Editing Front 242 (section)

===Formation===
Front 242 were formed in 1981 in [[Aarschot]], near [[Leuven]], Belgium, by Daniel Bressanutti and Dirk Bergen, who wanted to create music and graphic design using emerging electronic tools. Prior to forming Front 242, Bressanutti worked on a music project called "Prothese" that had already produced several one-off tracks.<ref name="assimilate">{{cite book |last1=Reed |first1=S. Alexander |title=Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199832583 |pages=176–180}}</ref> The ''front'' part of the name comes from the idea of an organized popular uprising and the fact that the word can be translated in many languages while retaining the same meaning.<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 7:35</ref>  The first single by the duo, "Principles", with b-side "Body To Body," was released in 1981.<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.front242.com/site/content/band.asp | title=Band | work=front242.com | access-date=25 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322225942/http://www.front242.com/site/content/band.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 March 2008}}</ref>

Patrick Codenys and [[Jean-Luc De Meyer]] had separately formed a group called "Underviewer" at around the same time. The groups merged in 1982 after Underviewer had given their demo tapes to Bressanutti who was working at a music instruments shop at the time (Hill's Music in Brussels.<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 1:45</ref>) Daniel was so impressed he asked Patrick and Jean-Luc to join Front 242.<ref name="assimilate" />

Recordings by the band were initially created in Daniel's apartment studio, where the entire band and their equipment were packed into a 2.5m x 2.5m room.<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 4:10 & 13:40</ref> The band incorporated as an artistic association in Belgium which allowed them to access government assistance and made it easier to afford better studio equipment.<ref name="keyboard_sep_89">{{cite journal |last1=Doerschuk |first1=Robert L. |editor1-last=Milano |editor1-first=Dominic |title=Front 242: The Aggressive Edge of Rhythm & The Power of Recycled Culture |journal=Keyboard |date=Sep 1989 |volume=15 |issue=8 |pages=50–57 |publisher=Miller Freeman Publications |location=Cupertino, CA |language=en|issn=0730-0158}}</ref>

Bressanutti, Codenys and De Meyer took turns on vocals at first, until they settled on De Meyer as the lead vocalist (early recordings with Bressanutti on vocals were subsequently released in 2004). De Meyer came to write most of the lyrics, although Valerie Jane Steele wrote several tracks including "Don't Crash." Despite falling into specific roles, however, the band sought to project a more anonymous, mysterious image, replete with dark sunglasses and militaristic uniforms so that they could not be easily identified.<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 11:50</ref> Bressanutti took this anonymity to the extreme, leaving stage entirely to run live shows from the sound board behind the audience.<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 45:55</ref>

The band self-released their first album, ''Geography'', in 1982<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 14:02</ref> and shortly after signed to the Belgian indie label consortium [[Les Disques du Crépuscule]] who later re-released the album.<ref name="assimilate" /> Their next single, "U-Men", was released the same year as was the band's first music video, produced by [[Marcel Vanthilt]] and played on the program RoodVonk on [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|VRT (Vlaamse Radio Televisie - Flemish Radio & TV)]]. The video proved a challenge, not only conceptually given the band's insistence on anonymity, but because of the small budget; ultimately the video was shot on location in Daniel's bedroom.<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 15:10</ref>

In 1983, the band brought on [[Richard Jonckheere]] (a.k.a.: Richard 23), who they became familiar with through Richard's own "noise concept," as a percussionist and second vocalist to help boost the band's live presence.<ref>Canvas (2008) Event occurs at 5:37</ref> Not long after, Dirk Bergen left the band to manage the group and pursue a graphic design career.<ref name="assimilate" /> Also in 1983 the band released the EP ''Endless Riddance''.