THE STORY
We are on Tuesday, April 8th, 1980, in front of the Sports center of Lyon, it is 8 pm, and in the line, Eric still ignores that the concert which he gets ready to see will be the biggest musical shock of his life. Within one hour, Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland are going to release their ardour and to take the public in this brilliant whirlwind of reggae-rock which they invented. Eric did not imagine either that this love at first sight would bring him to create much more late - in 2007 - a group in homage to the mythical trio of the English pop. This group will be called «THE SMOOTH SKINS» !
Shortly completed by Jihem on bass and vocals, and a first drummer who will be replaced in 2011 by Mathieu Lescuyer, the group quickly begins to occur on stage in the South of France, acquiring experiment and increasing public. Every concert confirms the implication of the three musicians in the reproduction of this definitively modern, powerful and varied music.
The interpretations of THE SMOOTH SKINS draw from the sound of the albums of THE POLICE, and also from the incredible live performances of the band, which are unique moments of inspiration and improvisation.
Born in France, Jihem lived its adolescence in the Antilles, what colored its musical culture in tints of «gwo-ka», the«compass», and made him attend the birth of the Zouk. Practising piano, guitar, bass and drums, he composes and sings in his first group - "Elixir" - at the age of 16. At the same time, he's introduced to the reggae by a band of the Dominica Island, in which he plays the keyboard.
Professional for more than 20 years, he occurs in bands or as a solo performer on various scenes.
Mathieu Lescuyer started playing the drums at the age of 11 and founded his first group to 13 ! In the 80's, he is drummer of the French rock band called "The Blessed Virgins", and he plays also with Graeme Allwright, Louis Bertignac (from the famous french rock band "Téléphone").
Vegan, enthusiast by all the arts and sports, he dedicates his life to explore the maximum of cultural universes, while giving drums lessons and by multiplying the musical experiences.
Guitarist of whom masters are The Edge (U2) and Andy Summers (The Police), Eric Villuendas is found of aerial sounds, as well as incisive riffs! Trained at the school of The Police, he is capable of chaining effortlessly the impossible arpeggios in Every Breath You Take or Message In A Bottle !
Having played in various bands, it is naturally that he decided to found The Smooth Skins, a group which fits like a glove to him !