page_title: Signal Aout 42
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: Signal Aout 42 / Background
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Die Band Signal Aout 42 auf dem Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2016 im Stadtbad in Leipzig. Polski: Zespół Signal Aout 42 na Wave-Gotik-Treffen w Stadtbad w Lipsku w 2016 r.
context_page_description: Signal Aout 42, also known as SA42, is a Belgian electronic music band. Initially active in the 1980s, the band became known for producing music in the EBM and industrial styles of electronic music, but into and through the 1990s also incorporated techno, acid, and trance styles. The band became active again in the late 2000s after a decade long hiatus.
context_section_description: When they started, back in 1981, Signal Aout 42 (which was simply called SIGNAL) was the project of a bunch of schoolmates (Jacky Meurisse, Damien and Luc Vandamme) who decided to get on stage to have fun and play improvised gigs.
  In fact they didn’t have proper compositions but they were more like audio and visual performances (industrial noises, chainsaw, metal barrels…played to rhythms generated by drum machines and synthetic sound atmospheres, the whole thing being made in a DIY style, tinkering around with homemade or borrowed instruments.
  Over the years and performances, and due to many jokes about the name « Signal » (which was also the name of a famous brand of toothpaste), Signal changed its name to Signal Aout 42 (translated: Signal August '42), in connection with the date during the Second World War when the German propaganda publication "Signal" was first released, whose front cover was used for the posters announcing their concerts.
  With his first salary in 1985, Jacky Meurisse bought a bit of equipment, including the famous TB-303 (Bass Line by Roland) and TR-606, which enabled them to write the first tracks worthy of the name: Pleasure and crime, lovely trees that fortunately were released as 12″ singles by Disco Smash : the maxi single was an immediate hit in underground clubs worldwide !
  Pleasure and crime still is a true EBM (Electronic Body Music) classic today.
  After the success of the first single, he got back into composing for a new 12″ single « Girls of Vlandereen », actually it was a nod to his wife who is of Flemish origin.
  This maxi single also quickly became a true classic in this genre.
  The success of these two records naturally lead to the writing of an album. This first opus was called « Pro patria » and remains as a cult record in the mind of alternative electronic music fans.
  Being a pioneer in the EBM and New Beat style allowed me to work on several projects such as AMNESIA that were quite successful at the time .
  So in 1988 it was a natural move for him to invest in a recording studio and he became a professional musician.Thus he could give himself the means to create new tracks for SA42. The studio was located on 22 rue du Fort in Comines. By the way that’s where I composed the smash hit « Le Dormeur » for one of his side projects that was more charts oriented, Pleasure Game.
  It’s also the place where the second album « Contrast » saw the light of day as well as the 12″ singles « Submarine dance » « To talk nonsense » « The right thing » and « Carnaval » which all became EBM New Beat classic tunes.
  At that time Signal Aout 42 was composed of Damien Vandamme who gave constructive ideas and who was in charge of visuals (graphics,record sleeves…) for the band, Jean Luc Szekanecz who took part to the writing of a couple of 12″ singles and to a few gigs, and Luc Vandamme for live percussions.
  From 1990 to 1995, Jacky Meurisse relocated the studio and worked exclusively for Disco Smash-Blackout Records and wrote several successful tracks for side projects (well…had to make a living) like PLEASURE GAME,LE PARK, DJPC,AMNESIA,BORIS…while keeping his passion for SA42 and I released a 3rd album « Conviction ».
  In 2007 after a hiatus of 10 years SA42 is back with a 4th album "Transformation"
  In 2010, the 5th album « Vae Victis » and in 2013 6th album "Inspiration" completed the discography.
caption: Jacky Meurisse at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in 2016
exif: {"Image Make": "Canon", "Image Model": "Canon EOS 6D", "Image XResolution": "6170", "Image YResolution": "6170", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.6 (Macintosh)", "Image DateTime": "2016:10:30 08:13:41", "Image Artist": "Ralf Lotys", "Image Copyright": "Ralf Lotys", "Image ExifOffset": "268", "GPS GPSVersionID": "[2, 3, 0, 0]", "GPS GPSLatitudeRef": "N", "GPS GPSLatitude": "[51, 105743/5000, 0]", "GPS GPSLongitudeRef": "E", "GPS GPSLongitude": "[12, 225693/10000, 0]", "GPS GPSAltitudeRef": "0", "GPS GPSAltitude": "1081/10", "GPS GPSTimeStamp": "[17, 54, 8951/1000]", "GPS GPSSatellites": "11", "GPS GPSStatus": "V", "GPS GPSDOP": "117/10", "GPS GPSMapDatum": "WGS-84", "GPS GPSDate": "2016:05:15", "Image GPSInfo": "840", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "1204", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "10001", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/200", "EXIF FNumber": "14/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Manual", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "5000", "EXIF SensitivityType": "Recommended Exposure Index", "EXIF RecommendedExposureIndex": "5000", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0230", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2016:05:15 19:54:21", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2016:05:15 19:54:21", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "477741/62500", "EXIF ApertureValue": "1485427/500000", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "3", "EXIF SubjectDistance": "219/100", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "70", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "19", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "19", "EXIF FocalPlaneXResolution": "1368000/359", "EXIF FocalPlaneYResolution": "912000/239", "EXIF FocalPlaneResolutionUnit": "2", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Manual Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF BodySerialNumber": "373051003138", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[70, 200, 0/0, 0/0]", "EXIF LensModel": "EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM", "EXIF LensSerialNumber": "0000817c80"}