The Blues Conspiracy

RIVET: One of the official cajun names listed by the Cajun foundation in St Martinville - Louisiana. Part of this family moved from France in the 17th century to Acadia (Canada) (Nova Scotia these days) then was deported by the british to south & west Louisiana at the end of the 18th century. Families bearing this name still live in Lafayette/Breaux Bridge/St Martinville/Scott/Opelousas & Lake Charles.
That’s what Leadfoot discovered during his first trip there looking for a common heritage! Al ”Leadfoot” RIVET comes from a musical family who got exposed heavily to American culture right after World War 2; at the age of 12 his first cousin turned him on to Ray CHARLES. He then soon discovered by himself Chuck BERRY, Bo DIDDLEY, Muddy WATERS & Howlin’WOLF.

He started his first band in 1962 playing their music. The British blues boom’s expansion convinced him he was in the right direction finding similar approach in the works of Long John Baldry, the PRETTY THINGS, the YARDBIRDS, the ANIMALS, THEM & the ROLLING STONES.

In 1966 he started what was the first rhythm’n’blues & soul integrated band in the country on the footsteps of Bobby Blue BLAND, Otis REDDING, Wilson PICKETT, Solomon BURKE, Jimmy HUGHES & James CARR. The band played France extensively and also Belgium, Switzerland and Italy where they stayed 8 months in 67/68 like Rocky ROBERTS & the Airedales, Wes JOHNSON, the Alan PRICE Set & the Alan JACK Blues Civilization.

They recorded 2 cover songs for a compilation released on FONTANA/PHILIPS records plus an EP (4 songs) for the french VOGUE label notably a soul version of “Pushin’too hard” by the Seeds ! The artistic director of the musical “Hair” chose him for the belgian cast in which he stayed 8 months meeting in Brussels the gospel & soul singer Bill COMBS brother of Dorothy MORRISON, lead singer with the Edwin Hawkins Singers for the worldwide hit “Oh Happy Day”. Combs then asks him to produce the first album of his newly founded band BAD CHILD. RIVET then moves back to Paris and signs a deal with RCA records cutting 2 albums (only one was released) and 3 singles.

In 1978 he starts with now famous french blues colleague Patrick VERBEKE (who later collaborated with Luther ALLISON) a band called ROCKIN’CHAIR, blending blues / country / rock & soul. They record 2 albums for the european department of the US label OVATION records, first one including the hit “Soyez nature”.

1986 sees the release of an adventurous solo album blending blues & funky music with drum machines and synthesizers! This risky artistic approach leads to complete misunderstanding by both medias and public. RIVET then launches DIXIEFROG records with fellow Philippe Langlois and starts a booking company dedicated to blues oriented music. He tours and often shares the stage with artists such as Junior WELLS, Johnny COPELAND, Bo DIDDLEY, Wilson PICKETT, Johnny ADAMS, Bobby Blue BLAND, Little MILTON, Honeyboy EDWARDS, Homesick JAMES, HOT TUNA, Amos GARRETT, Joanna CONNOR, Sue FOLEY, Debbie DAVIES, Jimmy THACKERY, Roy ROGERS, Tom PRINCIPATO and many others.

Louisiana bluesman Larry GARNER gives him the nickname “Leadfoot “on stage inviting him to sit in after a high speed trip between gigs! Soon after the creation of VOODOO records he goes back in the studio cutting a great album with the cream of the crop of french blues musicians plus the help of no less than Tommy CASTRO / Larry GARNER/Amos GARRETT / Roy ROGERS and Popa CHUBBY! The album titled “Bluesmaniac” gets rave reviews everywhere outselling many american releases in Europe.
 
Since then Leadfoot RIVET has played most of the famous festivals in his native country sometimes venturing to other neighbourhood lands. He is a powerful and soulful singer so deeply immersed into american culture he is one of the very few european artists who can make classics his owns and write credible originals in english.

2003: Video recording of his show at the PARIS New Morning club for TV channel MEZZO.

2004: release of new cd by THE BLUES CONSPIRACY, package project with Neal BLACK & Nico Wayne TOUSSAINT: more festivals in Europe.

2007: recording of new album “Greyboy blues” with the Bluesmaniacs plus Neal BLACK, Joanna CONNOR, Tom PRINCIPATO & Fred CHAPELLIER. To be released in october on Voodoo/Dixiefrog all over Europe!

2008: concerts in France / Belgium / Germany / Italy / Luxemburg. Recording of the DRINKHOUSE PREACHERS album.