life: to fight the system that fucks up everyday of our life. Back in my hometown, I was an unknown songwriter.
    But, as soon as I arrived to the streets of Bilbao, I discovered Punk Rock.
    It had energy and attitude and was exactly what I needed.
    Next thing was to get a band.
    I found out the most primitive drummer in Bilbao, Alberto Lopez (ex-La Secta, ex-Yogur, ex-Atom-Rhumba), and the noisiest guitarrists around, Mattin & Xabier Erkizia (ex-Gutariko Bat). The band was formed under my
    name, it could not have been any other way.
    These songs go beyond what rock and roll is and what it could be, in fact they are:
    The degeneration of Rock&Roll against the regeneration
    of Bilbao.
    "

    Billy Bao
    Bilbao, Dec 2004

    Data provided by Discogs