Banlieue Rouge was a punk rock band from Montréal, Québec in the 1990s. It remains the biggest French punk rock band from Québec province.
Banlieue Rouge was formed in 1989 in Longueuil, a Montréal suburb. Heavily influenced by French punk rock bands such as Bérurier Noir, they started with a drum machine, which was eventually replaced by Jeff on drums.
Banlieue Rouge was: Safwan (vocals) Sylvain (guitar) Xavier (bass) Jeff (drum)
In 1999, after four full-length albums (plus one live and one best-of) and ten years of touring in America and Europe, the band finally broke up. Some members went on to form Akuma, an angrier, louder hardcore punk band with bilingual ( French/ English) lyrics.
"Banlieue Rouge" means "Red Suburb". On their debut album, En Attendant Demain, it is explained that this refers to their status as a "a suburb of the megacity of pop music, unknown to the masses." The "red" part of the name could refer either to a violent nature or political leanings.
Historically, banlieues rouges were Parisian communes. "Banlieue Rouge" is also a well-known song by French singer Renaud.