Editing Magma (band) (section)

== History ==

=== Beginnings (1967–1971) ===
In early 1967, drummer [[Christian Vander (musician)|Christian Vander]] played in the Wurdalaks and Cruciferius Lobonz, two [[rhythm and blues]] bands. With these groups, he wrote his first compositions, "Nogma" and "Atumba". The death of [[John Coltrane]] saddened Vander, who left the groups and traveled to [[Italy]]. He returned to [[France]] in 1969 and met saxophonist René Garber and bassist and conductor Laurent Thibault. Together with singer Lucien Zabuski and organist [[Francis Moze]], they created the group Uniweria Zekt Magma Composedra Arguezdra, shortened to Magma.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.bigbangmag.com/dmagma1.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520204906/http://www.bigbangmag.com/dmagma1.php|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 20, 2007|title=Magma - Rétrospective (1)|website=www.bigbangmag.com|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>

After their first tour, Magma experienced significant lineup turnover. Vocalist Lucien Zabuski was replaced with Klaus Blasquiz, and pianist Eddie Rabin, double bassist Jacky Vidal, and guitarist Claude Engel also joined the group. The group worked on material for three months in a house in the [[Vallée de Chevreuse|Chevreuse Valley]]. Eddie Rabin was replaced by François Cahen on keyboards, and Laurent Thibault abandoned bass to devote himself to production. [[Francis Moze]] became the new bassist. The band also expanded with a brass section, consisting of Teddy Lasry on saxophone and clarinet, Richard Raux on saxophone and flute, and Paco Charlery on trumpet. The group's first album, ''[[Magma (Magma album)|Magma]]'', was released in the spring of 1970 by [[Philips Records]]. The group caused a sensation but audience reactions were mixed.<ref name=":0" />

After the album was released, Claude Engel, Richard Raux, and Paco Charlery left the group. Jeff Seffer replaced Raux on saxophone, and Louis Toesca replaced Charlery on trumpet. Their second album, ''[[1001° Centigrades]]'', was released in April 1971. The album won the band more exposure, including a performance at the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]].<ref name=":0" />

=== ''Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh,'' to ''Üdü Wüdü'' (1972–1977) ===
In August 1972, Magma released the album ''[[The Unnamables]]'', under the alias Univeria Zekt. However, the album sold only 1,500 copies. Many musicians left the band that year, including François Cahen, Louis Toesca, Jeff Seffer, [[Francis Moze]], and Teddy Lasry.<ref name=":0" /> That same year, Christian Vander recorded the soundtrack for Yvan Lagrange's film ''[[Tristan et Iseult]].<ref name=":0" />''

In 1973, Vander formed a new lineup of the band, adding [[Stella Vander]] as a second vocalist, Claude Olmos on guitar, [[Jannick Top]] replacing Francis Moze on bass, René Garber on saxophone and clarinet, and Jean-Luc Manderlier on keyboards, among others. This new version of the band would release their most famous work ''[[Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh]],'' which would later become their most acclaimed album, and gave them international fame,<ref name=":0" /> including a spot at the prestigious [[Newport Jazz Festival]], their first American performance. In 1974, under Vander's name, the band released a soundtrack album accompanying Yvan Lagrange's 1972 film ''Tristan et Iseult'', also known as ''[[Ẁurdah Ïtah]]''; under Magma's name, they followed up with ''[[Köhntarkösz]]'', which was successful among fans, but not received as well among the public as ''Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh''.<ref name=":0" /> The band would then go on a long, year-and-a-half long tour of France, and after another member shakeup (Bernard Paganotti replacing Jannick Top on bass, [[Didier Lockwood]] added as a violinist, Jean-Pol Asseline and Benot Widemann replacing Gerard Bikialo on keyboards, and Gabriel Federow replacing Claude Olmos on guitar), released their first live album, [[Live/Hhaï|''Live / Hhaï'']], in December 1975, recorded at the Taverne de l'Olympia in [[Paris]].<ref name="seventhrecords1">{{cite web|url=http://v2.seventhrecords.com/en/magma-19/magma-hhai-64.html|title=MAGMA - HHAI - Solution eCommerce PEEL|publisher=V2.seventhrecords.com|access-date=2012-07-31}}</ref>

In 1976, Top briefly rejoined the band for the recording of the album ''[[Üdü Ẁüdü]]'', but left soon after due to strained relations with frontman Christian Vander. More lineup turnover followed in 1977, with Jean DeAntoni replacing Gabriel Federow on guitar, Guy Delacroix replacing Bernard Paganotti on bass, and Clement Bailly hired as a second drummer.

=== Changing sound and breakup (1978–1984) ===
In 1978, Magma released the album ''[[Attahk]]''. Vying for more commercial success,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seventhrecords.com/MAGMA/REX13/cdattahk.html|title=CD ATTAHK|website=www.seventhrecords.com|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> the album included elements of [[Soul music|soul]], [[Rhythm and blues|rhythm & blues]], and [[funk]] music.

Celebrating 10 years as a band, in 1980, Magma performed three nights at [[Olympia (Paris)|L'Olympia]] in Paris, with guest appearances from many of the group's past musicians. These were recorded and released as ''[[Retrospektïẁ (Parts I+II)]]'' and ''[[Retrospektïẁ (Part III)]]''. The concerts were successful, and allowed Magma to play a number of shows around France, including a three-week residency at Paris's [[Bobino]] in 1981, which was recorded and filmed, and later released as ''Concert Bobino 1981''.

In 1984, the band recorded the album ''[[Merci (Magma album)|Merci]]'', and disbanded shortly afterwards. [[Christian Vander (musician)|Christian Vander]] formed other projects such as Offering, and various jazz projects including the Christian Vander Trio.

=== Reformation (1996–present) ===
While performing as Offering, Vander would occasionally perform Magma songs. In 1989, professional snooker champion [[Steve Davis]] convinced Vander to perform a reunion tour (at least six shows<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/184299707883_/Magma-Gig-paper-flyers-set-of-5.jpg|title=Magma Flyers 1|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VGcAAOSwm3lb2xbM/s-l400.jpg|title=Magma Flyers 2|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref>) which led Vander to consider reuniting Magma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FORBIDDING PLANET|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/forbidding-planet|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Magma's Retrospektïẁ, Reviewed By Snooker's Steve Davis|date=21 November 2017 |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/23627-magma-retrospectiw-reissue-album-review-steve-davis|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref>

After the dissolution of Offering, this was fully realised in 1996 after friend Bernard Ivan asked Vander if he was considering reviving Magma, as he was confident he could get Vander concert dates. Vander agreed, but confessed that he didn't think there would be any remaining interest in the band. Ivan came back to Vander to tell him he fully booked a number of gigs for Magma and Vander, surprised, quickly cobbled a lineup from Offering and friends in the music scene to create a new 14-piece Magma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.furious.com/perfect/magma2.html|title=Christian Vander interview|date=January 2001|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref>

Vander decided to revive some sections of tracks he had written back in 1972-1973 while working on ''Köhntarkösz'' on this new tour. Eventually, these merged into one big composition ''[[K.A (Köhntarkösz Anteria)]]'', which released in 2004 to acclaim and surprise at their comeback. ''K.A'' is conceptually the prequel to ''Köhntarkösz'', which was then followed up by a sequel ''[[Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré]]'' in 2009, ending a narrative trilogy between the three albums.

On 30 September 2022 Magma released their fifteenth album ''[[Kartëhl]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bravewords.com/news/magma-to-release-kartehl-album-this-month |title=Magma to Release ''Kartëhl'' Album This Month |work=Brave Words |date=1 September 2022 |access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref> The album is a collective work of the band members. The copyright proceeds of the track ''Dëhndë'' will be donated to a charity for people with [[autism]].<ref name="Kartehl">{{Cite web |url=https://www.seventhrecords.com/en/magma-19/kartehl-1316.html |title=KARTËHL |work=Seventh Records |accessdate=2022-08-15}}</ref>

Magma still tour today.