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Artist
French TV
12+ albums
Progressive rockRIOAvant-ProgAvant-GardeFusion
about
French TV is a Louisville, Kentucky based progressive rock band that has been in existence since 1983. Over the years, members have come and gone, but founder, bassist and main composer Mike Sary continues to drag the band into the next millennium. The history of French TV is complex, filled with lineup changes, missed opportunities, delays, and disillusions. And yet, a growing body of work testifies to one man's sagacity and stubbornness. Blending elements of progressive rock, fusion, cartoon music, and Rock in Opposition (RIO), the music of his group has been described as being "simultaneously hilarious and highly challenging, making it one of the most original American prog rock outfits." The group began its uncertain life back in 1983, when Sary and keyboardist Steve Roberts put a group together to explore twisted forms of rock their previous basement projects would not allow. They recruited Fenner Castner (drums) and Artie Bratton (guitar), and proceeded to record their first album. Released in a limited edition of 500 copies in 1984, French TV was a very imperfect first step, but a step nonetheless. Quickly the plague of departures began, beginning with co-leader Roberts, who left to run his prog rock record shop ZNR Records. From that point on, French TV would live by Sary, who would add to the name of the band a number for each album released ("French TV 3," "French TV 4," etc.), a way to underline its constant state of flux. After a hiatus of four years, he releas
