Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Alan Douglas (record producer)

2024-12-12T23:32:30Z

John julie white: /* Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others */

{{Short description|American record producer (1931–2014)}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}}
'''Alan Douglas Rubenstein'''<ref name="Williams">[[Richard Williams (journalist)|Richard Williams]] [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/18/alan-douglas "Alan Douglas obituary"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 June 2014</ref> (July 20, 1931 – June 7, 2014) was an American record producer from [[Boston]], who worked with [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Miles Davis]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Lenny Bruce]] and [[the Last Poets]]. He ran his own record label, '''Douglas Records'''.

==Early life==
Douglas was born Alan Douglas Rubenstein in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of Rose (Silbert) and William Rubenstein, a junk seller and later mattress manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|first=Bruce|last=Weber|date=14 June 2014|access-date=19 November 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His brother was actor [[Jerry Douglas (actor)|Jerry Douglas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|date=15 June 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

==Jazz record producer==
In 1962, Douglas took charge of [[United Artists Records]]' jazz division. One of his first projects was [[Art Blakey]] and the Jazz Messengers' ''[[Three Blind Mice (album)|Three Blind Mice]]'' albums, recorded live at the Renaissance Club in Hollywood. He also coaxed trumpeter [[Kenny Dorham]] into the studio for ''[[Matador (Kenny Dorham album)|Matador]]'', a soul-jazz classic shared with [[Jackie McLean]] and [[Bobby Timmons]]. Douglas's qualities as a producer were already evident. He encouraged musicians to express themselves and push the boundaries, as when he teamed [[Duke Ellington]] with [[Max Roach]] and [[Charles Mingus]] for ''[[Money Jungle]]'', which [[George Wein]] has described as “one of the greatest piano trio recordings in jazz history."

Douglas produced other memorable releases during his short tenure with UA, including albums by [[Oliver Nelson]], [[Makanda Ken McIntyre|Ken McIntyre]], [[King Pleasure]], [[Herbie Mann]], and [[Betty Carter]]. The [[Bill Evans]] and [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]] LP ''[[Undercurrent (Bill Evans and Jim Hall album)|Undercurrent]]'' was the first of their collaborations. Highlights from these albums can be found on ''Douglas On Blue Note'', issued in 2009.

==Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others==
Douglas first crossed paths with Hendrix shortly after the latter's performance at [[Woodstock]] in 1969,<ref name="Masouri">{{cite news|url=http://starting-at-zero.com/book/biography-alan-douglas/|title=Jimi Hendrix: Starting at Zero, Alan Douglas Biography|website=Starting-at-zero.com|last=Masouri|first=John|date=September 2013|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and it was supposedly through Douglas that Hendrix met and began jamming with jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, [[Quincy Jones]], and [[Gil Evans]], as well as [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] trailblazers the Last Poets.<ref name="Masouri"/>
In the book ''Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions'', [[Buddy Miles]] credits Douglas with helping put together the [[Band of Gypsys]] band, as he was quoted as saying, "The Band of Gypsys were put together in Douglas's office, between Alan and [concert promoter] [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]], who gave us the dates at the [[Fillmore East]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6ty_6SqPE4C&dq=alan+douglas,+band+of+gypsys&pg=PA179|title=Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions|last=McDermott|first=John|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=2009|isbn=9780879309381 |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> However, in the book ''Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight'', former Hendrix producer [[Chas Chandler]] is quoted as saying, "Hendrix said to me – and I remember the sentence . . . 'He [Douglas] can help [in business matters] . . . but I don’t want that guy to have anything to do with my music'."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/absoluteelsewhere/2164/jimi-hendrix-and-alan-douglas-the-fireball-and-the-keeper-of-the-flame/|title=JIMI HENDRIX AND ALAN DOUGLAS: The fireball and the keeper of the flame|last=Reid|first=Graham|website=Elsewhere.co.nz|date=March 8, 2010|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> Douglas attended Hendrix's funeral in 1970,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/730849845754313283/|title=Devon and producer Alan Douglas at Jimi's funeral|website=Pinterest.com|date=1970|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and four years after Hendrix's death, Douglas acquired the rights to produce music that Hendrix had never released.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|last=Chawkins|first=Steve|newspaper=[[The LA Times]]|date=June 15, 2014|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>

Douglas's production work on a few of Hendrix's posthumous releases is controversial. This is primarily due to tracks on the ''[[Crash Landing (Jimi Hendrix album)|Crash Landing]]'' and ''[[Midnight Lightning]]'' LP releases in 1975. On these releases Douglas replaced the original drum and bass tracks and added guitar overdubs newly recorded by session musicians. He added female backing singers to one track, and claimed co-composer credit on several tracks that he had altered. On the much later ''[[Voodoo Soup]]'' compilation album Douglas is known to have wiped original drum tracks on two songs and replaced them with [[The Knack]]'s [[Bruce Gary]]. Second, on the 1993 CD releases of Hendrix's three studio albums, the original album artwork and packaging were scrapped in favour of new renderings of the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]].

Douglas's work on Hendrix releases was defended by rock journalist and critic [[John Masouri]], who in 2001 called him "one of the last great musical visionaries", and said he had been right to try to improve the original tracks: "wisely he'd also edited out passages where Jimi had toyed with a riff repeatedly, searching for just the right phrase... All things considered, it's highly unlikely that Hendrix would have sanctioned the release of poorly executed material, yet the die was cast, and the producer has been branded a controversial figure ever since."<ref name="weber">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html?_r=0|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|last=Weber|first=Bruce|date=June 14, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> Supposedly, Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer [[Mitch Mitchell]] also approved of Douglas's decision to utilize sessions musicians on Hendrix releases, because "some of the original playing had been sub-standard."<ref name="Masouri"/>

However, in interviews,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.makingascene.org/john-mclaughlin |title=John McLaughlin – Featured Artist: John McLaughlin Interview |last=Putignano |first=Bob |website=makingascene.org |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> guitarist [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] has criticized Douglas's handling of his own LP ''[[Devotion (John McLaughlin album)|Devotion]]'' (1970), as well, closely related to Hendrix's ''[[Band of Gypsys]]'' sessions. But [[Umar Bin Hassan]], a member of the Last Poets, said following Douglas's death that "whether you liked him or didn't, you had to admit that he was one of the giants in what he did, which was to put out responsible, intelligent and remarkable music."<ref name="weber"/> Douglas was credited with being the first record producer to record a hip hop album after he recorded [[Jimi Hendrix]] (bass and guitar), [[Buddy Miles]] and [[Jalal Mansur Nuriddin]] (as Lightnin' Rod) of [[The Last Poets]] in 1969 on a rap song named ''Doriella du Fontaine'' (only released in 1986).

In 1995, Douglas lost control of the Hendrix archive to Hendrix's father, Al. After years of legal wrangling, Douglas was able to obtain the right to compile Hendrix's writings into a book, ''Starting At Zero'', which was published in late 2013. He was also planning a documentary film of the same title which remained unreleased at the time of his death.<ref name="weber"/>

==Death==
Douglas died at his home in Paris, France, on June 7, 2014, of complications after a fall. He was married four times, and had two daughters and a stepson.<ref name="weber"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Stef Lach |url=http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2014-06-09/hendrix-producer-douglas-dies-at-81 |title=Hendrix producer Douglas dies at 81 - Classic Rock |website=Classicrock.teamrock.com |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0000524892|label=Alan Douglas}}
* {{Discogs artist|Alan Douglas|Alan Douglas}}

{{Jimi Hendrix}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Alan}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Record producers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Boston]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in France]]

Alan Douglas (record producer)

2024-12-12T23:32:03Z

John julie white: /* Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others */

{{Short description|American record producer (1931–2014)}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}}
'''Alan Douglas Rubenstein'''<ref name="Williams">[[Richard Williams (journalist)|Richard Williams]] [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/18/alan-douglas "Alan Douglas obituary"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 June 2014</ref> (July 20, 1931 – June 7, 2014) was an American record producer from [[Boston]], who worked with [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Miles Davis]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Lenny Bruce]] and [[the Last Poets]]. He ran his own record label, '''Douglas Records'''.

==Early life==
Douglas was born Alan Douglas Rubenstein in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of Rose (Silbert) and William Rubenstein, a junk seller and later mattress manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|first=Bruce|last=Weber|date=14 June 2014|access-date=19 November 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His brother was actor [[Jerry Douglas (actor)|Jerry Douglas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|date=15 June 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

==Jazz record producer==
In 1962, Douglas took charge of [[United Artists Records]]' jazz division. One of his first projects was [[Art Blakey]] and the Jazz Messengers' ''[[Three Blind Mice (album)|Three Blind Mice]]'' albums, recorded live at the Renaissance Club in Hollywood. He also coaxed trumpeter [[Kenny Dorham]] into the studio for ''[[Matador (Kenny Dorham album)|Matador]]'', a soul-jazz classic shared with [[Jackie McLean]] and [[Bobby Timmons]]. Douglas's qualities as a producer were already evident. He encouraged musicians to express themselves and push the boundaries, as when he teamed [[Duke Ellington]] with [[Max Roach]] and [[Charles Mingus]] for ''[[Money Jungle]]'', which [[George Wein]] has described as “one of the greatest piano trio recordings in jazz history."

Douglas produced other memorable releases during his short tenure with UA, including albums by [[Oliver Nelson]], [[Makanda Ken McIntyre|Ken McIntyre]], [[King Pleasure]], [[Herbie Mann]], and [[Betty Carter]]. The [[Bill Evans]] and [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]] LP ''[[Undercurrent (Bill Evans and Jim Hall album)|Undercurrent]]'' was the first of their collaborations. Highlights from these albums can be found on ''Douglas On Blue Note'', issued in 2009.

==Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others==
Douglas first crossed paths with Hendrix shortly after the latter's performance at [[Woodstock]] in 1969,<ref name="Masouri">{{cite news|url=http://starting-at-zero.com/book/biography-alan-douglas/|title=Jimi Hendrix: Starting at Zero, Alan Douglas Biography|website=Starting-at-zero.com|last=Masouri|first=John|date=September 2013|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and it was supposedly through Douglas that Hendrix met and began jamming with jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, [[Quincy Jones]], and [[Gil Evans]], as well as [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] trailblazers the Last Poets.<ref name="Masouri"/>
In the book ''Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions'', [[Buddy Miles]] credits Douglas with helping put together the [[Band of Gypsys]] band, as he was quoted as saying, "The Band of Gypsys were put together in Douglas's office, between Alan and [concert promoter] [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]], who gave us the dates at the [[Fillmore East]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6ty_6SqPE4C&dq=alan+douglas,+band+of+gypsys&pg=PA179|title=Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions|last=McDermott|first=John|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=2009|isbn=9780879309381 |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> However, in the book ''Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight'', former Hendrix producer [[Chas Chandler]] is quoted as saying, "Hendrix said to me – and I remember the sentence . . . 'He [Douglas] can help [in business matters] . . . but I don’t want that guy to have anything to do with my music'."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/absoluteelsewhere/2164/jimi-hendrix-and-alan-douglas-the-fireball-and-the-keeper-of-the-flame/|title=JIMI HENDRIX AND ALAN DOUGLAS: The fireball and the keeper of the flame|last=Reid|first=Graham|website=Elsewhere.co.nz|date=March 8, 2010|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> Douglas attended Hendrix's funeral in 1970,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/730849845754313283/|title=Devon and producer Alan Douglas at Jimi's funeral|website=Pinterest.com|date=1970|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and four years after Hendrix's death, Douglas acquired the rights to produce music that Hendrix had never released.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|last=Chawkins|first=Steve|newspaper=[[The LA Times]]|date=June 15, 2014|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>

Douglas's production work on a few of Hendrix's posthumous releases is controversial. This is primarily due to tracks on the ''[[Crash Landing (Jimi Hendrix album)|Crash Landing]]'' and ''[[Midnight Lightning]]'' LP releases in 1975. On these releases Douglas replaced the original drum and bass tracks and added guitar overdubs newly recorded by session musicians. He added female backing singers to one track, and claimed co-composer credit on several tracks that he had altered. On the much later ''[[Voodoo Soup]]'' compilation album Douglas is known to have wiped original drum tracks on two songs and replaced them with [[The Knack]]'s [[Bruce Gary]]. Second, on the 1993 CD releases of Hendrix's three studio albums, the original album artwork and packaging were scrapped in favour of new renderings of the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]].

Douglas's work on Hendrix releases was defended by rock journalist and critic [[John Masouri]], who in 2001 called him "one of the last great musical visionaries", and said he had been right to try to improve the original tracks: "wisely he'd also edited out passages where Jimi had toyed with a riff repeatedly, searching for just the right phrase... All things considered, it's highly unlikely that Hendrix would have sanctioned the release of poorly executed material, yet the die was cast, and the producer has been branded a controversial figure ever since."<ref name="weber">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html?_r=0|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|last=Weber|first=Bruce|date=June 14, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> Supposedly, Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer [[Mitch Mitchell]] also approved of Douglas's decision to utilize sessions musicians on Hendrix releases, because "some of the original playing had been sub-standard."<ref name="Masouri"/>

However, in interviews,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.makingascene.org/john-mclaughlin |title=John McLaughlin – Featured Artist: John McLaughlin Interview |last=Putignano |first=Bob |website=makingascene.org |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> guitarist [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] has criticized Douglas's handling of his own LP ''[[Devotion (John McLaughlin album)|Devotion]]'' (1970), as well, closely related to Hendrix's ''[[Band of Gypsys]]'' sessions. But [[Umar Bin Hassan]], a member of the Last Poets, said following Douglas's death that "whether you liked him or didn't, you had to admit that he was one of the giants in what he did, which was to put out responsible, intelligent and remarkable music."<ref name="weber"/> Douglas was credited with being the first record producer to record a hip hop album after he recorded [[Jimi Hendrix]] (bass and guitar), [[Buddy Miles]] and [[Jalal Mansur Nuriddin]] (as Lightnin' Rod) of [[The Last Poets]] in 1969 on a rap song named Doriella du Fontaine'' (only released in 1986).

In 1995, Douglas lost control of the Hendrix archive to Hendrix's father, Al. After years of legal wrangling, Douglas was able to obtain the right to compile Hendrix's writings into a book, ''Starting At Zero'', which was published in late 2013. He was also planning a documentary film of the same title which remained unreleased at the time of his death.<ref name="weber"/>

==Death==
Douglas died at his home in Paris, France, on June 7, 2014, of complications after a fall. He was married four times, and had two daughters and a stepson.<ref name="weber"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Stef Lach |url=http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2014-06-09/hendrix-producer-douglas-dies-at-81 |title=Hendrix producer Douglas dies at 81 - Classic Rock |website=Classicrock.teamrock.com |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0000524892|label=Alan Douglas}}
* {{Discogs artist|Alan Douglas|Alan Douglas}}

{{Jimi Hendrix}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Alan}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Record producers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Boston]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in France]]

Alan Douglas (record producer)

2024-12-12T23:30:28Z

John julie white: /* Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others */

{{Short description|American record producer (1931–2014)}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}}
'''Alan Douglas Rubenstein'''<ref name="Williams">[[Richard Williams (journalist)|Richard Williams]] [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/18/alan-douglas "Alan Douglas obituary"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 June 2014</ref> (July 20, 1931 – June 7, 2014) was an American record producer from [[Boston]], who worked with [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Miles Davis]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Lenny Bruce]] and [[the Last Poets]]. He ran his own record label, '''Douglas Records'''.

==Early life==
Douglas was born Alan Douglas Rubenstein in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of Rose (Silbert) and William Rubenstein, a junk seller and later mattress manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|first=Bruce|last=Weber|date=14 June 2014|access-date=19 November 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His brother was actor [[Jerry Douglas (actor)|Jerry Douglas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|date=15 June 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

==Jazz record producer==
In 1962, Douglas took charge of [[United Artists Records]]' jazz division. One of his first projects was [[Art Blakey]] and the Jazz Messengers' ''[[Three Blind Mice (album)|Three Blind Mice]]'' albums, recorded live at the Renaissance Club in Hollywood. He also coaxed trumpeter [[Kenny Dorham]] into the studio for ''[[Matador (Kenny Dorham album)|Matador]]'', a soul-jazz classic shared with [[Jackie McLean]] and [[Bobby Timmons]]. Douglas's qualities as a producer were already evident. He encouraged musicians to express themselves and push the boundaries, as when he teamed [[Duke Ellington]] with [[Max Roach]] and [[Charles Mingus]] for ''[[Money Jungle]]'', which [[George Wein]] has described as “one of the greatest piano trio recordings in jazz history."

Douglas produced other memorable releases during his short tenure with UA, including albums by [[Oliver Nelson]], [[Makanda Ken McIntyre|Ken McIntyre]], [[King Pleasure]], [[Herbie Mann]], and [[Betty Carter]]. The [[Bill Evans]] and [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]] LP ''[[Undercurrent (Bill Evans and Jim Hall album)|Undercurrent]]'' was the first of their collaborations. Highlights from these albums can be found on ''Douglas On Blue Note'', issued in 2009.

==Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others==
Douglas first crossed paths with Hendrix shortly after the latter's performance at [[Woodstock]] in 1969,<ref name="Masouri">{{cite news|url=http://starting-at-zero.com/book/biography-alan-douglas/|title=Jimi Hendrix: Starting at Zero, Alan Douglas Biography|website=Starting-at-zero.com|last=Masouri|first=John|date=September 2013|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and it was supposedly through Douglas that Hendrix met and began jamming with jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, [[Quincy Jones]], and [[Gil Evans]], as well as [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] trailblazers the Last Poets.<ref name="Masouri"/>
In the book ''Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions'', [[Buddy Miles]] credits Douglas with helping put together the [[Band of Gypsys]] band, as he was quoted as saying, "The Band of Gypsys were put together in Douglas's office, between Alan and [concert promoter] [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]], who gave us the dates at the [[Fillmore East]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6ty_6SqPE4C&dq=alan+douglas,+band+of+gypsys&pg=PA179|title=Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions|last=McDermott|first=John|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=2009|isbn=9780879309381 |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> However, in the book ''Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight'', former Hendrix producer [[Chas Chandler]] is quoted as saying, "Hendrix said to me – and I remember the sentence . . . 'He [Douglas] can help [in business matters] . . . but I don’t want that guy to have anything to do with my music'."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/absoluteelsewhere/2164/jimi-hendrix-and-alan-douglas-the-fireball-and-the-keeper-of-the-flame/|title=JIMI HENDRIX AND ALAN DOUGLAS: The fireball and the keeper of the flame|last=Reid|first=Graham|website=Elsewhere.co.nz|date=March 8, 2010|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> Douglas attended Hendrix's funeral in 1970,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/730849845754313283/|title=Devon and producer Alan Douglas at Jimi's funeral|website=Pinterest.com|date=1970|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and four years after Hendrix's death, Douglas acquired the rights to produce music that Hendrix had never released.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|last=Chawkins|first=Steve|newspaper=[[The LA Times]]|date=June 15, 2014|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>

Douglas's production work on a few of Hendrix's posthumous releases is controversial. This is primarily due to tracks on the ''[[Crash Landing (Jimi Hendrix album)|Crash Landing]]'' and ''[[Midnight Lightning]]'' LP releases in 1975. On these releases Douglas replaced the original drum and bass tracks and added guitar overdubs newly recorded by session musicians. He added female backing singers to one track, and claimed co-composer credit on several tracks that he had altered. On the much later ''[[Voodoo Soup]]'' compilation album Douglas is known to have wiped original drum tracks on two songs and replaced them with [[The Knack]]'s [[Bruce Gary]]. Second, on the 1993 CD releases of Hendrix's three studio albums, the original album artwork and packaging were scrapped in favour of new renderings of the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]].

Douglas's work on Hendrix releases was defended by rock journalist and critic [[John Masouri]], who in 2001 called him "one of the last great musical visionaries", and said he had been right to try to improve the original tracks: "wisely he'd also edited out passages where Jimi had toyed with a riff repeatedly, searching for just the right phrase... All things considered, it's highly unlikely that Hendrix would have sanctioned the release of poorly executed material, yet the die was cast, and the producer has been branded a controversial figure ever since."<ref name="weber">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html?_r=0|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|last=Weber|first=Bruce|date=June 14, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> Supposedly, Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer [[Mitch Mitchell]] also approved of Douglas's decision to utilize sessions musicians on Hendrix releases, because "some of the original playing had been sub-standard."<ref name="Masouri"/>

However, in interviews,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.makingascene.org/john-mclaughlin |title=John McLaughlin – Featured Artist: John McLaughlin Interview |last=Putignano |first=Bob |website=makingascene.org |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> guitarist [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] has criticized Douglas's handling of his own LP ''[[Devotion (John McLaughlin album)|Devotion]]'' (1970), as well, closely related to Hendrix's ''[[Band of Gypsys]]'' sessions. But [[Umar Bin Hassan]], a member of the Last Poets, said following Douglas's death that "whether you liked him or didn't, you had to admit that he was one of the giants in what he did, which was to put out responsible, intelligent and remarkable music."<ref name="weber"/> Douglas was credited with being the first record producer to record a hip hop album after he recorded [[Jimi Hendrix]] (bass and guitar), [[Buddy Miles]] and [[Jalal Mansur Nuriddin]] of [[The Last Poets]] on a rap song named Doriella DuFontaine'' (only released in 1986).{{fact|date=December 2022}}

In 1995, Douglas lost control of the Hendrix archive to Hendrix's father, Al. After years of legal wrangling, Douglas was able to obtain the right to compile Hendrix's writings into a book, ''Starting At Zero'', which was published in late 2013. He was also planning a documentary film of the same title which remained unreleased at the time of his death.<ref name="weber"/>

==Death==
Douglas died at his home in Paris, France, on June 7, 2014, of complications after a fall. He was married four times, and had two daughters and a stepson.<ref name="weber"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Stef Lach |url=http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2014-06-09/hendrix-producer-douglas-dies-at-81 |title=Hendrix producer Douglas dies at 81 - Classic Rock |website=Classicrock.teamrock.com |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0000524892|label=Alan Douglas}}
* {{Discogs artist|Alan Douglas|Alan Douglas}}

{{Jimi Hendrix}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Alan}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Record producers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Boston]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in France]]

Alan Douglas (record producer)

2024-12-12T23:29:56Z

John julie white: /* Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others */

{{Short description|American record producer (1931–2014)}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}}
'''Alan Douglas Rubenstein'''<ref name="Williams">[[Richard Williams (journalist)|Richard Williams]] [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/18/alan-douglas "Alan Douglas obituary"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 June 2014</ref> (July 20, 1931 – June 7, 2014) was an American record producer from [[Boston]], who worked with [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Miles Davis]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Lenny Bruce]] and [[the Last Poets]]. He ran his own record label, '''Douglas Records'''.

==Early life==
Douglas was born Alan Douglas Rubenstein in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of Rose (Silbert) and William Rubenstein, a junk seller and later mattress manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|first=Bruce|last=Weber|date=14 June 2014|access-date=19 November 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His brother was actor [[Jerry Douglas (actor)|Jerry Douglas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|date=15 June 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

==Jazz record producer==
In 1962, Douglas took charge of [[United Artists Records]]' jazz division. One of his first projects was [[Art Blakey]] and the Jazz Messengers' ''[[Three Blind Mice (album)|Three Blind Mice]]'' albums, recorded live at the Renaissance Club in Hollywood. He also coaxed trumpeter [[Kenny Dorham]] into the studio for ''[[Matador (Kenny Dorham album)|Matador]]'', a soul-jazz classic shared with [[Jackie McLean]] and [[Bobby Timmons]]. Douglas's qualities as a producer were already evident. He encouraged musicians to express themselves and push the boundaries, as when he teamed [[Duke Ellington]] with [[Max Roach]] and [[Charles Mingus]] for ''[[Money Jungle]]'', which [[George Wein]] has described as “one of the greatest piano trio recordings in jazz history."

Douglas produced other memorable releases during his short tenure with UA, including albums by [[Oliver Nelson]], [[Makanda Ken McIntyre|Ken McIntyre]], [[King Pleasure]], [[Herbie Mann]], and [[Betty Carter]]. The [[Bill Evans]] and [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]] LP ''[[Undercurrent (Bill Evans and Jim Hall album)|Undercurrent]]'' was the first of their collaborations. Highlights from these albums can be found on ''Douglas On Blue Note'', issued in 2009.

==Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others==
Douglas first crossed paths with Hendrix shortly after the latter's performance at [[Woodstock]] in 1969,<ref name="Masouri">{{cite news|url=http://starting-at-zero.com/book/biography-alan-douglas/|title=Jimi Hendrix: Starting at Zero, Alan Douglas Biography|website=Starting-at-zero.com|last=Masouri|first=John|date=September 2013|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and it was supposedly through Douglas that Hendrix met and began jamming with jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, [[Quincy Jones]], and [[Gil Evans]], as well as [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] trailblazers the Last Poets.<ref name="Masouri"/>
In the book ''Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions'', [[Buddy Miles]] credits Douglas with helping put together the [[Band of Gypsys]] band, as he was quoted as saying, "The Band of Gypsys were put together in Douglas's office, between Alan and [concert promoter] [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]], who gave us the dates at the [[Fillmore East]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6ty_6SqPE4C&dq=alan+douglas,+band+of+gypsys&pg=PA179|title=Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions|last=McDermott|first=John|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=2009|isbn=9780879309381 |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> However, in the book ''Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight'', former Hendrix producer [[Chas Chandler]] is quoted as saying, "Hendrix said to me – and I remember the sentence . . . 'He [Douglas] can help [in business matters] . . . but I don’t want that guy to have anything to do with my music'."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/absoluteelsewhere/2164/jimi-hendrix-and-alan-douglas-the-fireball-and-the-keeper-of-the-flame/|title=JIMI HENDRIX AND ALAN DOUGLAS: The fireball and the keeper of the flame|last=Reid|first=Graham|website=Elsewhere.co.nz|date=March 8, 2010|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> Douglas attended Hendrix's funeral in 1970,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/730849845754313283/|title=Devon and producer Alan Douglas at Jimi's funeral|website=Pinterest.com|date=1970|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and four years after Hendrix's death, Douglas acquired the rights to produce music that Hendrix had never released.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|last=Chawkins|first=Steve|newspaper=[[The LA Times]]|date=June 15, 2014|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>

Douglas's production work on a few of Hendrix's posthumous releases is controversial. This is primarily due to tracks on the ''[[Crash Landing (Jimi Hendrix album)|Crash Landing]]'' and ''[[Midnight Lightning]]'' LP releases in 1975. On these releases Douglas replaced the original drum and bass tracks and added guitar overdubs newly recorded by session musicians. He added female backing singers to one track, and claimed co-composer credit on several tracks that he had altered. On the much later ''[[Voodoo Soup]]'' compilation album Douglas is known to have wiped original drum tracks on two songs and replaced them with [[The Knack]]'s [[Bruce Gary]]. Second, on the 1993 CD releases of Hendrix's three studio albums, the original album artwork and packaging were scrapped in favour of new renderings of the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]].

Douglas's work on Hendrix releases was defended by rock journalist and critic [[John Masouri]], who in 2001 called him "one of the last great musical visionaries", and said he had been right to try to improve the original tracks: "wisely he'd also edited out passages where Jimi had toyed with a riff repeatedly, searching for just the right phrase... All things considered, it's highly unlikely that Hendrix would have sanctioned the release of poorly executed material, yet the die was cast, and the producer has been branded a controversial figure ever since."<ref name="weber">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html?_r=0|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|last=Weber|first=Bruce|date=June 14, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> Supposedly, Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer [[Mitch Mitchell]] also approved of Douglas's decision to utilize sessions musicians on Hendrix releases, because "some of the original playing had been sub-standard."<ref name="Masouri"/>

However, in interviews,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.makingascene.org/john-mclaughlin |title=John McLaughlin – Featured Artist: John McLaughlin Interview |last=Putignano |first=Bob |website=makingascene.org |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> guitarist [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] has criticized Douglas's handling of his own LP ''[[Devotion (John McLaughlin album)|Devotion]]'' (1970), as well, closely related to Hendrix's ''[[Band of Gypsys]]'' sessions. But [[Umar Bin Hassan]], a member of the Last Poets, said following Douglas's death that "whether you liked him or didn't, you had to admit that he was one of the giants in what he did, which was to put out responsible, intelligent and remarkable music."<ref name="weber"/> Douglas was credited with being the first record producer to record a hip hop album after he recorded [[Jimi Hendrix]] (bass and guitar), [[Buddy Miles]] and [[Jalal Nuriddin]] of [[The Last Poets]] on a rap song named Doriella DuFontaine'' (only released in 1986).{{fact|date=December 2022}}

In 1995, Douglas lost control of the Hendrix archive to Hendrix's father, Al. After years of legal wrangling, Douglas was able to obtain the right to compile Hendrix's writings into a book, ''Starting At Zero'', which was published in late 2013. He was also planning a documentary film of the same title which remained unreleased at the time of his death.<ref name="weber"/>

==Death==
Douglas died at his home in Paris, France, on June 7, 2014, of complications after a fall. He was married four times, and had two daughters and a stepson.<ref name="weber"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Stef Lach |url=http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2014-06-09/hendrix-producer-douglas-dies-at-81 |title=Hendrix producer Douglas dies at 81 - Classic Rock |website=Classicrock.teamrock.com |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0000524892|label=Alan Douglas}}
* {{Discogs artist|Alan Douglas|Alan Douglas}}

{{Jimi Hendrix}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Alan}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Record producers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Boston]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in France]]

Alan Douglas (record producer)

2024-12-12T23:29:06Z

John julie white: /* Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others */

{{Short description|American record producer (1931–2014)}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2014}}
'''Alan Douglas Rubenstein'''<ref name="Williams">[[Richard Williams (journalist)|Richard Williams]] [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/18/alan-douglas "Alan Douglas obituary"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 June 2014</ref> (July 20, 1931 – June 7, 2014) was an American record producer from [[Boston]], who worked with [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Miles Davis]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Lenny Bruce]] and [[the Last Poets]]. He ran his own record label, '''Douglas Records'''.

==Early life==
Douglas was born Alan Douglas Rubenstein in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of Rose (Silbert) and William Rubenstein, a junk seller and later mattress manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|first=Bruce|last=Weber|date=14 June 2014|access-date=19 November 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His brother was actor [[Jerry Douglas (actor)|Jerry Douglas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|date=15 June 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>

==Jazz record producer==
In 1962, Douglas took charge of [[United Artists Records]]' jazz division. One of his first projects was [[Art Blakey]] and the Jazz Messengers' ''[[Three Blind Mice (album)|Three Blind Mice]]'' albums, recorded live at the Renaissance Club in Hollywood. He also coaxed trumpeter [[Kenny Dorham]] into the studio for ''[[Matador (Kenny Dorham album)|Matador]]'', a soul-jazz classic shared with [[Jackie McLean]] and [[Bobby Timmons]]. Douglas's qualities as a producer were already evident. He encouraged musicians to express themselves and push the boundaries, as when he teamed [[Duke Ellington]] with [[Max Roach]] and [[Charles Mingus]] for ''[[Money Jungle]]'', which [[George Wein]] has described as “one of the greatest piano trio recordings in jazz history."

Douglas produced other memorable releases during his short tenure with UA, including albums by [[Oliver Nelson]], [[Makanda Ken McIntyre|Ken McIntyre]], [[King Pleasure]], [[Herbie Mann]], and [[Betty Carter]]. The [[Bill Evans]] and [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]] LP ''[[Undercurrent (Bill Evans and Jim Hall album)|Undercurrent]]'' was the first of their collaborations. Highlights from these albums can be found on ''Douglas On Blue Note'', issued in 2009.

==Connection with Jimi Hendrix and others==
Douglas first crossed paths with Hendrix shortly after the latter's performance at [[Woodstock]] in 1969,<ref name="Masouri">{{cite news|url=http://starting-at-zero.com/book/biography-alan-douglas/|title=Jimi Hendrix: Starting at Zero, Alan Douglas Biography|website=Starting-at-zero.com|last=Masouri|first=John|date=September 2013|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and it was supposedly through Douglas that Hendrix met and began jamming with jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, [[Quincy Jones]], and [[Gil Evans]], as well as [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] trailblazers the Last Poets.<ref name="Masouri"/>
In the book ''Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions'', [[Buddy Miles]] credits Douglas with helping put together the [[Band of Gypsys]] band, as he was quoted as saying, "The Band of Gypsys were put together in Douglas's office, between Alan and [concert promoter] [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]], who gave us the dates at the [[Fillmore East]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o6ty_6SqPE4C&dq=alan+douglas,+band+of+gypsys&pg=PA179|title=Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Live Concerts and Sessions|last=McDermott|first=John|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=2009|isbn=9780879309381 |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> However, in the book ''Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight'', former Hendrix producer [[Chas Chandler]] is quoted as saying, "Hendrix said to me – and I remember the sentence . . . 'He [Douglas] can help [in business matters] . . . but I don’t want that guy to have anything to do with my music'."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/absoluteelsewhere/2164/jimi-hendrix-and-alan-douglas-the-fireball-and-the-keeper-of-the-flame/|title=JIMI HENDRIX AND ALAN DOUGLAS: The fireball and the keeper of the flame|last=Reid|first=Graham|website=Elsewhere.co.nz|date=March 8, 2010|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> Douglas attended Hendrix's funeral in 1970,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/730849845754313283/|title=Devon and producer Alan Douglas at Jimi's funeral|website=Pinterest.com|date=1970|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> and four years after Hendrix's death, Douglas acquired the rights to produce music that Hendrix had never released.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-alan-douglas-20140613-story.html|title=Alan Douglas, associated with Jimi Hendrix's later success, dies at 82|last=Chawkins|first=Steve|newspaper=[[The LA Times]]|date=June 15, 2014|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>

Douglas's production work on a few of Hendrix's posthumous releases is controversial. This is primarily due to tracks on the ''[[Crash Landing (Jimi Hendrix album)|Crash Landing]]'' and ''[[Midnight Lightning]]'' LP releases in 1975. On these releases Douglas replaced the original drum and bass tracks and added guitar overdubs newly recorded by session musicians. He added female backing singers to one track, and claimed co-composer credit on several tracks that he had altered. On the much later ''[[Voodoo Soup]]'' compilation album Douglas is known to have wiped original drum tracks on two songs and replaced them with [[The Knack]]'s [[Bruce Gary]]. Second, on the 1993 CD releases of Hendrix's three studio albums, the original album artwork and packaging were scrapped in favour of new renderings of the [[Jimi Hendrix Experience]].

Douglas's work on Hendrix releases was defended by rock journalist and critic [[John Masouri]], who in 2001 called him "one of the last great musical visionaries", and said he had been right to try to improve the original tracks: "wisely he'd also edited out passages where Jimi had toyed with a riff repeatedly, searching for just the right phrase... All things considered, it's highly unlikely that Hendrix would have sanctioned the release of poorly executed material, yet the die was cast, and the producer has been branded a controversial figure ever since."<ref name="weber">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/alan-douglas-who-mined-hendrix-archive-dies-at-82.html?_r=0|title=Alan Douglas, Who Mined Hendrix Archive, Dies at 82|last=Weber|first=Bruce|date=June 14, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> Supposedly, Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer [[Mitch Mitchell]] also approved of Douglas's decision to utilize sessions musicians on Hendrix releases, because "some of the original playing had been sub-standard."<ref name="Masouri"/>

However, in interviews,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.makingascene.org/john-mclaughlin |title=John McLaughlin – Featured Artist: John McLaughlin Interview |last=Putignano |first=Bob |website=makingascene.org |date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> guitarist [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] has criticized Douglas's handling of his own LP ''[[Devotion (John McLaughlin album)|Devotion]]'' (1970), as well, closely related to Hendrix's ''[[Band of Gypsys]]'' sessions. But [[Umar Bin Hassan]], a member of the Last Poets, said following Douglas's death that "whether you liked him or didn't, you had to admit that he was one of the giants in what he did, which was to put out responsible, intelligent and remarkable music."<ref name="weber"/> Douglas was credited with being the first record producer to record a hip hop album after he recorded [[Jimi Hendrix]] (bass and guitar), [[Buddy Miles]] and [[Jalal Nurridin]] of [[The Last Poets]] on a rap song named Doriella DuFontaine'' (only released in 1986).{{fact|date=December 2022}}

In 1995, Douglas lost control of the Hendrix archive to Hendrix's father, Al. After years of legal wrangling, Douglas was able to obtain the right to compile Hendrix's writings into a book, ''Starting At Zero'', which was published in late 2013. He was also planning a documentary film of the same title which remained unreleased at the time of his death.<ref name="weber"/>

==Death==
Douglas died at his home in Paris, France, on June 7, 2014, of complications after a fall. He was married four times, and had two daughters and a stepson.<ref name="weber"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Stef Lach |url=http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2014-06-09/hendrix-producer-douglas-dies-at-81 |title=Hendrix producer Douglas dies at 81 - Classic Rock |website=Classicrock.teamrock.com |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=2014-06-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0000524892|label=Alan Douglas}}
* {{Discogs artist|Alan Douglas|Alan Douglas}}

{{Jimi Hendrix}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Alan}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Record producers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Boston]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in France]]

Jumpin' at the Woodside

2024-11-28T21:32:47Z

John julie white: /* Other recordings and appearances */

{{about|the composition by Count Basie|the album by Buck Clayton|Jumpin' at the Woodside (album)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Jumpin' at the Woodside
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Count Basie]]
| album =
| released = December 17, 1938<ref name=encyclo/>
| format =
| recorded = August 22, 1938<ref name=encyclo/>
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Swing music|Swing]]
| length =
| label = [[Decca Records|Decca]]
| writer = [[Count Basie]], [[Eddie Durham]]<ref name=encyclo /><ref name=nicholson />
| producer =
}}

"'''Jumpin' at the Woodside'''" is a song first recorded in 1938 by the [[Count Basie Orchestra]], and considered one of the band's signature tunes. When first released it reached number 11 on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' charts]] and remained on them for four weeks. Since then, it has become a frequently recorded [[jazz standard]].

==Song details==

The song was recorded on August 22, 1938 for [[Decca Records|Decca]] and was released on December 17 of that year.<ref name=encyclo>{{cite book |last=Sullivan |first=Steve |date=2013 |title=Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volume 2 |location=Minneapolis |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |page=455 |isbn= 9780810882959 | oclc= 793224285 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA455}}</ref> It charted as high as #11<ref name=encyclo/> and was on the charts for four weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tsort.info/music/yr1938.htm |title=Songs from the Year 1938 | website=TSORT - The World's Music Charts | access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref> That original 1938 recording features solos by [[Earle Warren]] (alto sax), [[Buck Clayton]] (trumpet), [[Lester Young]] (tenor sax), and [[Herschel Evans]] (clarinet).<ref name=encyclo2>{{cite book |last=Larkin | first=Colin | author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)| date=2011 | title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 5th Edition |location=London |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] | isbn=978-0857125958 |oclc=804879997 }}</ref>

The song is considered one of the Basie band's "signature" tunes,<ref name="paste">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/09/count-basie-orchestra-jumpin-at-the-woodside-count-basie.html |title=Review: Count Basie Orchestra - Jumpin' at the Woodside | magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] | author=Milkowski, Bill | date=September 2013 | access-date=February 26, 2017 | quote=They kick off this Carnegie set with a Basie signature piece, "Jumping at the Woodside," named for the hotel where the band was based and where it also rehearsed when it first hit New York City. This driving number, fueled by swinging rhythm section and sparked by the shout choruses from the horn section... }}</ref><ref name=green /> a "favorite",<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/worldfolkandjazz/11045834/Count-Basie-a-jazz-pioneer-who-still-inspires.html |title=Count Basie: a jazz pioneer who still inspires | author=Chilton, Martin |date=August 21, 2014 | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=February 26, 2017 |quote=...soaring majestically on favourites such as Jumpin' at the Woodside, Li'l Darlin' and April in Paris. }}</ref> and even "a definition of swing."<ref name=encyclo2/>

While many liner notes credit the tune only to Basie, historians and others also credit band member [[Eddie Durham]].<ref name=encyclo /><ref name=nicholson /> Like many Basie numbers of that era, it was a "[[head arrangement]]" collaboratively created by the band.<ref name=green>{{cite book|title=Rhythm Is My Beat: Jazz Guitar Great Freddie Green and the Count Basie Sound|last=Green|first=Alfred|year=2015|location=Lanham, Maryland|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|oclc= 904715782|isbn=9781442242463|page=57|quote=Another Durham tune, "John's Idea," paid tribute to John Hammond, who was always in attendance during band rehearsals in the basement of the legendary Woodside Hotel in Harlem. This gathering place for black musicians and entertainers became the inspiration for one of Basie's key signature tunes, "Jumpin' at the Woodside." The Count takes credit as author of this tune but because of its multi-influenced beginnings, with a mixture of "Jammin' for the Jackpot" and "I Gotta Swing," both credited to Eli Robinson, it is listed in Chris Sheridan's Count Basie: A Bio-Discography as "head" (collaborative spontaneous arrangement). It was not uncommon in a Basie recording session to create on the spot where collective pooling of riffs and melodies were born without giving thought as to whose composition it was. If more than two writers were involved in the collaboration, it probably got tagged "Basie."}}</ref> Sullivan indicates Durham wrote the tune in 1937 and then Basie refined it.<ref name=encyclo/> The tune was based on earlier songs such as ''Jammin' for the Jackpot'' and ''John's Idea''. Durham had left the band by the time it was recorded.<ref name=encyclo/>

The word "jumpin" in the title is a [[triple entendre]] – it means lively as in "the joint is jumping", a synonym for dancing or a synonym for sex.<ref name=Jones>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Albert | author-link=Albert Murray (writer)|date=2011 |title=Rifftide: The Life and Opinions of Papa Jo Jones |location=Minneapolis |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |page=146 |isbn= 9780816673001 |quote=Jumping, or jumping up and down, was slang for sex. Hence the title of one of Basie's best-known tunes, "Jumpin' at the Woodside," is a triple entendre. It could be jumping as in "the joint is jumping"; or lively, jumping as in dancing; or jumping as in sex. The Woodside Hotel was a favorite spot for dalliances with prostitutes. Jones often recalls the band going up to the Woodside to "buy booty on credit."}}</ref>

==The Woodside Hotel==
The location in the title refers to the Woodside Hotel, which was located on [[Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)|Seventh Avenue]] at 142nd Street in [[Harlem]] (and has since been demolished).<ref name=nicholson /> It was operated by Love B. Woods, an [[African-American]]<ref name=lester>{{cite book |last=Lester |first=Larry |date=2001 |title=Black Baseball's National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, 1933-1953 |location=Lincoln, Nebraska |publisher=[[University of Nebraska Press]] |page=306 |isbn=9780803280007 | oclc= 45951683 |quote=Customarily, teams in New York stayed at the Woodside Hotel, a black-owned hotel.}}</ref> who operated a number of "dingy flophouses", some of which had "unsavory reputation[s]".<ref name=wilson /> But the Woodside distinguished itself by becoming a popular place for jazz musicians and [[Negro league baseball]] teams to stay while in New York during [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregation]].<ref name=dreams>{{cite book|last1=Robinson|first1=Frazier|last2=Bauer|first2=Paul|title=Catching Dreams: My Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues|url=https://archive.org/details/catchingdreamsmy00fraz|url-access=registration|date=1999|location=Syracuse|publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/catchingdreamsmy00fraz/page/n160 131]|isbn=9780585248127|oclc=45731507|quote=When the Elites went to New York, we stayed at the Woodside Hotel. The Woodside was a famous hotel because that's where a lot of jazz musicians stayed. There was even a song about it called "Jumpin' at the Woodside." It was a favorite of Count Basie's Band....They had a nightclub right there at the Woodside, so you could stay there and go see the show that evening.}}</ref> Later, Woods would become better known for his involvement in operating the [[Hotel Theresa]], a much more upscale hotel that was called the "Waldorf of Harlem".<ref name=wilson>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Sondra K.|title=Meet Me at the Theresa: The Story of Harlem's Most Famous Hotel|url=https://archive.org/details/meetmeattheresa00wils|url-access=registration|date=February 17, 2004|location=New York|publisher=[[Atria Books]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/meetmeattheresa00wils/page/n82 63]|isbn=9781451646160|oclc= 869437155}}</ref>

The band stayed at the Woodside repeatedly and even rehearsed in the basement of the hotel.<ref name=dance>{{cite book|last=Dance|first=Stanley|author-link=Stanley Dance|title=The World of Count Basie|date=1980|location=New York|publisher=[[Da Capo Press]]|page=78|oclc= 6331123 |isbn= 9780684166049|quote=(Earle Warren) When we finally got to New York, I moved into the Woodside Hotel, on 142nd Street....There were a lot of ballplayers....The band had stayed there before, when they played the Apollo....There were cooking facilities in some rooms, and a big kitchen where people could cook and take food up to their rooms....it was like a music house, and we rehearsed in the basement.}}</ref>
Singer [[Ella Fitzgerald]] (who sometimes performed with the band) also stayed at the Woodside in 1937 when the band was playing at the [[Roseland Ballroom]].<ref name=nicholson>{{cite book |last=Nicholson |first=Stuart |date=2004 |title=Ella Fitzgerald: A Biography of the First Lady of Jazz, Updated Edition |location=London |publisher=Routledge |pages=50–51 |isbn= 9781136788130 | oclc=884745086 |quote=Toward the end of 1937, Ella moved again, this time to the Woodside Hotel at 2424 Seventh Avenue at 142nd Street, to be close to Jo Jones, the drummer from the Count Basie band. The band had recently hit town and was playing the Roseland Ballroom, and most of its members were staying at the Woodside, which achieved a kind of immortality with Basie's hit "Jumpin' at the Woodside....Drummer Hal Austin remembered Ella at the Woodside: 'When she was living in the Woodside Hotel, 'Jumpin' at the Woodside'! Eddie Durham wrote that tune. That was a good-time building!'"}}</ref>

==Other recordings and appearances==
The song was used in famous [[Lindy Hop]] dance numbers by the troupe [[Whitey's Lindy Hoppers]] in the Broadway show ''[[Hellzapoppin (musical)|Hellzapoppin]]'' as well as other shows of that era.<ref name=hellza>{{cite book|title=The Screamlined Revue! Hellzapoppin (Audience Guide)|url=http://www.americancentury.org/ag_hellzapoppin.pdf|last1=Marshall|first1=Jack|last2=Krentzlin|first2=Doug|last3=Fuller|first3=Thomas D.|location=Arlington, VA|publisher=The American Century Theater|page=15|quote=Lastly, and most famously, were Whitey's Steppers, popularly known as "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers." Almost all of the major songs in the original show were accompanied by dance routines, but the Lindy Hop routine (performed to the song "Jumping at the Woodside") was by far the most famous. Astounding in its accuracy and athleticism, it took the audience’s breath away every night. Fortunately, a version of the routine (to different music) is preserved in the otherwise forgettable 1941 film version of Hellzapoppin.}}</ref><ref name=ambassador>{{cite book | last=Manning | first=Frankie|author-link=Frankie Manning|author2=Cynthia R. Millman | title=Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop | year=2007 | publisher=Temple University Press | location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |oclc= 76261647| isbn=978-1-59213-563-9 | pages=162, 172, 176|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cPdDLXYWWaUC&q=woodside}}</ref> The routine was recorded in the [[Hellzapoppin' (film)|1941 film version]] which can be seen on [[YouTube]]<ref name=ytlindy>{{cite web|title=Hellzapoppin' to "Jumpin' at the Woodside"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdWgHtTau48 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/VdWgHtTau48 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|date=August 15, 2007|access-date=February 15, 2016|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (though the movie was released with different music over the sequence for licensing reasons).<ref name=ambassador />

In addition to numerous Basie recordings over the years, the song has been recorded by a number of artists including [[Lionel Hampton]],<ref>on ''[[Hamp and Getz]]'' (1955)</ref> [[Monk Montgomery]],<ref>on ''[[Monk Montgomery in Africa...Live!]]'' (1975)</ref> [[Oscar Peterson]],<ref>on ''[[Oscar Peterson Plays Count Basie]]'' (1955) and ''[[Satch and Josh]]'' (1974)</ref> [[Django Reinhardt]],<ref>on ''Alix Combelle and his Swing Band'' (1940)</ref> [[Buddy Rich]], <ref>on ''[[Buddy Rich in Miami]]'' (1958), ''[[Burnin' Beat]]'' (1962) and ''[[Very Live at Buddy's Place]]'' (1974)</ref> and others. It was also arranged as a mambo by [[Pérez Prado]] Y Su Orquesta in 1955. In 1957, [[Jon Hendricks]] wrote lyrics to the tune to be performed by [[Lambert, Hendricks & Ross]].<ref>recorded on ''[[Sing Along with Basie]]'' (1958) and ''[[Havin' a Ball at the Village Gate]]'' (1963)</ref>

The appearances of [[Gene Gene the Dancing Machine]] on ''[[The Gong Show]]'' would be prefaced with the opening bars of the song.<ref name=THR>{{cite web|last=Barnes |first=Mike |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gene-patton-dead-gong-show-781394 |title=Gene Patton Dead: 'Gong Show' Dancing Machine Was 82 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=March 13, 2015 |access-date=February 28, 2017 |quote=At a random moment during the game show, Barris would introduce Patton, and the curtain would part, bringing the shuffling stagehand with the painter’s cap onstage to the sounds of “Jumpin’ at the Woodside,” a jazz tune made popular by Count Basie. His dance sent everyone on the set — Barris, the judges, the cameramen, the audience — into an uncontrollable boogie.}}</ref>

The song is heard in the 1993 film ''[[Swing Kids (1993 film)|Swing Kids]]''<ref>see'' [[Swing Kids (soundtrack)|Swing Kids]]'' soundtrack, track 11</ref> and in broadway musicals such as 1999's ''[[Swing!]]'' and 2010's ''[[Come Fly Away]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2010/03/frank_sinatra_lands_on_broadwa.html |title=Frank Sinatra lands on Broadway | author=Hyman, Vicki | date=March 21, 2010 | website=[[NJ.com]] | access-date=February 26, 2017 | quote="Come Fly Away" embraces the American song book, including works not primarily associated with Sinatra and even instrumental showcases like Count Basie's "Jumpin' at the Woodside," which concludes the first act. }}</ref>

In the video game [[Fallout 76]], the Count Basie version of the song is played on the in-game radio station 'Appalachia Radio'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamewatcher.com/guides/fallout-76-soundtrack-all-fallout-76-songs-on-appalachia-radio|title = Fallout 76 Soundtrack - All Fallout 76 Songs on | GameWatcher}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Count Basie}}
{{Count Basie Orchestra}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jumpin at the Woodside}}
[[Category:Count Basie]]
[[Category:1938 songs]]
[[Category:1938 singles]]
[[Category:1930s jazz standards]]
[[Category:Songs about New York City]]

Bruno Blum

2024-11-01T17:45:25Z

John julie white: /* Books */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])
* ''Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967-1962 - Soul Revolution - raconté par les historiens du reggae'' (Frémeaux et Associés) co-written by [[Roger Steffens]] and Leroy Jodie Pierson.

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French section).
* ''Les Mots de la musique, 222 musiciens du XXe siècle par 222 écrivains'' under the supervision of Franck Médioni (Fayard, 2024).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)
* ''The Indispensable Doo Wop, Vocal Groups 1934-1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
* ''Chronological Dictionary of Rock 1945-1962'' (4-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-11-01T17:45:08Z

John julie white: /* Books */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])
* ''Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967-1962 - Soul Revolution - raconté par les historiens du reggae'' (Frémeaux et Associés) co-written by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Leroy Jodie Pierson]].

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French section).
* ''Les Mots de la musique, 222 musiciens du XXe siècle par 222 écrivains'' under the supervision of Franck Médioni (Fayard, 2024).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)
* ''The Indispensable Doo Wop, Vocal Groups 1934-1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
* ''Chronological Dictionary of Rock 1945-1962'' (4-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-27T21:05:49Z

John julie white: /* Contributions */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French section).
* ''Les Mots de la musique, 222 musiciens du XXe siècle par 222 écrivains'' under the supervision of Franck Médioni (Fayard, 2024).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)
* ''The Indispensable Doo Wop, Vocal Groups 1934-1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
* ''Chronological Dictionary of Rock 1945-1962'' (4-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-15T15:29:05Z

John julie white: /* CD booklets */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French section).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)
* ''The Indispensable Doo Wop, Vocal Groups 1934-1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
* ''Chronological Dictionary of Rock 1945-1962'' (4-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-10T19:54:18Z

John julie white: /* CD booklets */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French section).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
* ''Chronological Dictionary of Rock 1945-1962'' (4-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2024)

French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-10T19:42:21Z

John julie white: /* Contributions */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French section).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-10T19:41:32Z

John julie white: /* Contributions */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-10T19:41:03Z

John julie white: /* Contributions */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-10T19:40:33Z

John julie white: /* As an artist and script writer */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #3 - Sabotez une chasse à courre'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' magazine (À Base de Plantes) Hunters special issue #0 (2023), Animal farming special issue #1 (2023), Corrida special issue #2 (2024), Fox hunting special issue (2024).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-10-10T19:39:43Z

John julie white: /* Contributions */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' magazine (À Base de Plantes) Hunters special issue #0 (2023), Animal farming special issue #1 (2023), Corrida special issue #2 (2024), Fox hunting special issue (2024).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.
* ''Invader in Conversation With Hans Ulrich Obrist'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (French and English, Heni, 2024), rewriting and footnotes (French text).

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-08-18T11:19:25Z

John julie white: /* CD booklets */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-08-18T11:18:18Z

John julie white: /* CD booklets */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad-Pense à Moi 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad-55 2002)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

JAD Records

2024-07-15T10:15:57Z

John julie white:

Formed in 1967 '''JAD Records''' was a [[record label]] that was co-owned by [[Johnny Nash]], producer [[Arthur Jenkins (producer)|Arthur Jenkins]], and businessman [[Danny Sims]], whose initials formed its logo. JAD Records was the label which signed [[Bob Marley]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Bunny Wailer]] and [[Rita Marley]] to an exclusive long-term contract as recording artists from 1968 to 1972.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kenner|first=Rob|date=2012-10-30|title=Danny Sims, Producer Who Signed Bob Marley, Dies at 75|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/31/arts/music/danny-sims-producer-of-bob-marley-dies-at-75.html|access-date=2020-07-22|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Other notable artists to sign with the label included [[Johnny Nash]] himself, [[Byron Lee]] [https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/byron_lee_and_the_dragonaires/every_day_will_be_a_holiday___slow_run_f1/], Neville Willoughby [https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?a=156246] and later [[Jimmy Cliff]].

In 1996 JAD released a set of reworked songs from the early years of Bob Marley's career on an album called ''Soul Almighty - The Formative Years Vol 1''. This was followed by ''Black Progress - The Formative Years Vol 2''. Both albums used the vocal tracks from Bob's early material from the 1960s and added modern backing tracks including vocals from Rita Marley, Bob's son Ziggy and members of the Melody Makers. The response to these modern day remixes was so hostile that the label released the groundbreaking ''Complete Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967 to 1972'' series produced by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Bruno Blum]] containing over 240 original tracks over the next six years, including more than a hundred previously unreleased recordings. Despite their best efforts they could not license the tracks that were already under contract to Island (as part of the ''[[Songs Of Freedom]]'' box set). However, several years later they managed to license all the tracks and various sets containing some of them were reissued on the now JAD/Universal records in 2004.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.soulrebels.org Soul Rebels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628180954/http://www.soulrebels.org/ |date=2011-06-28 }} Bob Marley, Jad-Patrick Yafaoui & The Wailers 1962-1972

{{Johnny Nash}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American record labels]]
[[Category:Reggae record labels]]

{{US-record-label-stub}}

Bruno Blum

2024-06-25T20:16:42Z

John julie white:

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, visual artist, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-06-18T17:57:56Z

John julie white: /* 2010s */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his fellow artist friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-06-18T17:56:57Z

John julie white: /* 2020s */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by the French Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-06-18T17:55:48Z

John julie white: /* 2010s */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. He contributed to several of his friend [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s books in the following decade. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-06-18T15:40:37Z

John julie white: /* As an artist and script writer */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades'' (BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-06-18T15:39:43Z

John julie white: /* As an artist and script writer */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.docreggae.com/}}
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|date=24 August 2015 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|date=2 November 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books.<ref>Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com</ref>

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|date=2 April 2008 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|date=22 July 2010 |accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=- YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades''(BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #2 - Mort au matador'' (À Base de Plantes 2024, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-03-11T14:44:50Z

John julie white: /* Early life */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.docreggae.com/]
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books<ref>{{Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com}}</ref>.

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1971 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades''(BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-03-11T14:43:40Z

John julie white: /* Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.docreggae.com/]
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]. He also published several independent animal rights cartoon books<ref>{{Bruno Blum animal rights cartoons can be seen here: bruno-blum.com}}</ref>.

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1972 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades''(BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Chet Atkins

2024-03-10T16:20:04Z

John julie white: /* Early musical career */

{{Short description|American country music guitarist (1924–2001)}}
{{Redirect|Chester Atkins|the former U.S. congressman|Chester G. Atkins}}
{{Redirect|Mr. Guitar|the album by Charlie Byrd|Mr. Guitar (album)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chet Atkins
| image = Chet Atkins.jpg
| birth_name = Chester Burton Atkins
| alias = "Mr. Guitar", "The Country Gentleman"
| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|6|20}}
| birth_place = [[Luttrell, Tennessee]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|6|30|1924|6|20}}
| death_place = [[Nashville, Tennessee]], U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Country music|Country]]
*[[Pop music|pop]]
*[[Rock music|rock]]
*[[Folk music|folk]]
*[[rockabilly]]
*[[country rock]]}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
*Musician
*songwriter
*producer
}}
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active = 1942–1996
| label = [[RCA Victor]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| associated_acts = {{hlist|The Country All-Stars|[[Arthur Fiedler]]|[[Les Paul]]|[[Jerry Reed]]|[[Hank Snow]]|[[Merle Travis]]|[[The Carter Sisters]]|[[Mark Knopfler]]|[[Tommy Emmanuel]]|Jim Carney}}
| website = {{URL|misterguitar.com}}
}}

'''Chester Burton Atkins''' (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), also known as "'''Mr. Guitar'''" and "'''The Country Gentleman'''", was an American musician who, along with [[Owen Bradley]] and [[Bob Ferguson (musician)|Bob Ferguson]], helped create the [[Nashville sound]], the [[country music]] style which expanded its appeal to adult pop music fans. He was primarily a guitarist, but he also played the mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and ukulele, and occasionally sang.

Atkins's signature picking style was inspired by [[Merle Travis]]. Other major guitar influences were [[Django Reinhardt]], [[George Barnes (musician)|George Barnes]], [[Les Paul]], and, later, [[Jerry Reed]].<ref name=pc10/> His distinctive picking style and musicianship brought him admirers inside and outside the country scene, both in the United States and abroad. Atkins spent most of his career at [[RCA Victor]] and produced records for the [[The Browns|Browns]], [[Hank Snow]], [[Porter Wagoner]], [[Norma Jean (singer)|Norma Jean]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Dottie West]], [[Perry Como]], [[Floyd Cramer]], [[Elvis Presley]], the [[Everly Brothers]], [[Eddy Arnold]], [[Don Gibson]], [[Jim Reeves]], [[Jerry Reed]], [[Skeeter Davis]], [[Waylon Jennings]], [[Roger Whittaker]], [[Ann-Margret]] and many others.

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' credited Atkins with inventing the "popwise 'Nashville sound' that rescued country music from a commercial slump" and ranked him number 21 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".<ref name="Chet Atkins">[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/chet-atkins-20111122 "Chet Atkins"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827202538/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/chet-atkins-20111122 |date=August 27, 2017 }}. ''Rolling Stone''.</ref> In 2023, Atkins was named the 39th best guitarist of all time.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-10-13 |title=The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Among many other honors, Atkins received 14 [[Grammy Award]]s and the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]. He also received nine [[Country Music Association]] awards for Instrumentalist of the Year. He was inducted into the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]], the [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]], and the [[Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum]]. [[George Harrison]] was also inspired by Chet Atkins; early Beatles songs such as "[[All My Loving]]" show the influence.

==Biography==

===Childhood and early life===
Atkins was born on June 20, 1924, in [[Luttrell, Tennessee]], near [[Clinch Mountain]]. His parents divorced when he was six years old, after which he was raised by his mother. He was the youngest of three boys and a girl. He started out on the [[ukulele]], later moving on to the [[fiddle]], but he made a swap with his brother Lowell when he was nine: an old pistol and some chores for a guitar.<ref name="CMT">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/atkins_chet/bio.jhtml |title=Country Music Television biography. |publisher=CMT |access-date=March 28, 2008}}</ref> He stated in his 1974 autobiography, "We were so poor and everybody around us was so poor that it was the forties before anyone even knew there had been a depression." Forced to relocate to Fortson, [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], outside of [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]] to live with his father because of a critical [[asthma]] condition, Atkins was a sensitive youth who became obsessed with music. Because of his illness, he was forced to sleep in a straight-back chair to breathe comfortably. On those nights, he played his guitar until he fell asleep holding it, a habit that lasted his whole life.<ref name="CG">Atkins, Chet; Neely, Bill (1974). "Country Gentleman." Chicago. Harry Regnery. {{ISBN|0-8092-9051-0}}.</ref> While living in Fortson, Atkins attended the historic{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} Mountain Hill School. He returned in the 1990s to play a series of charity concerts to save the school from demolition.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Rush
| first = Dianne Samms
| title = Chet Plays; Gatlin Lives
| newspaper = Lakeland Ledger
| location = Lakeland, Florida
| page = 9C
| date = October 23, 1994
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19941023&id=9KpNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2822,1595083
| access-date = July 6, 2012}}</ref>
Stories have been told about the very young Chet who, when a friend or relative would come to visit and play guitar, crowded the musician and put his ear so close to the instrument that it became difficult for the visitor to play.<ref name="CG" />

Atkins became an accomplished guitarist while he was in high school.<ref name="CMT" /> He used the restroom in the school to practice because it had good acoustics.<ref>Atkins, Chet; Neely, Bill (1974). "Country Gentleman". Chicago. Harry Regnery. p. 52. {{ISBN|0-8092-9051-0}}.</ref><ref>[[David Halberstam|Halberstam, David]] (1961). liner notes. ''Chet Atkins' Workshop''. [[RCA Victor]] LSP-2232.</ref> His first guitar had a nail for a nut and was so bowed that only the first few frets could be used.<ref name="mamg">Atkins, Chet; Cochran, Russ (2003). "Me and My Guitars." Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. {{ISBN|0-634-05565-8}}.</ref> He later purchased a semi-acoustic electric guitar and amp, but he had to travel many miles to find an electrical outlet, since his home didn't have electricity.<ref>Atkins, Chet; Neely, Bill. (1974). "Country Gentleman." Chicago. Harry Regnery. pp. 61–62. {{ISBN|0-8092-9051-0}}.</ref>

Later in life, he lightheartedly gave himself (along with [[John Knowles (guitarist)|John Knowles]], [[Tommy Emmanuel]], [[Steve Wariner]], and [[Jerry Reed]]<ref>{{YouTube|M8AXs6oRPnQ|'Interview of Chet Atkins'}}</ref>) the honorary degree CGP ("Certified Guitar Player").<ref name="mamg" />
In 2011, his daughter Merle Atkins Russell bestowed the CGP degree on his longtime sideman [[Paul Yandell]]. She then declared no more CGPs would be allowed by the Atkins estate.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Freeman
| first = Jon
| title = A Guitarist Paul Yandell Passes
| url = http://www.musicrow.com/2011/11/guitarist-paul-yandell-passes/
| publisher = Music Row
| date = November 22, 2011
| access-date = July 6, 2012}}</ref>

His half-brother Jim was a successful guitarist who worked with the [[Les Paul Trio]] in New York.<ref name="CG" />

Atkins did not have a strong style of his own until 1939 when (while still living in Georgia) he heard [[Merle Travis]] picking over [[WLW]] radio.<ref name="CG" /><ref>*[http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=99 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014040342/http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=99 |date=October 14, 2007 }}</ref> This early influence dramatically shaped his unique playing style.<ref name=pc10/> Whereas Travis used his index finger on his right hand for the melody and his thumb for the bass notes, Atkins expanded his right-hand style to include picking with his first three fingers, with the thumb on bass. He also listened closely to the single-string playing of [[George Barnes (musician)|George Barnes]] and [[Les Paul]].

Chet Atkins was an [[amateur radio]] general class licensee. Formerly using the call sign WA4CZD, he obtained the vanity call sign W4CGP in 1998 to include the CGP designation, which supposedly stood for "Certified Guitar Picker". He was a member of the [[American Radio Relay League]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arrl.org/pages/display/error404|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050920143059/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/07/02/1/?nc=1|url-status=dead|title=American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources|archive-date=September 20, 2005|website=Arrl.org}}</ref>

===Early musical career===
After dropping out of high school in 1942, Atkins landed a job at [[WNML (AM)|WNOX (AM)]] (now WNML) radio in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]], where he played fiddle and guitar with the singer [[Bill Carlisle]] and the comic [[Archie Campbell (comedian)|Archie Campbell]] and became a member of the station's Dixieland Swingsters, a small swing instrumental combo. After three years, he moved to [[WLW|WLW-AM]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], where Merle Travis had formerly worked.

After six months, he moved to Raleigh and worked with [[Johnnie and Jack]] before heading for [[Richmond, Virginia]], where he performed with [[Sunshine Sue|Sunshine Sue Workman]]. Atkins's shy personality worked against him, as did the fact that his sophisticated style led many to doubt he was truly "country". He was fired often but was soon able to land another job at another radio station on account of his unique playing ability.<ref name="CG" />

Atkins and [[Jethro Burns]] (of [[Homer and Jethro]]) married twin sisters Leona and Lois Johnson, who sang as Laverne and Fern Johnson, the Johnson Sisters. Leona Atkins outlived her husband by eight years, dying in 2009 at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=3389 |title=Chet Atkins' Widow Dies |date=October 22, 2009 |work=Country Standard Time |access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref>

Travelling to Chicago, Atkins auditioned for [[Red Foley]], who was leaving his star position on [[WLS (AM)|WLS-AM]]'s ''[[National Barn Dance]]'' to join the [[Grand Ole Opry]].<ref name="RollingStone">[https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5931727/chet_atkins_dies/print "Chet Atkins Dies"]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''Rolling Stone''. Accessed on March 28, 2008.</ref> Atkins made his first appearance at the Opry in 1946 as a member of Foley's band. He also recorded a single for Nashville-based [[Bullet Records]] that year. That single, "Guitar Blues", was fairly progressive, including a clarinet solo by the Nashville dance band musician Dutch McMillan and produced by [[Owen Bradley]]. He had a solo spot on the Opry, but when that was cut, Atkins moved on to [[KWTO (AM)|KWTO]] in [[Springfield, Missouri]]. Despite the support of executive [[Si Siman]], however, he soon was fired for not sounding "country enough".<ref name="CG" />

===Signing with RCA Victor===
While working with a Western band in [[Denver, Colorado]], Atkins came to the attention of [[RCA Victor Records|RCA Victor]]. Siman had been encouraging [[Stephen H. Sholes|Steve Sholes]] to sign Atkins, as his style (with the success of Merle Travis as a hit recording artist) was suddenly in vogue. Sholes, A&R director of country music at RCA, tracked Atkins down in Denver.

He made his first RCA Victor recordings in Chicago in 1947, but they did not sell. He did some studio work for RCA that year, but had relocated to Knoxville again where he worked with Homer and Jethro on WNOX's new Saturday night radio show ''The Tennessee Barn Dance'' and the popular ''Midday Merry Go Round''.

In 1949, he left WNOX to join [[June Carter]] with Mother Maybelle and the [[The Carter Sisters|Carter Sisters]] on KWTO. This incarnation of the [[Carter Family]] featured Maybelle Carter and daughters June, Helen, and Anita. Their work soon attracted attention from the Grand Ole Opry. The group relocated to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] in the mid-1950s. Atkins began working on recording sessions and performing on [[WSM (AM)|WSM-AM]] and the Opry.<ref name="CG" /> Atkins became a member of the Opry in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Opry Timeline – 1950s
| url = http://www.opry.com/about/Timeline_1950.html
| access-date = July 2, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190330032424/https://www.opry.com/about/Timeline_1950.html
| archive-date = March 30, 2019
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

While he had not yet had a hit record for RCA Victor, his stature was growing. He began assisting Sholes as a session leader when the New York–based producer needed help organizing Nashville sessions for RCA Victor artists. Atkins's first hit single was "[[Mr. Sandman]]", followed by "Silver Bell", which he recorded as a duet with [[Hank Snow]]. His albums also became more popular. He was featured on ABC-TV's ''[[The Eddy Arnold Show]]'' in the summer of 1956 and on ''[[Ozark Jubilee|Country Music Jubilee]]'' in 1957 and 1958 (by then renamed ''Jubilee USA'').
[[File:Gretsch G6122-1958.jpg|thumb|upright|Atkins's [[Gretsch]] Country Gentleman, model G6122, 1962]]

In addition to recording, Atkins was a design consultant for [[Gretsch]], which manufactured a popular Chet Atkins line of electric guitars from 1955 to 1980. He became manager of RCA Victor's Nashville studios, eventually inspiring and seeing the completion of the legendary [[RCA Studio B]], the first studio built specifically for the purpose of recording on the now-famous [[Music Row]]. Also later on, Chet and [[Owen Bradley]] would become instrumental in the creation of studio B's adjacent building [[RCA Studio A]] as well.<ref name="mamg" />

===Performer and producer===
When Sholes took over pop production in 1957—a result of his success with [[Elvis Presley]]—he put Atkins in charge of RCA Victor's Nashville division. With country music record sales declining as rock and roll became more popular, Atkins took his cue from [[Owen Bradley]] and eliminated fiddles and steel guitar from many recordings, though not all, as a means of making country singers appeal to pop fans, many of whom disliked the "twang" elements of country. This became known as the [[Nashville Sound]], which Atkins said was a label created by the media for a style of recording during that period intended to keep country (and their jobs) viable.

Atkins used the [[Jordanaires]] and a rhythm section on hits such as [[Jim Reeves]]'s "[[Four Walls (Jim Reeves song)|Four Walls]]" and "[[He'll Have to Go]]"<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r245817|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry for ''Welcome to My World'', Jim Reeves 1996 box set, Bear Family Records]</ref> and [[Don Gibson]]'s "[[Oh Lonesome Me]]" and "Blue Blue Day".<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1624|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic biography of Don Gibson]</ref> The once-rare phenomenon of having a country hit [[Crossover (music)|cross over]] to pop success became more common. He and Bradley had essentially put the producer in the driver's seat, guiding an artist's choice of material and the musical background. Other Nashville producers quickly copied this successful formula, which resulted in certain country hits "crossing over" to find success in the pop field.

Atkins made his own records, which usually visited pop standards and [[jazz]], in a sophisticated home studio, often recording the rhythm tracks at RCA and adding his solo parts at home, refining the tracks until the results satisfied him.<ref name="mamg" /> Guitarists of all styles came to admire various Atkins albums for their unique musical ideas and in some cases experimental electronic ideas. In this period, he became known internationally as "Mister Guitar", inspiring an album, ''[[Mister Guitar]]'', engineered by both Bob Ferris and [[Bill Porter (sound engineer)|Bill Porter]], Ferris's replacement.

[[File:RCA Studio B - Chet Atkins, Bill Porter.jpg|thumb|upright|Atkins listening as [[Bill Porter (sound engineer)|Bill Porter]] adjusts a mix in RCA's Nashville studio]]
At the end of March 1959, Porter took over as chief engineer at what was at the time RCA Victor's only Nashville studio, in the space that would become known as [[RCA Studio B|Studio B]] after the opening of a second studio in 1960. (At the time, RCA's sole Nashville studio had no letter designation.) Porter soon helped Atkins get a better reverberation sound from the studio's German effects device, an [[Elektro-Mess-Technik|EMT]] [[Reverberation#Plate reverberators|plate reverb]]. With his [[golden ear]], Porter found the studio's acoustics to be problematic, and he devised a set of acoustic baffles to hang from the ceiling, then selected positions for microphones based on resonant [[room modes]]. The sound of the recordings improved significantly, and the studio achieved a string of successes. The Nashville sound became more [[Dynamic range|dynamic]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ballou|first=Glen|title=Handbook for Sound Engineers|year=1998|publisher=Focal Press|page=1154}}</ref> In later years, when Bradley asked how he achieved his sound, Atkins told him "it was Porter."<ref name=McClellan2004>{{cite book |last1=McClellan |first1=John |last2=Bratic |first2=Deyan |title=Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mmCUExOXx0MC |volume=2 |year=2004 |publisher=Mel Bay Publications |isbn=978-0-7866-5877-0 |pages=149–152}}</ref> Porter described Atkins as respectful of musicians when recording—if someone was out of tune, he would not single that person out by name. Instead, he would say something like, "we got a little tuning problem ... Everybody check and see what's going on."<ref name=McClellan2004/> If that did not work, Atkins would instruct Porter to turn the offending player down in the mix. When Porter left RCA in late-1964, Atkins said, "the sound was never the same, never as great."<ref name=McClellan2004/>

Atkins's trademark "Atkins style" of playing uses the thumb and first two or sometimes three fingers of the right hand. He developed this style from listening to Merle Travis,<ref name=pc10>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19758/m1/ |title=Show 10 – Tennessee Firebird: American Country Music Before and After Elvis. [Part 2] }}</ref> occasionally on a primitive radio. He was sure no one could play that articulately with just the thumb and index finger (which was exactly how Travis played), and he assumed it required the thumb and two fingers—and that was the style he pioneered and mastered.

He enjoyed jamming with fellow studio musicians, and they were asked to perform at the [[Newport Jazz Festival]] in 1960. That performance was cancelled because of rioting, but a live recording of the group (''[[After the Riot in Newport|After the Riot at Newport]]'') was released. Atkins performed by invitation at the [[White House]] for every U.S. president from [[John F. Kennedy]] through to [[George H. W. Bush]]. Atkins was a member of the [[Million Dollar Band (country music group)|Million Dollar Band]] during the 1980s. He is also well known for his song "Yankee Doodle Dixie", in which he played "[[Yankee Doodle]]" and "[[Dixie (song)|Dixie]]" simultaneously, on the same guitar.

Before his mentor Sholes died in 1968, Atkins had become vice president of RCA's country division. In 1987, he told [[Nine-O-One Network Magazine|''Nine-O-One Network'' magazine]] that he was "ashamed" of his promotion: "I wanted to be known as a guitarist and I know, too, that they give you titles like that in lieu of money. So beware when they want to make you vice president."<ref>Nine-O-One Interview, Nine-O-One Network Magazine, December 1987, p.10-11</ref> He had brought [[Waylon Jennings]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Connie Smith]], [[Bobby Bare]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Jerry Reed]], and [[John Hartford]] to the label in the 1960s and inspired and helped countless others.<ref name="RockHall">[http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/chet-atkins "Chet Atkins"], Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Accessed on March 28, 2008.</ref> He took a considerable risk during the mid-1960s, when the [[civil rights movement]] sparked violence throughout the South, by signing country music's first African-American singer, [[Charley Pride]], who sang rawer country than the smoother music Atkins had pioneered.

Atkins's biggest hit single came in 1965, with "Yakety Axe", an adaptation of "[[Yakety Sax]]", by his friend, the saxophonist [[Boots Randolph]]. He rarely performed in those days and eventually hired other RCA producers, such as [[Bob Ferguson (music)|Bob Ferguson]] and [[Felton Jarvis]], to lessen his workload.<ref name="mamg" />

===Later career===
In the 1970s, Atkins became increasingly stressed by his executive duties. He produced fewer records, but could still turn out hits such as [[Perry Como]]'s 1973 pop hit "[[And I Love You So (song)|And I Love You So]]". He recorded extensively with close friend and fellow picker Jerry Reed, who had become a hit artist in his own right. A 1973 diagnosis of [[colorectal cancer|colon cancer]], however, led Atkins to redefine his role at RCA Records, to allow others to handle administration while he went back to his first love, the guitar, often recording with Reed or even Jethro Burns from Homer and Jethro (his brother-in-law) after Homer died in 1971.<ref name="mamg" /> Atkins would turn over his administrative duties to [[Jerry Bradley (music executive)|Jerry Bradley]], son of Owen, in 1973 at RCA.

Atkins did little production work at RCA after stepping down and in fact, had hired producers at the label in the 1960s, among them [[Bob Ferguson (musician)|Bob Ferguson]] and [[Felton Jarvis]]. As a recording artist, Atkins grew disillusioned with RCA in the late 1970s. He felt stifled because the record company would not let him branch into jazz. He had also produced late '60s jazz recordings by Canadian guitarist [[Lenny Breau]], a friend and protege. His mid-1970s collaborations with one of his influences, [[Les Paul]], ''[[Chester and Lester|Chester & Lester]]'' and ''[[Guitar Monsters]]'', had already reflected that interest; ''Chester & Lester'' was one of the best-selling recordings of Atkins's career. At the same time, he grew dissatisfied with the direction Gretsch (no longer family-owned) was going and withdrew his authorization for them to use his name and began designing guitars with [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]]. In 1982, Atkins ended his 35-year association with RCA Records and signed with rival [[Columbia Records]]. He produced his first album for Columbia in 1983.<ref name="RollingStone" />

Atkins had always been an ardent lover of jazz and throughout his career he was often criticized by "pure" country musicians for his jazz influences. He also said on many occasions that he did not like being referred to as a "country guitarist", insisting that he was "a guitarist, period." Although he played [[Playing by ear|by ear]] and was a masterful improviser, he was able to read music and even performed some classical guitar pieces. When [[Roger C. Field]], a friend, suggested to him in 1991 that he record and perform with a female singer, he did so with [[Suzy Bogguss]].<ref name="mamg"/>

Atkins returned to his country roots for albums he recorded with [[Mark Knopfler]] and Jerry Reed.<ref name="mamg" /> Knopfler had long mentioned Atkins as one of his earliest influences. Atkins also collaborated with Australian guitar legend [[Tommy Emmanuel]]. On being asked to name the ten most influential guitarists of the twentieth century, he named [[Django Reinhardt]] to the first position, and also placed himself on the list.<ref name="OfficialSite">[http://www.misterguitar.com/news/chetsten.html Official Web Site of Chet Atkins]. Accessed on August 27, 2014.</ref>

In later years, he returned to radio, appearing on [[Garrison Keillor]]'s ''[[Prairie Home Companion]]'' program, on [[American Public Media]] radio, even picking up a fiddle from time to time,<ref name="mamg" /> and performing songs such as [[Bob Wills]]'s "[[Corrina, Corrina (song)|Corrina, Corrina]]" and [[Willie Nelson]]'s "[[Seven Spanish Angels]]" with Nelson on a 1985 broadcast of the show at the [[Bridges Auditorium]] on the campus of [[Pomona College]].

==Death and legacy==
Atkins received numerous awards, including 14 Grammy awards and nine Country Music Association awards for Instrumentalist of the Year.<ref name="RollingStone" /> In 1993, he was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. ''Billboard'' magazine awarded him its Century Award, its "highest honor for distinguished creative achievement", in December 1997.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080205081628/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/chetatkins/biography "Biography – Chet Atkins"]. ''Rolling Stone''. Accessed on May 10, 2008.</ref>

Atkins is notable for his broad influence. His love for numerous styles of music can be traced from his early recording of the stride pianist [[James P. Johnson]]'s "Johnson Rag", all the way to the rock stylings of [[Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954)|Eric Johnson]], an invited guest on Atkins's recording sessions, who, when Atkins attempted to copy his influential rocker "[[Cliffs of Dover (song)|Cliffs of Dover]]", led to Atkins's creation of a unique arrangement of "Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)".

The classical guitar selections included on almost all his albums were, for many American artists working in the field today, the first classical guitar they ever heard. He recorded [[smooth jazz]] guitar still played on American airwaves today.

Atkins continued performing in the 1990s, but his health declined after he was diagnosed again with colon cancer in 1996. He died on June 30, 2001, at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 77.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/02/obit.chet.atkins/index.html "Obituary"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323145021/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/02/obit.chet.atkins/index.html |date=March 23, 2008 }}, CNN, July 2, 2001 Accessed June 21, 2008</ref> His memorial service was held at [[Ryman Auditorium]] in Nashville.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/04/us/guitars-gently-weep-as-nashville-pays-tribute-to-chet-atkins.html|title=Guitars Gently Weep as Nashville Pays Tribute to Chet Atkins|date=July 4, 2001|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> He was buried at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens in Nashville.

A stretch of [[Interstate 185 (Georgia)|Interstate 185]] in southwest [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] (between [[LaGrange, Georgia|LaGrange]] and [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]]) is named "Chet Atkins Parkway".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ganet.org/services/leg/ShowBillPre.cgi?year=1997&filename=1997/HR245.passed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050128185210/http://www.ganet.org/services/leg/ShowBillPre.cgi?year=1997&filename=1997%2FHR245.passed |archive-date=January 28, 2005 |title=Chet Atkins Parkway Bill Resolution. |access-date=January 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This stretch of interstate runs through Fortson, where Atkins spent much of his childhood.

In 2002, Atkins was posthumously inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref name="RockHall" /> His award was presented by [[Marty Stuart]] and [[Brian Setzer]] and accepted by Atkins's grandson, Jonathan Russell. The following year, Atkins ranked number 28 in [[Country Music Television]]'s "40 Greatest Men of Country Music".

At the age of 13, the future jazz guitarist [[Earl Klugh]] was captivated watching Atkins's guitar playing on ''The [[Perry Como]] Show.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buffalostate.edu/pac/season/klugh.asp |title=Performing Arts Center, Buffalo State University |publisher=Buffalo State |access-date=February 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527210241/http://www.buffalostate.edu/pac/season/klugh.asp |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Similarly, he was a big influence on [[Doyle Dykes]]. Atkins also inspired Drexl Jonez and Tommy Emmanuel.<ref>[http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/bio/ Tommy Emmanuel official website biography.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825110639/http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/bio/ |date=August 25, 2011 }} Retrieved September 2009.</ref>

Johnny Winter's thumb-picking style came from Atkin's playing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://andyaledort.com/johnny-winter-interview-april-2004/|title=Johnny Winter Interview: April 2004|website=Andyaledort.com|access-date=September 15, 2023}}</ref>

[[Clint Black]]'s album ''[[Nothin' but the Taillights]]'' includes the song "Ode to Chet", which includes the lyrics "'Cause I can win her over like Romeo did Juliet, if I can only show her I can almost pick that legato lick like Chet" and "It'll take more than [[Mel Bay]] 1, 2, & 3 if I'm ever gonna play like CGP." Atkins played guitar on the track. At the end of the song, Black and Atkins had a brief conversation.

Atkins' song "Jam Man" is currently{{when|date=October 2022}} used in commercials for [[Esurance]].

In 1967, a tribute song, "Chet's Tune", was produced for Atkins' birthday, with contributions by a long list of RCA Victor artists, including [[Eddy Arnold]], [[Connie Smith]], [[Jerry Reed]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Hank Snow]], and others. The song was written by the Nashville songwriter [[Cy Coben]], a friend of Atkins. The single reached number 38 on the country charts.<ref>Billboard, June 3, 1967, p. 41.</ref><ref>McClellan, John; Bratic, Deyan. ''Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions: 50 Years of Legendary Guitar'', vol. 1. Pacific, MO: Mel Bay Publications. pp. 47–49.</ref><ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research|date=2008|page=392|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref>

In 2009, [[Steve Wariner]] released an album titled ''My Tribute to Chet Atkins''. One song from that record, "Producer's Medley", featured Wariner's recreation of several famous songs that Atkins both produced and performed. "Producer's Medley" won the Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2010.

In November 2011, [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|''Rolling Stone'']] ranked Atkins number 21 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".<ref name="Chet Atkins"/>

==Discography==
{{further|Chet Atkins discography}}

==Industry awards==
'''[[Country Music Association]]'''
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1967 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1968 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1969 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1981 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1982 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1983 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1984 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1985 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1988 Musician of the Year]]

'''[[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
*[[Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame|Inducted in 1973]]

'''[[Grammy Awards]]'''
{|class="wikitable"
| Award
| Year
| Work/s
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance|1971 Best Country Instrumental Performance]] with [[Jerry Reed]] –
| 1972
| ''Me and Jerry''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1972
| "Snowbird"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Merle Travis]] –
| 1973
| ''The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1976
| "The Entertainer"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Les Paul]] 
| 1977
| ''Chester and Lester''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1982
| ''Country After All These Years''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Mark Knopfler]] 
| 1986
| "Cosmic Square Dance"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Mark Knopfler]] 
| 1991
| "So Soft, Your Goodbye"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals|1991 Best Country Vocal Collaboration]] with [[Mark Knopfler]] 
| 1991
| "Poor Boy Blues"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Jerry Reed]] 
| 1993
| ''Sneakin' Around''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award|1993 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]'
| 1993
|
| {{Honoured}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Asleep at the Wheel]], [[Eldon Shamblin]], [[Johnny Gimble]], [[Marty Stuart]], Reuben "Lucky Oceans" Gosfield & [[Vince Gill]] 
| 1994
| "Red Wing"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1995
| "Young Thing"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1996
| "Jam Man"
| {{Won}}
|}

'''[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]'''
*[[Inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Kienzle, Rich (1998). "Chet Atkins". ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, ed. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 26–27.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{Rockhall}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100427012020/http://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/full-list-of-inductees/view/chet-atkins Chet Atkins at the Country Music Hall of Fame]
*[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1510|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry for Chet Atkins]
*[http://www.nashvillesound.net Bob Moore's A-Team Musicians Website]
*{{IMDb name|0040562}}
*{{Pop Chronicles |10 |4}}

{{Chet Atkins|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Chet Atkins
| list =
{{CMA Musician of the Year}}
{{1970s Country Music Hall of Fame}}
{{2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Grand Ole Opry members}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins, Chet}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century classical musicians]]
[[Category:Amateur radio people]]
[[Category:American country guitarists]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American music industry executives]]
[[Category:Record producers from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:Country Music Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer]]
[[Category:Fingerstyle guitarists]]
[[Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners]]
[[Category:Grand Ole Opry members]]
[[Category:Million Dollar Band (country music group) members]]
[[Category:Music of East Tennessee]]
[[Category:Musicians from Appalachia]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Musicians from Knoxville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:People from Union County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:RCA Records Nashville artists]]
[[Category:RCA Victor artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Tennessee]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]

Chet Atkins

2024-03-10T16:19:38Z

John julie white: /* Early musical career */

{{Short description|American country music guitarist (1924–2001)}}
{{Redirect|Chester Atkins|the former U.S. congressman|Chester G. Atkins}}
{{Redirect|Mr. Guitar|the album by Charlie Byrd|Mr. Guitar (album)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chet Atkins
| image = Chet Atkins.jpg
| birth_name = Chester Burton Atkins
| alias = "Mr. Guitar", "The Country Gentleman"
| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|6|20}}
| birth_place = [[Luttrell, Tennessee]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|6|30|1924|6|20}}
| death_place = [[Nashville, Tennessee]], U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Country music|Country]]
*[[Pop music|pop]]
*[[Rock music|rock]]
*[[Folk music|folk]]
*[[rockabilly]]
*[[country rock]]}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
*Musician
*songwriter
*producer
}}
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active = 1942–1996
| label = [[RCA Victor]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| associated_acts = {{hlist|The Country All-Stars|[[Arthur Fiedler]]|[[Les Paul]]|[[Jerry Reed]]|[[Hank Snow]]|[[Merle Travis]]|[[The Carter Sisters]]|[[Mark Knopfler]]|[[Tommy Emmanuel]]|Jim Carney}}
| website = {{URL|misterguitar.com}}
}}

'''Chester Burton Atkins''' (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), also known as "'''Mr. Guitar'''" and "'''The Country Gentleman'''", was an American musician who, along with [[Owen Bradley]] and [[Bob Ferguson (musician)|Bob Ferguson]], helped create the [[Nashville sound]], the [[country music]] style which expanded its appeal to adult pop music fans. He was primarily a guitarist, but he also played the mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and ukulele, and occasionally sang.

Atkins's signature picking style was inspired by [[Merle Travis]]. Other major guitar influences were [[Django Reinhardt]], [[George Barnes (musician)|George Barnes]], [[Les Paul]], and, later, [[Jerry Reed]].<ref name=pc10/> His distinctive picking style and musicianship brought him admirers inside and outside the country scene, both in the United States and abroad. Atkins spent most of his career at [[RCA Victor]] and produced records for the [[The Browns|Browns]], [[Hank Snow]], [[Porter Wagoner]], [[Norma Jean (singer)|Norma Jean]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Dottie West]], [[Perry Como]], [[Floyd Cramer]], [[Elvis Presley]], the [[Everly Brothers]], [[Eddy Arnold]], [[Don Gibson]], [[Jim Reeves]], [[Jerry Reed]], [[Skeeter Davis]], [[Waylon Jennings]], [[Roger Whittaker]], [[Ann-Margret]] and many others.

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' credited Atkins with inventing the "popwise 'Nashville sound' that rescued country music from a commercial slump" and ranked him number 21 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".<ref name="Chet Atkins">[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/chet-atkins-20111122 "Chet Atkins"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827202538/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/chet-atkins-20111122 |date=August 27, 2017 }}. ''Rolling Stone''.</ref> In 2023, Atkins was named the 39th best guitarist of all time.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-10-13 |title=The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Among many other honors, Atkins received 14 [[Grammy Award]]s and the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]. He also received nine [[Country Music Association]] awards for Instrumentalist of the Year. He was inducted into the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]], the [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]], and the [[Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum]]. [[George Harrison]] was also inspired by Chet Atkins; early Beatles songs such as "[[All My Loving]]" show the influence.

==Biography==

===Childhood and early life===
Atkins was born on June 20, 1924, in [[Luttrell, Tennessee]], near [[Clinch Mountain]]. His parents divorced when he was six years old, after which he was raised by his mother. He was the youngest of three boys and a girl. He started out on the [[ukulele]], later moving on to the [[fiddle]], but he made a swap with his brother Lowell when he was nine: an old pistol and some chores for a guitar.<ref name="CMT">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/atkins_chet/bio.jhtml |title=Country Music Television biography. |publisher=CMT |access-date=March 28, 2008}}</ref> He stated in his 1974 autobiography, "We were so poor and everybody around us was so poor that it was the forties before anyone even knew there had been a depression." Forced to relocate to Fortson, [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], outside of [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]] to live with his father because of a critical [[asthma]] condition, Atkins was a sensitive youth who became obsessed with music. Because of his illness, he was forced to sleep in a straight-back chair to breathe comfortably. On those nights, he played his guitar until he fell asleep holding it, a habit that lasted his whole life.<ref name="CG">Atkins, Chet; Neely, Bill (1974). "Country Gentleman." Chicago. Harry Regnery. {{ISBN|0-8092-9051-0}}.</ref> While living in Fortson, Atkins attended the historic{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} Mountain Hill School. He returned in the 1990s to play a series of charity concerts to save the school from demolition.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Rush
| first = Dianne Samms
| title = Chet Plays; Gatlin Lives
| newspaper = Lakeland Ledger
| location = Lakeland, Florida
| page = 9C
| date = October 23, 1994
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19941023&id=9KpNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2822,1595083
| access-date = July 6, 2012}}</ref>
Stories have been told about the very young Chet who, when a friend or relative would come to visit and play guitar, crowded the musician and put his ear so close to the instrument that it became difficult for the visitor to play.<ref name="CG" />

Atkins became an accomplished guitarist while he was in high school.<ref name="CMT" /> He used the restroom in the school to practice because it had good acoustics.<ref>Atkins, Chet; Neely, Bill (1974). "Country Gentleman". Chicago. Harry Regnery. p. 52. {{ISBN|0-8092-9051-0}}.</ref><ref>[[David Halberstam|Halberstam, David]] (1961). liner notes. ''Chet Atkins' Workshop''. [[RCA Victor]] LSP-2232.</ref> His first guitar had a nail for a nut and was so bowed that only the first few frets could be used.<ref name="mamg">Atkins, Chet; Cochran, Russ (2003). "Me and My Guitars." Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. {{ISBN|0-634-05565-8}}.</ref> He later purchased a semi-acoustic electric guitar and amp, but he had to travel many miles to find an electrical outlet, since his home didn't have electricity.<ref>Atkins, Chet; Neely, Bill. (1974). "Country Gentleman." Chicago. Harry Regnery. pp. 61–62. {{ISBN|0-8092-9051-0}}.</ref>

Later in life, he lightheartedly gave himself (along with [[John Knowles (guitarist)|John Knowles]], [[Tommy Emmanuel]], [[Steve Wariner]], and [[Jerry Reed]]<ref>{{YouTube|M8AXs6oRPnQ|'Interview of Chet Atkins'}}</ref>) the honorary degree CGP ("Certified Guitar Player").<ref name="mamg" />
In 2011, his daughter Merle Atkins Russell bestowed the CGP degree on his longtime sideman [[Paul Yandell]]. She then declared no more CGPs would be allowed by the Atkins estate.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Freeman
| first = Jon
| title = A Guitarist Paul Yandell Passes
| url = http://www.musicrow.com/2011/11/guitarist-paul-yandell-passes/
| publisher = Music Row
| date = November 22, 2011
| access-date = July 6, 2012}}</ref>

His half-brother Jim was a successful guitarist who worked with the [[Les Paul Trio]] in New York.<ref name="CG" />

Atkins did not have a strong style of his own until 1939 when (while still living in Georgia) he heard [[Merle Travis]] picking over [[WLW]] radio.<ref name="CG" /><ref>*[http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=99 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014040342/http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=99 |date=October 14, 2007 }}</ref> This early influence dramatically shaped his unique playing style.<ref name=pc10/> Whereas Travis used his index finger on his right hand for the melody and his thumb for the bass notes, Atkins expanded his right-hand style to include picking with his first three fingers, with the thumb on bass. He also listened closely to the single-string playing of [[George Barnes (musician)|George Barnes]] and [[Les Paul]].

Chet Atkins was an [[amateur radio]] general class licensee. Formerly using the call sign WA4CZD, he obtained the vanity call sign W4CGP in 1998 to include the CGP designation, which supposedly stood for "Certified Guitar Picker". He was a member of the [[American Radio Relay League]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arrl.org/pages/display/error404|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050920143059/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/07/02/1/?nc=1|url-status=dead|title=American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources|archive-date=September 20, 2005|website=Arrl.org}}</ref>

===Early musical career===
After dropping out of high school in 1942, Atkins landed a job at [[WNML (AM)|WNOX (AM)]] (now WNML) radio in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]], where he played fiddle and guitar with the singer [[Bill Carlisle]] and the comic [[Archie Campbell (comedian)|Archie Campbell]] and became a member of the station's Dixieland Swingsters, a small swing instrumental combo. After three years, he moved to [[WLW|WLW-AM]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], where Merle Travis had formerly worked.

After six months, he moved to Raleigh and worked with [[Johnnie and Jack]] before heading for [[Richmond, Virginia]], where he performed with [[Sunshine Sue|Sunshine Sue Workman]]. Atkins's shy personality worked against him, as did the fact that his sophisticated style led many to doubt he was truly "country". He was fired often but was soon able to land another job at another radio station on account of his unique playing ability.<ref name="CG" />

Atkins and [[Jethro Burns]] (of [[Homer and Jethro]]) married twin sisters Leona and Lois Johnson, who sang as Laverne and Fern Johnson, the Johnson Sisters. Leona Atkins outlived her husband by eight years, dying in 2009 at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=3389 |title=Chet Atkins' Widow Dies |date=October 22, 2009 |work=Country Standard Time |access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref>

Travelling to Chicago, Atkins auditioned for [[Red Foley]], who was leaving his star position on [[WLS (AM)|WLS-AM]]'s ''[[National Barn Dance]]'' to join the [[Grand Ole Opry]].<ref name="RollingStone">[https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5931727/chet_atkins_dies/print "Chet Atkins Dies"]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''Rolling Stone''. Accessed on March 28, 2008.</ref> Atkins made his first appearance at the Opry in 1946 as a member of Foley's band. He also recorded a single for Nashville-based [[Bullet Records]] that year. That single, "Guitar Blues", was fairly progressive, including a clarinet solo by the Nashville dance band musician Dutch McMillan, produced by [[Owen Bradley]]. He had a solo spot on the Opry, but when that was cut, Atkins moved on to [[KWTO (AM)|KWTO]] in [[Springfield, Missouri]]. Despite the support of executive [[Si Siman]], however, he soon was fired for not sounding "country enough".<ref name="CG" />

===Signing with RCA Victor===
While working with a Western band in [[Denver, Colorado]], Atkins came to the attention of [[RCA Victor Records|RCA Victor]]. Siman had been encouraging [[Stephen H. Sholes|Steve Sholes]] to sign Atkins, as his style (with the success of Merle Travis as a hit recording artist) was suddenly in vogue. Sholes, A&R director of country music at RCA, tracked Atkins down in Denver.

He made his first RCA Victor recordings in Chicago in 1947, but they did not sell. He did some studio work for RCA that year, but had relocated to Knoxville again where he worked with Homer and Jethro on WNOX's new Saturday night radio show ''The Tennessee Barn Dance'' and the popular ''Midday Merry Go Round''.

In 1949, he left WNOX to join [[June Carter]] with Mother Maybelle and the [[The Carter Sisters|Carter Sisters]] on KWTO. This incarnation of the [[Carter Family]] featured Maybelle Carter and daughters June, Helen, and Anita. Their work soon attracted attention from the Grand Ole Opry. The group relocated to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] in the mid-1950s. Atkins began working on recording sessions and performing on [[WSM (AM)|WSM-AM]] and the Opry.<ref name="CG" /> Atkins became a member of the Opry in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Opry Timeline – 1950s
| url = http://www.opry.com/about/Timeline_1950.html
| access-date = July 2, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190330032424/https://www.opry.com/about/Timeline_1950.html
| archive-date = March 30, 2019
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

While he had not yet had a hit record for RCA Victor, his stature was growing. He began assisting Sholes as a session leader when the New York–based producer needed help organizing Nashville sessions for RCA Victor artists. Atkins's first hit single was "[[Mr. Sandman]]", followed by "Silver Bell", which he recorded as a duet with [[Hank Snow]]. His albums also became more popular. He was featured on ABC-TV's ''[[The Eddy Arnold Show]]'' in the summer of 1956 and on ''[[Ozark Jubilee|Country Music Jubilee]]'' in 1957 and 1958 (by then renamed ''Jubilee USA'').
[[File:Gretsch G6122-1958.jpg|thumb|upright|Atkins's [[Gretsch]] Country Gentleman, model G6122, 1962]]

In addition to recording, Atkins was a design consultant for [[Gretsch]], which manufactured a popular Chet Atkins line of electric guitars from 1955 to 1980. He became manager of RCA Victor's Nashville studios, eventually inspiring and seeing the completion of the legendary [[RCA Studio B]], the first studio built specifically for the purpose of recording on the now-famous [[Music Row]]. Also later on, Chet and [[Owen Bradley]] would become instrumental in the creation of studio B's adjacent building [[RCA Studio A]] as well.<ref name="mamg" />

===Performer and producer===
When Sholes took over pop production in 1957—a result of his success with [[Elvis Presley]]—he put Atkins in charge of RCA Victor's Nashville division. With country music record sales declining as rock and roll became more popular, Atkins took his cue from [[Owen Bradley]] and eliminated fiddles and steel guitar from many recordings, though not all, as a means of making country singers appeal to pop fans, many of whom disliked the "twang" elements of country. This became known as the [[Nashville Sound]], which Atkins said was a label created by the media for a style of recording during that period intended to keep country (and their jobs) viable.

Atkins used the [[Jordanaires]] and a rhythm section on hits such as [[Jim Reeves]]'s "[[Four Walls (Jim Reeves song)|Four Walls]]" and "[[He'll Have to Go]]"<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r245817|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry for ''Welcome to My World'', Jim Reeves 1996 box set, Bear Family Records]</ref> and [[Don Gibson]]'s "[[Oh Lonesome Me]]" and "Blue Blue Day".<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1624|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic biography of Don Gibson]</ref> The once-rare phenomenon of having a country hit [[Crossover (music)|cross over]] to pop success became more common. He and Bradley had essentially put the producer in the driver's seat, guiding an artist's choice of material and the musical background. Other Nashville producers quickly copied this successful formula, which resulted in certain country hits "crossing over" to find success in the pop field.

Atkins made his own records, which usually visited pop standards and [[jazz]], in a sophisticated home studio, often recording the rhythm tracks at RCA and adding his solo parts at home, refining the tracks until the results satisfied him.<ref name="mamg" /> Guitarists of all styles came to admire various Atkins albums for their unique musical ideas and in some cases experimental electronic ideas. In this period, he became known internationally as "Mister Guitar", inspiring an album, ''[[Mister Guitar]]'', engineered by both Bob Ferris and [[Bill Porter (sound engineer)|Bill Porter]], Ferris's replacement.

[[File:RCA Studio B - Chet Atkins, Bill Porter.jpg|thumb|upright|Atkins listening as [[Bill Porter (sound engineer)|Bill Porter]] adjusts a mix in RCA's Nashville studio]]
At the end of March 1959, Porter took over as chief engineer at what was at the time RCA Victor's only Nashville studio, in the space that would become known as [[RCA Studio B|Studio B]] after the opening of a second studio in 1960. (At the time, RCA's sole Nashville studio had no letter designation.) Porter soon helped Atkins get a better reverberation sound from the studio's German effects device, an [[Elektro-Mess-Technik|EMT]] [[Reverberation#Plate reverberators|plate reverb]]. With his [[golden ear]], Porter found the studio's acoustics to be problematic, and he devised a set of acoustic baffles to hang from the ceiling, then selected positions for microphones based on resonant [[room modes]]. The sound of the recordings improved significantly, and the studio achieved a string of successes. The Nashville sound became more [[Dynamic range|dynamic]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ballou|first=Glen|title=Handbook for Sound Engineers|year=1998|publisher=Focal Press|page=1154}}</ref> In later years, when Bradley asked how he achieved his sound, Atkins told him "it was Porter."<ref name=McClellan2004>{{cite book |last1=McClellan |first1=John |last2=Bratic |first2=Deyan |title=Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mmCUExOXx0MC |volume=2 |year=2004 |publisher=Mel Bay Publications |isbn=978-0-7866-5877-0 |pages=149–152}}</ref> Porter described Atkins as respectful of musicians when recording—if someone was out of tune, he would not single that person out by name. Instead, he would say something like, "we got a little tuning problem ... Everybody check and see what's going on."<ref name=McClellan2004/> If that did not work, Atkins would instruct Porter to turn the offending player down in the mix. When Porter left RCA in late-1964, Atkins said, "the sound was never the same, never as great."<ref name=McClellan2004/>

Atkins's trademark "Atkins style" of playing uses the thumb and first two or sometimes three fingers of the right hand. He developed this style from listening to Merle Travis,<ref name=pc10>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19758/m1/ |title=Show 10 – Tennessee Firebird: American Country Music Before and After Elvis. [Part 2] }}</ref> occasionally on a primitive radio. He was sure no one could play that articulately with just the thumb and index finger (which was exactly how Travis played), and he assumed it required the thumb and two fingers—and that was the style he pioneered and mastered.

He enjoyed jamming with fellow studio musicians, and they were asked to perform at the [[Newport Jazz Festival]] in 1960. That performance was cancelled because of rioting, but a live recording of the group (''[[After the Riot in Newport|After the Riot at Newport]]'') was released. Atkins performed by invitation at the [[White House]] for every U.S. president from [[John F. Kennedy]] through to [[George H. W. Bush]]. Atkins was a member of the [[Million Dollar Band (country music group)|Million Dollar Band]] during the 1980s. He is also well known for his song "Yankee Doodle Dixie", in which he played "[[Yankee Doodle]]" and "[[Dixie (song)|Dixie]]" simultaneously, on the same guitar.

Before his mentor Sholes died in 1968, Atkins had become vice president of RCA's country division. In 1987, he told [[Nine-O-One Network Magazine|''Nine-O-One Network'' magazine]] that he was "ashamed" of his promotion: "I wanted to be known as a guitarist and I know, too, that they give you titles like that in lieu of money. So beware when they want to make you vice president."<ref>Nine-O-One Interview, Nine-O-One Network Magazine, December 1987, p.10-11</ref> He had brought [[Waylon Jennings]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Connie Smith]], [[Bobby Bare]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Jerry Reed]], and [[John Hartford]] to the label in the 1960s and inspired and helped countless others.<ref name="RockHall">[http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/chet-atkins "Chet Atkins"], Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Accessed on March 28, 2008.</ref> He took a considerable risk during the mid-1960s, when the [[civil rights movement]] sparked violence throughout the South, by signing country music's first African-American singer, [[Charley Pride]], who sang rawer country than the smoother music Atkins had pioneered.

Atkins's biggest hit single came in 1965, with "Yakety Axe", an adaptation of "[[Yakety Sax]]", by his friend, the saxophonist [[Boots Randolph]]. He rarely performed in those days and eventually hired other RCA producers, such as [[Bob Ferguson (music)|Bob Ferguson]] and [[Felton Jarvis]], to lessen his workload.<ref name="mamg" />

===Later career===
In the 1970s, Atkins became increasingly stressed by his executive duties. He produced fewer records, but could still turn out hits such as [[Perry Como]]'s 1973 pop hit "[[And I Love You So (song)|And I Love You So]]". He recorded extensively with close friend and fellow picker Jerry Reed, who had become a hit artist in his own right. A 1973 diagnosis of [[colorectal cancer|colon cancer]], however, led Atkins to redefine his role at RCA Records, to allow others to handle administration while he went back to his first love, the guitar, often recording with Reed or even Jethro Burns from Homer and Jethro (his brother-in-law) after Homer died in 1971.<ref name="mamg" /> Atkins would turn over his administrative duties to [[Jerry Bradley (music executive)|Jerry Bradley]], son of Owen, in 1973 at RCA.

Atkins did little production work at RCA after stepping down and in fact, had hired producers at the label in the 1960s, among them [[Bob Ferguson (musician)|Bob Ferguson]] and [[Felton Jarvis]]. As a recording artist, Atkins grew disillusioned with RCA in the late 1970s. He felt stifled because the record company would not let him branch into jazz. He had also produced late '60s jazz recordings by Canadian guitarist [[Lenny Breau]], a friend and protege. His mid-1970s collaborations with one of his influences, [[Les Paul]], ''[[Chester and Lester|Chester & Lester]]'' and ''[[Guitar Monsters]]'', had already reflected that interest; ''Chester & Lester'' was one of the best-selling recordings of Atkins's career. At the same time, he grew dissatisfied with the direction Gretsch (no longer family-owned) was going and withdrew his authorization for them to use his name and began designing guitars with [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]]. In 1982, Atkins ended his 35-year association with RCA Records and signed with rival [[Columbia Records]]. He produced his first album for Columbia in 1983.<ref name="RollingStone" />

Atkins had always been an ardent lover of jazz and throughout his career he was often criticized by "pure" country musicians for his jazz influences. He also said on many occasions that he did not like being referred to as a "country guitarist", insisting that he was "a guitarist, period." Although he played [[Playing by ear|by ear]] and was a masterful improviser, he was able to read music and even performed some classical guitar pieces. When [[Roger C. Field]], a friend, suggested to him in 1991 that he record and perform with a female singer, he did so with [[Suzy Bogguss]].<ref name="mamg"/>

Atkins returned to his country roots for albums he recorded with [[Mark Knopfler]] and Jerry Reed.<ref name="mamg" /> Knopfler had long mentioned Atkins as one of his earliest influences. Atkins also collaborated with Australian guitar legend [[Tommy Emmanuel]]. On being asked to name the ten most influential guitarists of the twentieth century, he named [[Django Reinhardt]] to the first position, and also placed himself on the list.<ref name="OfficialSite">[http://www.misterguitar.com/news/chetsten.html Official Web Site of Chet Atkins]. Accessed on August 27, 2014.</ref>

In later years, he returned to radio, appearing on [[Garrison Keillor]]'s ''[[Prairie Home Companion]]'' program, on [[American Public Media]] radio, even picking up a fiddle from time to time,<ref name="mamg" /> and performing songs such as [[Bob Wills]]'s "[[Corrina, Corrina (song)|Corrina, Corrina]]" and [[Willie Nelson]]'s "[[Seven Spanish Angels]]" with Nelson on a 1985 broadcast of the show at the [[Bridges Auditorium]] on the campus of [[Pomona College]].

==Death and legacy==
Atkins received numerous awards, including 14 Grammy awards and nine Country Music Association awards for Instrumentalist of the Year.<ref name="RollingStone" /> In 1993, he was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. ''Billboard'' magazine awarded him its Century Award, its "highest honor for distinguished creative achievement", in December 1997.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080205081628/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/chetatkins/biography "Biography – Chet Atkins"]. ''Rolling Stone''. Accessed on May 10, 2008.</ref>

Atkins is notable for his broad influence. His love for numerous styles of music can be traced from his early recording of the stride pianist [[James P. Johnson]]'s "Johnson Rag", all the way to the rock stylings of [[Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954)|Eric Johnson]], an invited guest on Atkins's recording sessions, who, when Atkins attempted to copy his influential rocker "[[Cliffs of Dover (song)|Cliffs of Dover]]", led to Atkins's creation of a unique arrangement of "Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)".

The classical guitar selections included on almost all his albums were, for many American artists working in the field today, the first classical guitar they ever heard. He recorded [[smooth jazz]] guitar still played on American airwaves today.

Atkins continued performing in the 1990s, but his health declined after he was diagnosed again with colon cancer in 1996. He died on June 30, 2001, at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 77.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/02/obit.chet.atkins/index.html "Obituary"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323145021/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/02/obit.chet.atkins/index.html |date=March 23, 2008 }}, CNN, July 2, 2001 Accessed June 21, 2008</ref> His memorial service was held at [[Ryman Auditorium]] in Nashville.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/04/us/guitars-gently-weep-as-nashville-pays-tribute-to-chet-atkins.html|title=Guitars Gently Weep as Nashville Pays Tribute to Chet Atkins|date=July 4, 2001|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> He was buried at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens in Nashville.

A stretch of [[Interstate 185 (Georgia)|Interstate 185]] in southwest [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] (between [[LaGrange, Georgia|LaGrange]] and [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]]) is named "Chet Atkins Parkway".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ganet.org/services/leg/ShowBillPre.cgi?year=1997&filename=1997/HR245.passed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050128185210/http://www.ganet.org/services/leg/ShowBillPre.cgi?year=1997&filename=1997%2FHR245.passed |archive-date=January 28, 2005 |title=Chet Atkins Parkway Bill Resolution. |access-date=January 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This stretch of interstate runs through Fortson, where Atkins spent much of his childhood.

In 2002, Atkins was posthumously inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref name="RockHall" /> His award was presented by [[Marty Stuart]] and [[Brian Setzer]] and accepted by Atkins's grandson, Jonathan Russell. The following year, Atkins ranked number 28 in [[Country Music Television]]'s "40 Greatest Men of Country Music".

At the age of 13, the future jazz guitarist [[Earl Klugh]] was captivated watching Atkins's guitar playing on ''The [[Perry Como]] Show.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buffalostate.edu/pac/season/klugh.asp |title=Performing Arts Center, Buffalo State University |publisher=Buffalo State |access-date=February 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527210241/http://www.buffalostate.edu/pac/season/klugh.asp |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Similarly, he was a big influence on [[Doyle Dykes]]. Atkins also inspired Drexl Jonez and Tommy Emmanuel.<ref>[http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/bio/ Tommy Emmanuel official website biography.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825110639/http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/bio/ |date=August 25, 2011 }} Retrieved September 2009.</ref>

Johnny Winter's thumb-picking style came from Atkin's playing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://andyaledort.com/johnny-winter-interview-april-2004/|title=Johnny Winter Interview: April 2004|website=Andyaledort.com|access-date=September 15, 2023}}</ref>

[[Clint Black]]'s album ''[[Nothin' but the Taillights]]'' includes the song "Ode to Chet", which includes the lyrics "'Cause I can win her over like Romeo did Juliet, if I can only show her I can almost pick that legato lick like Chet" and "It'll take more than [[Mel Bay]] 1, 2, & 3 if I'm ever gonna play like CGP." Atkins played guitar on the track. At the end of the song, Black and Atkins had a brief conversation.

Atkins' song "Jam Man" is currently{{when|date=October 2022}} used in commercials for [[Esurance]].

In 1967, a tribute song, "Chet's Tune", was produced for Atkins' birthday, with contributions by a long list of RCA Victor artists, including [[Eddy Arnold]], [[Connie Smith]], [[Jerry Reed]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Hank Snow]], and others. The song was written by the Nashville songwriter [[Cy Coben]], a friend of Atkins. The single reached number 38 on the country charts.<ref>Billboard, June 3, 1967, p. 41.</ref><ref>McClellan, John; Bratic, Deyan. ''Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions: 50 Years of Legendary Guitar'', vol. 1. Pacific, MO: Mel Bay Publications. pp. 47–49.</ref><ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research|date=2008|page=392|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref>

In 2009, [[Steve Wariner]] released an album titled ''My Tribute to Chet Atkins''. One song from that record, "Producer's Medley", featured Wariner's recreation of several famous songs that Atkins both produced and performed. "Producer's Medley" won the Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2010.

In November 2011, [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|''Rolling Stone'']] ranked Atkins number 21 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".<ref name="Chet Atkins"/>

==Discography==
{{further|Chet Atkins discography}}

==Industry awards==
'''[[Country Music Association]]'''
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1967 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1968 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1969 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1981 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1982 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1983 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1984 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1985 Instrumentalist of the Year]]
*[[Country Music Association Awards|1988 Musician of the Year]]

'''[[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
*[[Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame|Inducted in 1973]]

'''[[Grammy Awards]]'''
{|class="wikitable"
| Award
| Year
| Work/s
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance|1971 Best Country Instrumental Performance]] with [[Jerry Reed]] –
| 1972
| ''Me and Jerry''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1972
| "Snowbird"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Merle Travis]] –
| 1973
| ''The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1976
| "The Entertainer"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Les Paul]] 
| 1977
| ''Chester and Lester''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1982
| ''Country After All These Years''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Mark Knopfler]] 
| 1986
| "Cosmic Square Dance"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Mark Knopfler]] 
| 1991
| "So Soft, Your Goodbye"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals|1991 Best Country Vocal Collaboration]] with [[Mark Knopfler]] 
| 1991
| "Poor Boy Blues"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Jerry Reed]] 
| 1993
| ''Sneakin' Around''
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award|1993 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]'
| 1993
|
| {{Honoured}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance with [[Asleep at the Wheel]], [[Eldon Shamblin]], [[Johnny Gimble]], [[Marty Stuart]], Reuben "Lucky Oceans" Gosfield & [[Vince Gill]] 
| 1994
| "Red Wing"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1995
| "Young Thing"
| {{Won}}
|-bgcolor=orange
| Best Country Instrumental Performance
| 1996
| "Jam Man"
| {{Won}}
|}

'''[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]'''
*[[Inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Kienzle, Rich (1998). "Chet Atkins". ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, ed. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 26–27.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{Rockhall}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100427012020/http://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/full-list-of-inductees/view/chet-atkins Chet Atkins at the Country Music Hall of Fame]
*[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1510|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry for Chet Atkins]
*[http://www.nashvillesound.net Bob Moore's A-Team Musicians Website]
*{{IMDb name|0040562}}
*{{Pop Chronicles |10 |4}}

{{Chet Atkins|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Chet Atkins
| list =
{{CMA Musician of the Year}}
{{1970s Country Music Hall of Fame}}
{{2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Grand Ole Opry members}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins, Chet}}
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[[Category:American music industry executives]]
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[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Tennessee]]
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The Third Man Theme

2024-03-06T21:22:55Z

John julie white: /* Other versions */

{{Lead too short|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = The Third Man Theme
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Anton Karas]]
| album =
| released = 1949
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 2:06
| label = [[Decca Records|Decca]] (UK) [[London Records|London]] (U.S.)
| writer = [[Anton Karas]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
"'''The Third Man Theme'''" (also written "'''3rd Man Theme'''" and known as '''"The Harry Lime Theme"''') is an [[instrumental]] written and performed by [[Anton Karas]] for the soundtrack to the 1949 film ''[[The Third Man]]''.

==Background==
''The Third Man'' is a 1949 British [[film noir]], directed by [[Carol Reed]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=27593 |title=The Third Man |publisher=[[The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures|AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |date= |access-date=2014-05-13}}</ref> One night after a long day of filming ''The Third Man'' on location in Vienna, Reed and cast members [[Joseph Cotten]], [[Alida Valli]] and [[Orson Welles]] had dinner and retired to a wine cellar. In the bistro, which retained the atmosphere of the pre-war days, they heard the [[zither]] music of Anton Karas, a 40-year-old musician who was playing there just for the tips. Reed immediately realized that this was the music he wanted for his film. Karas spoke only German, which no one in Reed's party spoke, but fellow customers translated Reed's offer to the musician that he compose and perform the soundtrack for ''The Third Man''. Karas was reluctant since it meant traveling to England, but he finally accepted. Karas wrote and recorded the 40 minutes of music heard in ''The Third Man'' over a six-week period, after the entire film was translated for him at [[Shepperton Studios]].<ref name="Brady">[[Frank Brady (writer)|Brady, Frank]], ''Citizen Welles: A Biography of Orson Welles''. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1989 {{ISBN|0-385-26759-2}}</ref>{{Rp|449–450|date=May 2014}}

The composition that became famous as "The Third Man Theme" had long been in Karas's repertoire, but he had not played it in 15 years. "When you play in a café, nobody stops to listen," Karas said. "This tune takes a lot out of your fingers. I prefer playing '[[Rudolf Sieczyński|Wien, Wien]]', the sort of thing one can play all night while eating sausages at the same time."<ref name="Rialto">{{cite web|url=http://www.rialtopictures.com/images_01/Making_of_Third_Man.pdf |title=Making The 3rd Man and Other Interesting Stuff |publisher=[[Rialto Pictures]] |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref> According to writer and critic [[Rudi Blesh]], the tune is identical to the main theme of "Rags to Burn", a [[ragtime]] piano piece credited to Frank X. McFadden and published in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], in 1899.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Blesh| first = Rudi| author-link = Rudi Blesh| year = 1958| title = Shining Trumpets: A History of Jazz| location = | edition = 2nd| publisher = Da Capo Press| isbn = 0-306-80029-2|page = 350}}</ref>

The prominence of the "Third Man Theme" in the film developed gradually during its editing. Carol Reed initially envisioned Karas' music as being integrated with an orchestral score. The film's editor [[Oswald Hafenrichter]] ultimately prevailed in convincing Reed to weave Karas' unaccompanied theme throughout the film.<ref name=Drazin>{{cite book |first=Charles |last=Drazin |title=In Search of the Third Man |chapter=The Fourth Man |date=2000 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |pages=97–98 |isbn=9780879102944 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VnUHGCE6vDoC&pg=PA98 |quote=And Carol Reed said to Oswald, 'You know, Ossie, it might be a good idea to use this tune whenever Harry Lime is on the screen.' }}</ref> So prominent is "The Third Man Theme" that the image of its performance on the vibrating strings of the zither provides the background for the film's main title sequence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-third-man/ |title=The Third Man (1949) |publisher=[[Art of the Title]] |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref>

The full soundtrack album was ready for release when ''The Third Man'' came out, but there was not a lot of interest in it. Instead, labels focused on the catchy main theme and released it as a single. More than half a million copies of "The Third Man Theme" record were sold within weeks of the film's release.<ref name="Brady"/>{{Rp|450|date=May 2014}} The tune was originally released in the UK in 1949, where it was known as "The Harry Lime Theme". Following its release in the US in 1950, "The Third Man Theme" spent 11 weeks at number one on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s US [[Best Sellers in Stores]] chart, from April 29 to July 8.<ref>[http://tsort.info/music/3hq6ab.htm Song title 199 - Third Man Theme]</ref> Its success led to a trend in releasing film theme music as singles.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} A [[guitar]] version by [[Guy Lombardo]] also sold strongly. [[Chet Atkins]] and [[Eddie Cochran]] also recorded it. Four more versions charted in the US during 1950.<ref>[http://ntl.matrix.com.br/pfilho/html/lyrics/t/third_man_theme.txt "The Third Man Theme"]. ntl.matrix.com.br. Retrieved August 25, 2006.</ref> According to [[Faber and Faber]], the different versions of the theme have collectively sold an estimated forty million copies.

The zither-based Anton Karas version excerpted from the film soundtrack was released by Decca in 1949 across Europe with different catalog numbers. It was a 10-inch 78 rpm single with "The Harry Lime theme" on the A side and "The Cafe Mozart Waltz" on the B side. This became the most common version heard by European listeners.
*Decca F.9235 (United Kingdom), Decca NF.9235 (Germany)
*Decca M.32760 (Netherlands)
*Decca 671 (Italy)

Karas also performed "The Third Man Theme" and other zither music for the 1951–1952 syndicated radio series ''[[The Adventures of Harry Lime]]'', a ''Third Man'' [[prequel]] produced in London. Orson Welles reprised his role as Harry Lime.<ref name="TIOW">[[Orson Welles|Welles, Orson]], and [[Peter Bogdanovich]], edited by [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]], ''[[This is Orson Welles]]''. New York: [[HarperCollins]] Publishers 1992 {{ISBN|0-06-016616-9}}.</ref>{{Rp|409|date=May 2014}}<ref name="Archive Lime">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/TheLivesOfHarryLime |title=The Lives of Harry Lime |publisher=Internet Archive |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref> "Whenever he entered a restaurant in those years, the band would strike up Anton Karas's "Third Man Theme", wrote Welles biographer [[Joseph McBride (writer)|Joseph McBride]].<ref name="McBride">[[Joseph McBride (writer)|McBride, Joseph]], ''What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? A Portrait of an Independent Career''. Lexington, Kentucky: [[University Press of Kentucky]], 2006, {{ISBN|0-8131-2410-7}}</ref>{{Rp|115|May 2014}}

==Other versions==
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2015}}
* The guitar-based version performed by [[Guy Lombardo|Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians]] was recorded December 9, 1949 and was released in the US by [[Decca Records|Decca]] under [[catalog numbering systems for single records#Decca (US)|catalog number]] Decca 24839 (1950). It was a 78 rpm 10 inch single that had "The 3rd Man theme" on the A side and "The Cafe Mozart Waltz" on the B side (and subsequently released as a 45 rpm 7- inch single). This was the version most familiar to American listeners. It continued in print into the 1980s.
*Another guitar-based version was recorded by guitar master [[Chet Atkins]] recorded it in 1952. It was released on his 1955 album "Stringin' Along with Chet Atkins".
*The Swedish-born guitarist Nils Larsson recorded the tune in [[Stockholm]] on November 17, 1949, as "Banjo-Lasse" with Thorstein Sjögren's orchestra. It was released on the [[78 rpm record]] [[His Master's Voice|HMV]] X 7567.
* Telefunken released a single of the Anton Karas version for the West German market [Telefunken A-10-856] in 1950. It was re-released as a 7-inch 45 rpm format single [U-45-856] in 1957.
* In 1950 the [[London Records]] label (a sub-division of Decca UK) released the Anton Karas version in both a 10-inch 78 rpm single [London 536] and a 7-inch 45 rpm single [London 30005].
* The comedian [[Victor Borge]] covered the theme on piano for his 1955 album ''Caught in the Act''.
*[[Russ Conway]] recorded a honky tonk piano version of "The Harry Lime theme" with [[Geoff Love|Geoff Love and his Orchestra]] for [[Columbia Records]] in 1958. It was released as a 7-inch 45 rpm single [Columbia 45-DB 4060] with "The Lantern Slide" on the B side.
* [[Eddie Cochran]] recorded it in 1959 as "Fourth Man Theme".
*[[Berl Olswanger]] and the Berl Olswanger Orchestra included their version on the album ''Berl Olswanger Orchestra with the Olswanger Beat'' (1964)
*[[Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass]] recorded a Latin-flavored [[Go-go dancing|go-go]] version of the piece arranged for brass instruments on his album ''[[Going Places (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass album)|!!Going Places!!]]'' (1965) for [[A&M Records]]. The song peaked at #47 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1965.
*For their BBC special, ''It's The Beatles'', [[The Beatles]] mixed a piece of the tune into an unintentionally instrumental version of "From Me To You" after the microphones had failed and the song had devolved into a tongue-in-cheek vamp. Six years later, they recorded another impromptu version during a jam session in 1969, but neither version has ever appeared on any of their official albums.
*[[The Band]] played it on ''[[Moondog Matinee]]'' (1973) [Capitol 93592], an album of song covers. ''[[Record World]]'' said that "the boys in The Band showcase their instrumental virtuousity on this jaunty yet mellow ditty."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=February 2, 1974|access-date=2023-03-17|title=Single Picks|page=12|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/74/RW-1974-02-02.pdf}}</ref>
*[[The Shadows]] recorded a version on their double LP ''[[Hits Right Up Your Street]]'' (1981) for [[Polydor Records]]. The song rose to No. 44 on the UK singles chart in May 1981.<ref name="UKchartShadows">{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/8804/shadows/ |title=UK Official Chart: Shadows |author= |date=2019 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=27 January 2019 }}</ref>
* An unidentified instrumentalist played the song in a bar scene in the 2002 action film ''[[XXX (2002 film)|XXX]]''.
* Martin Carthy on his album, Waiting for Angels, Topic TSCD527.
* [[Andy Samberg]] and [[Akiva Schaffer]]'s comedy troupe [[The Lonely Island]] used a sample of the theme song on the song "Stork Patrol".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH9giCg3Nro "Stork Patrol" (sample used)], [[The Lonely Island]], 23 December 2005</ref>
* The theme was used for the title sequence of the movie review TV series ''[[Ebert Presents: At the Movies]]''.
* George Carlin used "The Harry Lime Theme" to demonstrate "Hawaiian Nose Hummimg" in his 1972 release, "Class Clown".
* Michael "Bully" Herbig used the theme in a key scene in his Western film parody ''[[Der Schuh des Manitu#Connections|The Shoe of Manitu]]''.

==Lyrics==

The original lyrics to the song, published under the name "The Zither Melody: song version of The Harry Lime Theme (The Third Man)", were written by [[Michael Carr (composer)|Michael Carr]] and Jack Golden for the [[London Films|London]] film production (©1950, Chappell & Co., Ltd., London, Sydney & Paris).

Alternate lyrics to the song, published under the name "The Third Man Theme", were written by American author and historian [[Walter Lord]] (''A Night to Remember'', ''Incredible Victory,'' ''etc.'') in 1950. Sheet music for the song was sold by [[Chappell & Co.]], and it was recorded by [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeD85axEtRk Don Cherry and The Victor Young Orchestra] on May 5, 1950.

==Other utilization==
"The Third Man Theme" was used in a 1982 TV mail-order record collection, ''Aerobic Dancing'' [Parade LP 100A], with Sharon Barbano.

"The Third Man Theme" is informally known in Japan as the "[[Sapporo Brewery#Yebisu|Ebisu]] Beer Theme," which is still used in Ebisu beer commercials to this day. For this reason, it is also used at [[Ebisu Station (Tokyo)|Ebisu Station]] on the [[Japan Rail|JR]] [[Yamanote line]], [[Saikyo Line]], and [[Shōnan-Shinjuku Line]] to inform passengers of departing trains.

==See also==
*[[List of Billboard number-one singles of 1950]]

==Sources==
*[http://www.spaceagepop.com/forefilm.htm "The Foreign Film Theme - "The Third Man Theme" 1949"]. Space Age Pop Music. Retrieved August 25, 2006.
*[http://www.spaceagepop.com/thirdman.htm "The Third Man theme" discography.] Space Age Pop Music. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|id=gFz79SBnuk8|title=Anton Karas plays ''The Third Man Theme'' in the Empress Club in London}}
* [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4212 Songfacts]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Third Man Theme}}
[[Category:1950 singles]]
[[Category:Don Cherry songs]]
[[Category:1940s instrumentals]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in the United States]]
[[Category:Film theme songs]]
[[Category:London Records singles]]
[[Category:Decca Records singles]]
[[Category:1949 songs]]
[[Category:Guy Lombardo songs]]

The Third Man Theme

2024-03-06T21:18:00Z

John julie white: /* Background */

{{Lead too short|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = The Third Man Theme
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Anton Karas]]
| album =
| released = 1949
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 2:06
| label = [[Decca Records|Decca]] (UK) [[London Records|London]] (U.S.)
| writer = [[Anton Karas]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
"'''The Third Man Theme'''" (also written "'''3rd Man Theme'''" and known as '''"The Harry Lime Theme"''') is an [[instrumental]] written and performed by [[Anton Karas]] for the soundtrack to the 1949 film ''[[The Third Man]]''.

==Background==
''The Third Man'' is a 1949 British [[film noir]], directed by [[Carol Reed]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=27593 |title=The Third Man |publisher=[[The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures|AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |date= |access-date=2014-05-13}}</ref> One night after a long day of filming ''The Third Man'' on location in Vienna, Reed and cast members [[Joseph Cotten]], [[Alida Valli]] and [[Orson Welles]] had dinner and retired to a wine cellar. In the bistro, which retained the atmosphere of the pre-war days, they heard the [[zither]] music of Anton Karas, a 40-year-old musician who was playing there just for the tips. Reed immediately realized that this was the music he wanted for his film. Karas spoke only German, which no one in Reed's party spoke, but fellow customers translated Reed's offer to the musician that he compose and perform the soundtrack for ''The Third Man''. Karas was reluctant since it meant traveling to England, but he finally accepted. Karas wrote and recorded the 40 minutes of music heard in ''The Third Man'' over a six-week period, after the entire film was translated for him at [[Shepperton Studios]].<ref name="Brady">[[Frank Brady (writer)|Brady, Frank]], ''Citizen Welles: A Biography of Orson Welles''. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1989 {{ISBN|0-385-26759-2}}</ref>{{Rp|449–450|date=May 2014}}

The composition that became famous as "The Third Man Theme" had long been in Karas's repertoire, but he had not played it in 15 years. "When you play in a café, nobody stops to listen," Karas said. "This tune takes a lot out of your fingers. I prefer playing '[[Rudolf Sieczyński|Wien, Wien]]', the sort of thing one can play all night while eating sausages at the same time."<ref name="Rialto">{{cite web|url=http://www.rialtopictures.com/images_01/Making_of_Third_Man.pdf |title=Making The 3rd Man and Other Interesting Stuff |publisher=[[Rialto Pictures]] |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref> According to writer and critic [[Rudi Blesh]], the tune is identical to the main theme of "Rags to Burn", a [[ragtime]] piano piece credited to Frank X. McFadden and published in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], in 1899.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Blesh| first = Rudi| author-link = Rudi Blesh| year = 1958| title = Shining Trumpets: A History of Jazz| location = | edition = 2nd| publisher = Da Capo Press| isbn = 0-306-80029-2|page = 350}}</ref>

The prominence of the "Third Man Theme" in the film developed gradually during its editing. Carol Reed initially envisioned Karas' music as being integrated with an orchestral score. The film's editor [[Oswald Hafenrichter]] ultimately prevailed in convincing Reed to weave Karas' unaccompanied theme throughout the film.<ref name=Drazin>{{cite book |first=Charles |last=Drazin |title=In Search of the Third Man |chapter=The Fourth Man |date=2000 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |pages=97–98 |isbn=9780879102944 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VnUHGCE6vDoC&pg=PA98 |quote=And Carol Reed said to Oswald, 'You know, Ossie, it might be a good idea to use this tune whenever Harry Lime is on the screen.' }}</ref> So prominent is "The Third Man Theme" that the image of its performance on the vibrating strings of the zither provides the background for the film's main title sequence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-third-man/ |title=The Third Man (1949) |publisher=[[Art of the Title]] |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref>

The full soundtrack album was ready for release when ''The Third Man'' came out, but there was not a lot of interest in it. Instead, labels focused on the catchy main theme and released it as a single. More than half a million copies of "The Third Man Theme" record were sold within weeks of the film's release.<ref name="Brady"/>{{Rp|450|date=May 2014}} The tune was originally released in the UK in 1949, where it was known as "The Harry Lime Theme". Following its release in the US in 1950, "The Third Man Theme" spent 11 weeks at number one on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s US [[Best Sellers in Stores]] chart, from April 29 to July 8.<ref>[http://tsort.info/music/3hq6ab.htm Song title 199 - Third Man Theme]</ref> Its success led to a trend in releasing film theme music as singles.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} A [[guitar]] version by [[Guy Lombardo]] also sold strongly. [[Chet Atkins]] and [[Eddie Cochran]] also recorded it. Four more versions charted in the US during 1950.<ref>[http://ntl.matrix.com.br/pfilho/html/lyrics/t/third_man_theme.txt "The Third Man Theme"]. ntl.matrix.com.br. Retrieved August 25, 2006.</ref> According to [[Faber and Faber]], the different versions of the theme have collectively sold an estimated forty million copies.

The zither-based Anton Karas version excerpted from the film soundtrack was released by Decca in 1949 across Europe with different catalog numbers. It was a 10-inch 78 rpm single with "The Harry Lime theme" on the A side and "The Cafe Mozart Waltz" on the B side. This became the most common version heard by European listeners.
*Decca F.9235 (United Kingdom), Decca NF.9235 (Germany)
*Decca M.32760 (Netherlands)
*Decca 671 (Italy)

Karas also performed "The Third Man Theme" and other zither music for the 1951–1952 syndicated radio series ''[[The Adventures of Harry Lime]]'', a ''Third Man'' [[prequel]] produced in London. Orson Welles reprised his role as Harry Lime.<ref name="TIOW">[[Orson Welles|Welles, Orson]], and [[Peter Bogdanovich]], edited by [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]], ''[[This is Orson Welles]]''. New York: [[HarperCollins]] Publishers 1992 {{ISBN|0-06-016616-9}}.</ref>{{Rp|409|date=May 2014}}<ref name="Archive Lime">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/TheLivesOfHarryLime |title=The Lives of Harry Lime |publisher=Internet Archive |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref> "Whenever he entered a restaurant in those years, the band would strike up Anton Karas's "Third Man Theme", wrote Welles biographer [[Joseph McBride (writer)|Joseph McBride]].<ref name="McBride">[[Joseph McBride (writer)|McBride, Joseph]], ''What Ever Happened to Orson Welles? A Portrait of an Independent Career''. Lexington, Kentucky: [[University Press of Kentucky]], 2006, {{ISBN|0-8131-2410-7}}</ref>{{Rp|115|May 2014}}

==Other versions==
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2015}}
*The guitar-based version performed by [[Guy Lombardo|Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians]] was recorded December 9, 1949 and was released in the US by [[Decca Records|Decca]] under [[catalog numbering systems for single records#Decca (US)|catalog number]] Decca 24839 (1950). It was a 78 rpm 10 inch single that had "The 3rd Man theme" on the A side and "The Cafe Mozart Waltz" on the B side (and subsequently released as a 45 rpm 7- inch single). This was the version most familiar to American listeners. It continued in print into the 1980s.
*Another guitar-based version was recorded by [[Chet Atkins]] on his 1955 album "Stringin' Along with Chet Atkins".
*The Swedish-born guitarist Nils Larsson recorded the tune in [[Stockholm]] on November 17, 1949, as "Banjo-Lasse" with Thorstein Sjögren's orchestra. It was released on the [[78 rpm record]] [[His Master's Voice|HMV]] X 7567.
*Telefunken released a single of the Anton Karas version for the West German market [Telefunken A-10-856] in 1950. It was re-released as a 7-inch 45 rpm format single [U-45-856] in 1957.
*In 1950 the [[London Records]] label (a sub-division of Decca UK) released the Anton Karas version in both a 10-inch 78 rpm single [London 536] and a 7-inch 45 rpm single [London 30005].
* The comedian [[Victor Borge]] covered the theme on piano for his 1955 album ''Caught in the Act''.
*[[Russ Conway]] recorded a honky tonk piano version of "The Harry Lime theme" with [[Geoff Love|Geoff Love and his Orchestra]] for [[Columbia Records]] in 1958. It was released as a 7-inch 45 rpm single [Columbia 45-DB 4060] with "The Lantern Slide" on the B side.
*[[Berl Olswanger]] and the Berl Olswanger Orchestra included their version on the album ''Berl Olswanger Orchestra with the Olswanger Beat'' (1964)
*[[Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass]] recorded a Latin-flavored [[Go-go dancing|go-go]] version of the piece arranged for brass instruments on his album ''[[Going Places (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass album)|!!Going Places!!]]'' (1965) for [[A&M Records]]. The song peaked at #47 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1965.
*For their BBC special, ''It's The Beatles'', [[The Beatles]] mixed a piece of the tune into an unintentionally instrumental version of "From Me To You" after the microphones had failed and the song had devolved into a tongue-in-cheek vamp. Six years later, they recorded another impromptu version during a jam session in 1969, but neither version has ever appeared on any of their official albums.
*[[The Band]] played it on ''[[Moondog Matinee]]'' (1973) [Capitol 93592], an album of song covers. ''[[Record World]]'' said that "the boys in The Band showcase their instrumental virtuousity on this jaunty yet mellow ditty."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=February 2, 1974|access-date=2023-03-17|title=Single Picks|page=12|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/74/RW-1974-02-02.pdf}}</ref>
*[[The Shadows]] recorded a version on their double LP ''[[Hits Right Up Your Street]]'' (1981) for [[Polydor Records]]. The song rose to No. 44 on the UK singles chart in May 1981.<ref name="UKchartShadows">{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/8804/shadows/ |title=UK Official Chart: Shadows |author= |date=2019 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=27 January 2019 }}</ref>
* An unidentified instrumentalist played the song in a bar scene in the 2002 action film ''[[XXX (2002 film)|XXX]]''.
* Martin Carthy on his album, Waiting for Angels, Topic TSCD527.
* [[Andy Samberg]] and [[Akiva Schaffer]]'s comedy troupe [[The Lonely Island]] used a sample of the theme song on the song "Stork Patrol".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH9giCg3Nro "Stork Patrol" (sample used)], [[The Lonely Island]], 23 December 2005</ref>
* The theme was used for the title sequence of the movie review TV series ''[[Ebert Presents: At the Movies]]''.
* George Carlin used "The Harry Lime Theme" to demonstrate "Hawaiian Nose Hummimg" in his 1972 release, "Class Clown".
* Michael "Bully" Herbig used the theme in a key scene in his Western film parody ''[[Der Schuh des Manitu#Connections|The Shoe of Manitu]]''.

==Lyrics==

The original lyrics to the song, published under the name "The Zither Melody: song version of The Harry Lime Theme (The Third Man)", were written by [[Michael Carr (composer)|Michael Carr]] and Jack Golden for the [[London Films|London]] film production (©1950, Chappell & Co., Ltd., London, Sydney & Paris).

Alternate lyrics to the song, published under the name "The Third Man Theme", were written by American author and historian [[Walter Lord]] (''A Night to Remember'', ''Incredible Victory,'' ''etc.'') in 1950. Sheet music for the song was sold by [[Chappell & Co.]], and it was recorded by [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeD85axEtRk Don Cherry and The Victor Young Orchestra] on May 5, 1950.

==Other utilization==
"The Third Man Theme" was used in a 1982 TV mail-order record collection, ''Aerobic Dancing'' [Parade LP 100A], with Sharon Barbano.

"The Third Man Theme" is informally known in Japan as the "[[Sapporo Brewery#Yebisu|Ebisu]] Beer Theme," which is still used in Ebisu beer commercials to this day. For this reason, it is also used at [[Ebisu Station (Tokyo)|Ebisu Station]] on the [[Japan Rail|JR]] [[Yamanote line]], [[Saikyo Line]], and [[Shōnan-Shinjuku Line]] to inform passengers of departing trains.

==See also==
*[[List of Billboard number-one singles of 1950]]

==Sources==
*[http://www.spaceagepop.com/forefilm.htm "The Foreign Film Theme - "The Third Man Theme" 1949"]. Space Age Pop Music. Retrieved August 25, 2006.
*[http://www.spaceagepop.com/thirdman.htm "The Third Man theme" discography.] Space Age Pop Music. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|id=gFz79SBnuk8|title=Anton Karas plays ''The Third Man Theme'' in the Empress Club in London}}
* [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4212 Songfacts]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Third Man Theme}}
[[Category:1950 singles]]
[[Category:Don Cherry songs]]
[[Category:1940s instrumentals]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in the United States]]
[[Category:Film theme songs]]
[[Category:London Records singles]]
[[Category:Decca Records singles]]
[[Category:1949 songs]]
[[Category:Guy Lombardo songs]]

Bruno Blum

2024-03-06T16:19:38Z

John julie white: /* 2000s */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.docreggae.com/]
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]].

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1972 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music released two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades''(BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-03-06T13:38:50Z

John julie white: /* CD booklets */

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.docreggae.com/]
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]].

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1972 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music releases two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades''(BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-03-06T13:37:09Z

John julie white:

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.docreggae.com/]
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]].

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1972 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music releases two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades''(BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* The Stray Cats ''Best Of 20/20'' (Arista BMG 1993)
* Omar Pene ''Intégration africaine'' (Syllart 1996)
* Woya ''L'Indispensable'' (Syllart 1996)
* Buffalo Bill ''Ghetto Youth Unite'' (Music Room-Culture Press 2001)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14-15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Bruno}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]

Bruno Blum

2024-02-20T21:21:53Z

John julie white:

{{Short description|French musician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruno Blum
| image = Bruno Blum 2010.JPG
| caption = Bruno Blum shows his ''Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly'' artwork picturing a sound engineer mixing [[dub music]]. Click to enlarge.
| alias = Doc Reggae
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|10|04}}
| origin = Paris, France
| instrument = [[Guitar]], vocals, [[bass guitar]]
| genre = French [[chanson]], [[reggae]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues]], [[Dub music|dub]]
| occupation = Singer, guitarist, songwriter, music producer, musicologist, cartoonist, painter, photographer, writer, speaker, vegan activist
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Human Race, Rastafari, Ménilmontant International, Out Here, etc.
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.docreggae.com/]
}}

'''Bruno Blum''' (born October 4, 1960, [[Vichy]], France) is a [[French people|French]] singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae". He is mostly known for his work in the [[reggae]], [[Caribbean music]], [[rock music]] and African musics fields, and also works as a cartoon and comic book artist, illustrator, painter, photographer, video director, writer, journalist, music historian, interpreter and speaker.

== An eclectic character ==
On the back cover of his extensive ''Electric Dandy'' [[Lou Reed]] biography, his publisher introduced him in the following words: "A musician and producer, illustrator and speaker, and a legendary music journalist for ''Best'' Magazine, Bruno Blum lived in London during the reggae-punk years." Originally renowned as the ''enfant terrible'' of French rock critics based in London in 1977–1982, Bruno Blum started out in teenage punk group Private Vices in London in 1977–81. He gradually embodied an adventurer-musician globe-trotter figure, a free-spirited, astute lyric writer and a remarkable guitar player,<ref>Hear Bruno Blum playing ''Sweet Little Fifteen'' [http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524173625/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/mp3/Sweet_Little_Fifteen.mp3 |date=2015-05-24 }} and watch him play ''Vent du Sud'' : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQuaWpRXkoA]</ref> as well as a historian of English-speaking popular music, photographer and skilled graphic artist. A fully bilingual (English-French) vegan and ecologist, he has lived without drugs or alcohol for over twenty years. In the "Human Race" CD booklet, a Blum production, noted American reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]] described him as "a virtuosic polymath" and concluded: "An artist, producer, director, archivist, musician as well as author of and contributor to dozens of books [including 'Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae,' where Blum tells his own account of his musical adventures in Jamaica], Doc Reggae stands supreme among France's reggae chroniclers in his perceptive observations and the impressive variety of his accomplishments, not the least of which can be found on the album you now hold."

=== Musician ===
As a teenage bass player with Private Vices he was part of the late 1970s London punk movement and was later the first French musician to record and release [[dub music]], as well as [[afrobeat]].<ref name="Doc Reggae_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132314/http://www.brunoblum.com/musique/welikom.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> He has released several French songs albums (including the classic reggae album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'') in a wide variety of styles. "Viens Fumer un P'tit Joint à la Maison," a reggae pastiche of the drinking hit song "Viens Boire un P'tit Coup à la Maison" obtained over four million views on YouTube. His versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" also adapted in French as "Guerre," was another couple of hits. A Blum-produced version of "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" featuring a duet between [[Haile Selassie]] and [[Bob Marley]] reached number one in British magazine ''Black Echoes'' charts in April 1998 and remains an enduring reggae classic. Blum is known, among other things, for his work with the press-acclaimed Asmara All Stars<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289254&id=724863222&l=5eb92b21fe |title=The Asmara All Stars press book |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> and on [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s two studio reggae albums, which he has produced new mixes of, as well as dub and deejay versions in 2003. He also produced a definitive mix of Serge Gainsbourg's ''Gainsbourg Et Cætera'' Palace live album in 2006. In 2015 two "Super DeLuxe" triple CD sets were released in the form of books: ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Gainsbourg's three reggae albums in the Blum mixes form, including 8 previously unreleased tracks) and ''Gainsbourg in Dub,'' which contains 50 previously unreleased dubs. He also released his own dub work, much of it done in Jamaica, on his ''Sophisticated Love'' album by Dub De Luxe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love-album|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> First and foremost a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, Blum also performs steadily with his rock/soul/blues and [[reggae]] bands as a singer and lead guitar player.

His abounding, dense world often includes a touch of humour, and his art complements his Jamaica, Nigeria and USA-inspired music. Influenced by the electric, genuine analog sound and militant spirit of the 1970s, his wide array of works melt into a coherent whole, where different styles are approached in true eclectic fashion. Alternatively playing blues,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JXsrVni-w|title=Bruno Blum - I Hear my Train a Comin'|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> dub (which he often mixes himself on analog sound boards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nuAsn833nM |title=Sultan Oshimihn - Dub encore moi |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>), rock, jazz, afrobeat, reggae, etc., he is playing "''Organic culture music guaranteed to be played without machines by live, free-range musicians''".<ref>Excerpt from the ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' CD cover</ref> His successful French ("Guerre") and English versions of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" recorded with the Wailers gave him some international exposure and recognition.

He also created Human Race Records, a vinyl record label in Jamaica. According to [[Roger Steffens]] in the ''Human Race'' anthology booklet notes, he is an "independent polymath thriving on passion" and always funded his own recordings, which put forward his individual, idiosyncratic lyric style.<ref name="cd1d.com">{{cite web |url=http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |title=Human Race Featuring the War Album |publisher=cd1d.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711055051/http://cd1d.com/en/album/human-race-featuring-the-war-album |archive-date=2014-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He occasionally records "updated" pastiches of well-known songs in both English and French, including ''I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag'',<ref>Watch the video of Bruno Blum's 'updated' version of "I Feel-Like-I'm-A-Fixin'-To-Die Rag": [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BPiw6w7s0]</ref> the ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtKVOXuUVk |title=Bruno Blum - Viens fumer un p'tit joint à la maison |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-09-11 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> hit and satirical songs such as "Ça Bouge (sur la place Rouge)". His own French songs output often displays puzzling double-entendre lyrics. In 2015, he formed Cabaret Végane, the first all-[[vegan]] group, releasing an album of mostly original songs the following year and playing several shows in Paris, singing with female singer Joy Gross, who stars in 'Clémentine est végane,' a hit music video on Facebook;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-cl%C3%A9mentine-est-v%C3%A9gane/1993368514271128/|title=Cabaret Végane CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE | Merci de partager largement cette vidéo qui a la pêche et la patate. Version audio longue à écouter ou acheter :... | By Cabaret Végane |website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> (also in English as 'Clementine Is a Vegan').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/brunoblumabasedeplantes/videos/cabaret-v%C3%A9gane-clementine-is-a-vegan/2096521340622511/|title=Cabaret Végane - Cabaret Végane - Clementine Is a Vegan | Facebook | By Cabaret Végane | NEW VIDEO Cabaret Végane - CLEMENTINE IS A VEGAN Listen to and/or buy the full length version HERE:...|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Following the demise of the record industry, Bruno Blum was also one of the first French musicians to release most of his output on brunoblum.bandcamp.com,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/|title=Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com}}</ref> where most of his recordings can be heard.

=== Writer, musicologist ===
Besides his extensive work as a lyric writer, Blum has completed a master's degree in ''music, musicology, creation and society'' and speaks worldwide on the history of reggae music, African musics and other rock and blues culture-related subjects as well as veganism. His reggae lectures come with his reggae photography exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125811/http://www.docreggae.com/Photos/expojamaique/expojamaique.html |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> In 2013 he was awarded a ''Prix Coup de Cœur de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his 3CD set and booklet for ''Jamaica Folk, Trance, Possession - Roots of Rastafari 1939–1961'', and in 2021 a ''Prix Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde de l'Académie Charles Cros'' for his ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' set.

Written in a lively style, several of his books on music history give him an authority status in the French-speaking world. These include [[Lou Reed]], [[Bob Marley]] and [[John Lennon]] biographies, best-seller ''Le Reggae'', a fully illustrated Jamaican travel journal autobiography and a major contribution to best-selling ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock''. His bilingual English-French documented music reissues (he runs three series of documented CD box sets for Frémeaux & Associés for which he wrote substantial, informative ethnomusicologic booklets) have become scholar references. Major Bob Marley & the Wailers reissues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ |title=The Complete Wailers 1967–1972 |publisher=Iration.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> with U.S. partner [[Roger Steffens]] have also given him some international recognition. He is often working as an interpreter, has published many translations and texts in English, including English versions of his many Frémeaux & Associés booklets, translated six books including [[Bruce Conforth]]'s award-winning [[Robert Johnson]] biography and has also directed several documentaries for television. In addition, Blum has moved on and published two substantial surveys on societal issues: his book ''Shit! Tout Sur Le Cannabis'' includes an autobiographical chapter and the 2016 ''De Viandard à Végane'' is written in the form of an autobiography depicting his growing awareness of [[veganism]] through his musical career.
Perhaps his most important effort in the musicology field is the book ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'', which extensively depicts the history of each Caribbean island's original music before the 1960s 'big mix.' Each chapter of the book is based on a CD box set booklet originally released by ''Frémeaux & Associés'' and later extended for the book purpose, which allows the reader to listen to each chapter's contents. Forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and French ex-Minister of Justice of Guyane origin [[Christiane Taubira]] complement this major undertaking.

=== Illustrator, cartoonist, artist, photographer, filmmaker ===
Blum has published many cartoons, illustrations and comic strips in several of his books, in U.K. comic books and newspapers as well as a long list of French magazines, including ''Best'', ''Actuel'', ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'' and ''Hara-Kiri''. Perhaps his most significant work as a graphic artist is his 150-page ''Rock And Roll Comics'' album, a collection of his early comic strips, featuring a popular [[Motörhead]] story, done at a time when he played in a London punk rock group and was the London correspondent of French rock magazine ''Best''. This "autobio-graphic novel" includes time period fiction stories, previously unpublished art and also features a substantial chapter of his rock photography.

A prolific artist, besides photography, illustration and comic strips, he has also always produced graphic work meant to be exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jyO1gBmzbk|title=Bruno Blum - expo aux Trois Baudets 2010|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |title=Programme du 11 Septembre 2010 - - les trois baudets | Etablissement culturel de la Ville de Paris |accessdate=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425162249/http://www.lestroisbaudets.com/programme/2010/septembre/11.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 }}</ref> He often draws a blurry line between plastic arts and comic strip, as in the "Don't Drink and Drive, Smoke and Fly" series (see picture above) where the story jumps out of the pages to become a series of pictures, before going back to its initial, former frame. He has also published illustrated travel books and many satiric cartoons.

As a reporter photographer he has accumulated archives published in several of his books alongside his illustrations. His photo exhibition "Jamaica on the Reggae Tracks" has been shown all over France since 2008. His 2007 book of the same name, ''Jamaïque sur la piste du reggae'' features a mix of his photographs, narrative and art. Blum is one of the few photographers who managed to take pictures of nearly all of the British new wave groups, including [[Buzzcocks]], [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Clash]], and many US artists such as [[Iggy Pop]], [[The Heartbreakers (punk rock band)|the Heartbreakers]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Devo]], [[David Johansen]] and [[Patti Smith]] as well as several lesser-known groups, as shown in his ''Fils de Punk'' photo exhibition premiered at Stereolux in Nantes (France) in March–April 2017. In 2017, he publish an illustrated travel book, ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages''.
He has also directed Tenor Saw's classic ''Ring the Alarm'' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bc3g | title=Tenor Saw-Ring the Alarm - Vidéo Dailymotion | date=26 February 2007 }}</ref> reggae video as well as other videos, and worked as a journalist/director for Tracks, an Arte TV channel show about music culture. His artwork can be seen in the video of his song "Papa Legba," which was directed by Pascal Le Gras (best known for his cover artwork for British post-punk group [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]). The hit video ''Clémentine est végane'' (English version: ''Clementine Is a Vegan'') features some of his art, as well as Le Gras', Mandryka and street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]].

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
A ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'' magazine reader and [[André Franquin]] (''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', ''[[Marsupilami]]'', ''[[Gaston Lagaffe]]'') fan, the song ''Les Élucubrations d'Antoine'' was a revelation for him at an early age. When advertising was permitted on French television from October 1, 1968, his parents of humble origins Nicole and Tony Blum started producing advertising films. Their success was immediate. Their company, named FBI (Falby Blum International) had already produced several films by young director [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] when they were awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1972 for Annaud's ''Crackers Belin'' film. The company had opened offices in five countries as Tony Blum moved to Toronto in Canada, where his son joined him during the 1974 and 1975 summers. Aged fifteen, he was already bilingual after several stays in the UK, USA and Canada. His father produced the first feature film by [[Jérôme Savary]] ''Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline'' (1975). Bruno Blum got to meet and know his parents' colleagues and friends, including directors [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]], [[Ridley Scott]] and actors such as [[Pierre Desproges]] and [[Jerry Lewis]], but he was not interested in advertising. A dedicated comic strip reader, as early as twelve he was the founder of several amateur college comic magazines with his classmates. After an encounter with [[Asterix]] author [[René Goscinny]], he created a magazine named ''Klaus'' in the Paris art school Les Arts Appliqués where he studied comic book art with Georges Pichard, Jacques Lob and Yves Got. In 1974–1975, the very young editor gathered a team of talented artists that would all become professionals, including Bernar, Fernand Zacot, Klaus, [[Jean Teulé]] and classmate Jean-Marie Blanche, son of the famous French comedian and humorist [[Francis Blanche]], an inspiration to both friends. Failing all studies, Blum was evicted out of three colleges, including two art schools. Self-taught from then on, he would build teams following the same pattern, being the prime mover in many of his future projects.

=== Move to London ===
Following two convictions for record theft, and as his parents' company was going bankrupt, causing them to lose almost everything, in 1976-1977 the drifting teenager moved to London to study animation film with Oscar Grillo (who directed an animation film for Linda and [[Paul McCartney]]) and keenly attended rock clubs. In 1977–1978 he lived in North London's [[Stamford Hill]] Jamaican neighbourhood where he discovered reggae sound systems and dub music. He also made the earliest known recording of a then unknown band, [[the Police]], with a hand stereo recorder at London's [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|Roxy Club]] on March 3, 1977. Going through straits, he stayed in London squats, sharing houses with [[punk rock]] musicians including Private Vices and the Electric Chairs. A precocious, gifted person, he had already formed a rock group when he started writing for glossy magazine ''Best'', a popular rock monthly for which he was London correspondent from 1977 to 1981 as chronicler, reporter, illustrator and photographer. He would then work for years with a small team comprising Christian Lebrun, Francis Dordor and Patrick Eudeline, travelling (and recording) to the UK, USA and Jamaica as a reporter.
His successful ''In the City'' column, in which he published accounts of the very influential British music scene of the time, was written in lively, vivid ''[[Gonzo journalism|gonzo]]'' style and left its mark on the French youth. He met several reggae artists, including [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Steel Pulse]], [[Peter Tosh]], [[Toots and the Maytals]], [[Bob Marley]] and widely contributed to promoting reggae music among the French youth with his stories in popular ''Best'' Magazine. He also interviewed rock artists, including [[Nico]], [[Lou Reed]], [[John Cale]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[Johnny Thunders]] and the Heartbreakers, [[the Clash]], the [[Sex Pistols]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[the Stranglers]], [[Fela Kuti]] and many more. By 1978, he had become a daily contributor as London correspondent and chronicler to nationwide French radio station [[Europe 1]]'s ''Monde de la Musique'' show hosted by Pierre Lescure. He was recording and touring the UK in 1978-1979 with British punk group Private Vices,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51704&id=724863222&l=59c91cdc44 |title=Private Vices: A Chronology |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> which he founded in 1977 with Christophe Ruhn. He was to be the first French journalist to write about [[the Pretenders]], [[Devo]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[Motörhead]] and the then-unknown [[Stray Cats]], which he put up in his London squat as they first arrived from New York City. He also drew their original logo (as seen on the original ''Runaway Boys'' single cover), and drummer [[Slim Jim Phantom]]'s tattoo showing a drum set bearing his name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OOFgASwYw|title=stray cats interview 1983|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> His ''Rock and Roll Comics'' book is a testimony of his rock artwork and photographs from this London phase. In 1979–1981 he had a love affair with the late [[Saskia Cohen-Tanugi]], who appeared in the James Bond film ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' with [[Sean Connery]] and later became a noted theater director and writer.

=== 1980s ===
Blum was a militant ecologist since the age of fourteen, and after discussing the matter with Pretenders singer [[Chrissie Hynde]], he went vegetarian like her, a theme he would later sing about in his songs "Clementine Is a Vegan" and "Les Andouilles" and write much about in his animalist, 2016 autobiography ''De Viandard à végane''.<ref>See Bruno Blum telling his life story and seeing vegetarian rock stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS57UyE-hBo</ref>

Blum then became a DJ at the London Marquee Club as an occasional replacement for his girlfriend, DJ Mandy Hermitage. Initially published in ''Best'', his fiction comic strip ''Rock Commando'' staging [[Motörhead]] was published in ''New Music News'' in London, then issued by the band as a comic book in the UK. He then created the ''Nutty Boys''<ref>[http://skanews-webzine.propagande.org/french-mis/madnessedaireb.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comic book for pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], drawing their biopic in issue #1. Blum came back to live in Paris after a busking episode in Nice in the summer of 1982 with Nice-born photographer Youri Lenquette on second guitar. In 1983 he formed Les Amours, a six-piece vocal group which recorded and toured in 1984. In 1984-85 Blum begun a side career as fashion model,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5804413&l=b3b1b6d3cf&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum à travers les siècles 1 |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> posing for several advertising pictures, including for [[France Inter]] radio. Still writing for ''Best'' in the 1980s, for a time he contributed to the ''Les Enfants du Rock'' rock TV show with [[Antoine de Caunes]] as a reporter and published cartoons in the magazines ''Rigolo'', ''Best'' and ''Zoulou,'' an ''Actuel'' magazine offshoot.

In 1985, as seen in several TV shows,<ref>See a video of Catherine Ferry in [[Michel Drucker]]'s featuring Bruno Blum on bass</ref> including [[Michel Drucker]]'s, he was featured live in Catherine Ferry's rock backing band produced by French pop star [[Daniel Balavoine]]. Blum then recorded a few demos of his compositions in 1986 with a five-piece version of Les Amours not including the vocal group. After dealing with some personal problems reported in his ''Cultures Cannabis'' book, he has since abstained from using any legal (alcohol, tobacco) or illegal drug. In 1989 he recorded with some of [[Ziggy Marley]]'s musicians in Kingston, Jamaica where he pressed his "Des Couleurs" vinyl single. In late 1989, he recorded and released ''Ça Bouge (Sur la Place Rouge)'' in Paris, coinciding with the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. His first album ''Bruno Blum'' (1989) assembled these various recordings. He became the first French musician to have played, produced and released a dub record. A video of his rock song ''L'Histoire de ma Guitare'' taken from the album was broadcast several times on M6 television in France.

=== 1990s ===
[[File:A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.jpg|thumb|A 1997 record pressed on Bruno Blum's Jamaican label Human Race Records.]]
In 1990 Bruno Blum played onstage with [[Willy DeVille]] and joined [[Bo Diddley]]<ref>Bo Diddley Feat. Bruno Blum in concert, Casino de Paris, juillet 1990 {{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=25574688222&set=a.26191473222.47315.724863222&type=3&theater |title=Bruno Blum |publisher=Facebook}}</ref> live at Le Casino de Paris. A noted singer and guitar player, in 1990–1994 he led a rock cover band featuring John Weeks and other American musicians named the Sexy Frogs, with whom he recorded the original "J'aime les blondes" as well as various original songs.
In 1994 he was the editor of a ''Best'' special reggae issue for which he interviewed [[Lee "Scratch" Perry]], among others. In 1995 with the help of Patrick Zerbib and Léon Mercadet he then edited a special Bob Marley issue for one-shot new magazine ''Radio Nova Collector'' that was soon to become ''Nova Magazine.'' Blum persuaded [[Chris Blackwell]] to let him include a CD featuring [[Bob Marley]]'s "Punky Reggae Party" and a rare dub of "Is This Love" entitled "Is This Dub" in the issue. He drew several album covers and published artwork in ''Backstage'', ''Actuel'' (''Kronik le Kritik''), ''Best'' (Scud le Rok Kritik Sourd), ''Hara Kiri Hebdo'' (weekly comic strips on vegetarian culture), ''L'Environnement Magazine'', ''Panda Magazine'', hosted a short, daily radio show on ''Radio Nova'' and directed the documentary film ''Get Up, Stand Up – L'Histoire du Reggae'' produced by [[Jean-François Bizot]] for the [[Canal +]] channel. Jamaican producer [[Clement Dodd]] produced two of his original songs at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] in Kingston, Jamaica. As Dodd aka Coxsone saw Blum's ''Best of Reggae'' special issue, he nicknamed him "Doc Reggae", which has stuck since.

In partnership with American specialist [[Roger Steffens]] he conceived and produced a series of ten [[Bob Marley & the Wailers]] albums<ref>''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967 to 1972'' [http://www.iration.com/completewailers/ www.iration.com]</ref> that include around a hundred rare or previously unreleased recordings (he also mixed eight of them), time period photographs and much previously unheard of 1967–1972 information. In 1997–2003 Blum revived the original Danny Sims-owned JAD American label in Paris at this occasion, and successfully released the albums in several countries.

Doc Reggae then created the Jamaican label Human Race Records and its European incarnation Rastafari Records, through which he released several reggae vinyl singles featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Big Youth]], [[King Stitt]], Buffalo Bill and Doc Reggae himself, also playing the guitar on all tracks. A version of Bob Marley's "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" was recorded using the voice of the lyrics' creator himself, Haile Selassie I and surviving members of the Wailers. A vinyl single featuring Bob Marley and Haile Selassie I reached the #1 spot in the April 1998 of British magazine ''[[Echoes (magazine)|Echoes]]'' charts. ''The War Album'' was then recorded featuring Big Youth and Buffalo Bill. He also co-wrote, played on and produced several tracks sung by model/French song/jazz singer Annabelle Mouloudji in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/la-bombe-glac-e|title = La Bombe glacée, by Annabelle Mouloudji}}</ref>

In Jamaica he directed videos for [[Tenor Saw]]'s ''Ring the Alarm'' and Buffalo Bill's ''Perfect Woman'', as well as several TV reports for the ''Tracks'' show broadcast on the [[Arte]] channel. After the demise of ''Best'' in 1995 he joined competitor ''Rock & Folk'' magazine until 1999, then gave up all journalism work, excepting for a few stories published in ''Les Inrockuptibles'', which he left in 2002.

=== 2000s ===
Pierre Astier published his first book, the comprehensive biography ''Lou Reed – Electric Dandy'' at Le Serpent à Plumes. A rock and reggae specialist, Blum was to publish a further twenty books, including some successful ones, among which:

* ''Le Reggae''
* ''Bob Marley, le Reggae et les Rastas'' as well as his travel chronicles, fully illustrated with his photographs and artwork ''Jamaïque, sur la Piste du Reggae'' where he tells the story of his Jamaican adventures. He also co-signed three editions of ''Le Dictionnaire du Rock'' as a main contributor with Michka Assayas.
* ''De Viandard à Végane'', his autobiography.

Still performing live through the decade, after the 2001 ''The War Album'' recorded with [[the Wailers]], where he can be heard playing the guitar and voicing two tracks, he is noted as a producer and lyric writer on his second solo album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', also in 2001. Released on his own De Luxe label, this reggae album includes the single "Si Je Reste" (adapted in French from [[the Clash]]'s "Should I Stay or Should I Go"), a duet with Annabelle Mouloudji. ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' gets good reviews. To Yves Bigot " French reggae has found its songwriter ".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scarabeeprod.free.fr/bruno_blum.htm#presse |title=Bruno BLUM |publisher=Scarabeeprod.free.fr |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> Backed by the Wailers on "Avis aux Amateurs", he put to music the letter in which [[Arthur Rimbaud]] breaks the news on his mother that he will remain in Africa. Going against the grain of fashionable electronic music, he forwards in a 1970s-influenced style where lyrics and skilled electric instruments players are pivotal. He refers to [[Boris Vian]], [[Alain Bashung]], [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]], [[Jacques Dutronc]] (he has recorded a parody of Dutronc's "[[Et moi, et moi, et moi]]") and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] of whom he recorded a version of "L'Appareil à Sous" (originally recorded by [[Brigitte Bardot]]) – and soon an English version of "Lola Rastaquouère".

[[File:Bruno Blum's 'Nuage d'Éthiopie' album, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Bruno Blum's second album ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'', 2001]]

''Think Different'', his third album of original compositions, was recorded in a wide array of styles and released in 2002 (featuring duets with Annabelle Mouloudji and [[John Hostetter]]), followed by ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !''<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> recorded in [[Lagos]] ([[Nigeria]]) with a 20-piece band from Fela Kuti's group,<ref name="Doc Reggae_1"/> and released by BMG, which also reissued his [[Bob Marley]] 1967–1972 twelve-album series. JAD Records suddenly signed a distribution deal with Universal, and BMG was compelled to retrieve the entire JAD stock from the shops. The JAD delivery included two previously unreleased Peter Tosh albums, a Buffalo Bill album as well as Amala & Blum's ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us !'' album which, although just released, was also retrieved from the shops by mistake (as it had nothing to do with JAD Records) in spite of getting daily airplay on José Artur's ''Pop Club'' show on [[France Inter]]. Nevertheless, Blum remains the first French musician to release an [[afrobeat]] album – deleted shortly after its release, it only reached about a hundred journalists.

In 2003 Universal Music releases two double [[Serge Gainsbourg]] CD albums, ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]'' and ''Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles'' in a new 1970s style Kingston mix produced by Bruno Blum, featuring veteran Jamaican sound engineer Soljie Hamilton. Also included on the album are dub<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0COUDu5uSHI|title=Serge Gainsbourg & the Revolutionaries feat. Soljie Hamilton and Bruno Blum - Aux Armes Dub|accessdate=27 March 2023|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and deejay versions (including Lisa Dainjah, [[King Stitt]], [[Lone Ranger (musician)|Lone Ranger]] and [[Big Youth]]<ref>See Big Youth actually recording his version of ''Aux Armes Et Cætera''</ref>). The two press-acclaimed albums unveil several previously unreleased recordings, among which the Gainsbourg composition "Ecce Homo Et Cætera". Blum also voices one track himself, an English rendition of "Lola Rastaquouère", and plays guitar on his new arrangement of "Marilou Reggae", recorded with [[Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace]] on drums and [[Flabba Holt]] on bass.

After contributing to [[Poetry slam|slam]] shows in his Ménilmontant neighborhood, he records slammer Nada's ''Live at the Olympic Café'' (2001) album. He also supplies artwork for the CD cover as well as the follow-up ''Ultrash'', which he produces and plays on as Nada recites his lyrics over newly recorded instrumental versions of [[Velvet Underground]] songs. Two other ex-members of ''Best'' magazine's team participate to the album : Gilles Riberolles and Patrick Eudeline, who contributes with several short songs on ''Ultrash''.

''Gainsbourg... Et Cætera'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |title=Bienvenue sur le site de Doc Reggae |publisher=Docreggae.com |accessdate=2014-07-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115125428/http://www.docreggae.com/gainsbourgpalace/gainsbourgpalace.htm |archivedate=2013-11-15 }}</ref> a new Blum-produced mix (Thierry Bertomeu, engineer) of the poorly mixed, original Serge Gainsbourg live album ''Enregistrement Public au Théâtre Le Palace'' is released in 2006. This double CD includes five previously unreleased versions and an interview with [[Serge Gainsbourg]].

Blum kept performing live with Dub De Luxe as well as, from 2006 in an American group playing classic 1930s/1960s R&B covers sometimes featuring pianist [[Gilbert Shelton]], the well-known ''[[Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers]]'' comic book artist. Blum also produces an album by Shelton.

In 2006 he was invited to play a series of shows in [[Asmara]], [[Eritrea]] by the French Ambassador in Eritrea. It is his first of a series of trips that would lead to producing an anthology album of the best Eritrean singers (released in 2010).

In June 2007, the publication of his book ''Culture Cannabis''<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://latelelibre.fr/index.php/2007/11/faites-tourner-le-bouquin/ |title=Latelelibre.Frcannabis: Faites Tourner Le Bouquin |publisher=LaTeleLibre.fr |date=2005-11-09 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> led Bruno Blum to an hour-long clash with Professor Jean Costentin live on national radio [[France Inter]]. In 2008 he obtains a Master in musicology in Paris and publishes ''Le Rap Est Né en Jamaïque'' (Rap Was Born in Jamaica) in 2009. He also produced the ''Harry Belafonte - Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957''<ref>See online liner notes in English as well as French: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1089&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1954–1957, Frémeaux et Associés, 2009]</ref> anthology. Still performing onstage, he MCs dances as deejay and selecter, and speaks regularly in conferences around his country and abroad. In 2009 as he was one of the main writers in ''Best'' Magazine he creates the [[Facebook]] group ''Best, le mensuel du rock''. This internet site would eventually lead to Blum directing an anthology book of ''Best'''s best stories.

=== 2010s ===
In the summer of 2010 a major Emma Lavigne exhibition on punk rock visual aesthetics and photographs at the ''Rencontres d'Arles'' showed his collection of rare original punk records. At this occasion he spoke on punk musical aesthetics from 1930s jazz to 1940s–1970s rock music. In September, Doc Reggae performed at the Trois Baudets in Paris. For the first time, he offered a multimedia event where his paintings, artwork, comics trips as well as his ''Jamaïque sur la Piste du Reggae'' photo exhibition and video footage were shown before his own reggae show.

In 2008–2009 he produced the Asmara All Stars ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (released in 2010) album in [[Eritrea]], also playing on several songs. The album gathers some of the best musicians and singers from eight ethnic groups, including [[Dehab Faytinga]], Sara Teklesenbet, Mahmoud Ahmed Amr, Temasgen Yared, Ibrahim Goret and Adam Faid Amr.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=237912&id=724863222&l=4e22d1d41d |title=The Asmara All Stars: Eritrea's Got Soul |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> The album gets a warm welcome in the press as well as the radio:<ref>{{cite news|author=Howard Male |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-asmara-all-stars-eritreas-got-soul-out-here-2109155.html |title=Album: Asmara All Stars, Eritrea's Got Soul (Out Here) - Reviews - Music |work=The Independent |date=2010-10-17 |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> "If you like the Ethiopian soul-funk sound of the early 1970s, you should find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on it. Eritrea is Ethiopia's neighbour and many of the country's musicians actually contributed to those classic recordings. The main difference with this contemporary project is the influence of Jamaican reggae. But the dub elements fold perfectly into the sinuous Ethiopian grooves – as our own Dub Colossus have already demonstrated. Vibrant, heady and sensuous stuff" (''The Independent'', London, October 2010). Two album release party shows, including one in the Opera House, take place in [[Asmara]] in October 2010.

In November 2010 Volume 1 of ''Best of Best'', an anthology of rock magazine ''Best'' to which he was a major contributor, was published. The 320 pages book was conceived, coordinated and edited by Blum with the support of the original team including Sacha Reins, Patrick Eudeline and Francis Dordor, who wrote a tribute to the late editor Christian Lebrun.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6780824&l=3e5bd0094c&id=724863222 |title=Bruno Blum - Bruno Blum - Ma vie mon œuvre |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> As part of the Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris in June 2011 he spoke<ref>See Bruno Blum's complete "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" conference at Festival des Cultures Juives de Paris 2011 online on the Akadem website: [http://www.akadem.org/sommaire/themes/liturgie/15/8/module_9930.php]</ref> on the theme "Bob Marley, culture Rastafari et Judaïsme" in the Paris 4 Town Hall. In 2011 Bruno Blum also translated Kim Gottlieb-Walker's ''Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae'' photo book (published in France as ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'') to which director [[Cameron Crowe]] contributed.

An anthology of his Jamaican record label Human Race was released in late 2011. Essentially recorded in Jamaica, the double roots reggae CD ''Human Race''<ref name="cd1d.com"/> includes ''The War<ref>[[War (Bob Marley song)]]</ref> Album'' with a bonus track, and features the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]] as well as [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella, Bruno Blum and several previously unreleased tracks. Illustrated by several photographs and original artwork by Blum, the CD booklet is written by renowned U.S. reggae historian [[Roger Steffens]].

Unveiling much information and rare original music, he also edited the following Caribbean music anthologies: ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958'' and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=16&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0 Jamaica, Mento 1951–1958, Frémeaux et Associés, 2010]</ref> ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'',<ref>See the ''Bahamas, Goombay 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1252&Itemid=13]</ref> ''Trinidad, Calypso 1939–1959''<ref>See the ''Trinidad, Calypso 1951–1959'' album and scroll to read its online English/French booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1304&Itemid=13]</ref> and ''Calypso'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1323&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Calypso 1944–1958 Danses du monde - espagne, caraĎbe, amÉrique du sud, cd n°9 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'',<ref>See the ''Jamaica - Rhythm and Blues 1956–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1]</ref> ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'',<ref>See the ''Voodoo in America -Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7008&product_id=1380&category_id=34]</ref> ''Bermuda - Gombey and Calypso 1953–1960'' for which he writes sizeable, standard reference booklets. In 2011 he designs and draws both ten-CD ''Anthologie des musiques de danse du monde'' (''Dance Music Masters'') box sets covers as well as each of the twenty album covers they contain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=128&Itemid=-1 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore - WORLD MUSIC |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref>
Five of his documented anthologies albums were co-published by national museums of France: ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' and ''Jamaica - Folk Trance Possession 1939–1961'', the latter being awarded the Académie Charles Cros' World Music ''Coup de Cœur'' in 2014. ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972'' includes a foreword by French Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]], author of a law compelling the French educational system to include the memory of slavery in school programs. ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' and ''Beat Generation 1936–1962'' followed.

His contribution to the Frémeaux & Associés label also delivered several rock albums, including ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>See the ''Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage - 1954–1956'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13]</ref> containing both Elvis' versions as well as all of the original versions of the songs he recorded; ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>See ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960'' album and scroll to read its English/French online booklet: [http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=6936&product_id=1373&category_id=81]</ref> and many others. His Caribbean series are perhaps his most significant reissue work, documenting and making available to the public rare foundation recordings of most Caribbean islands including the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.

As more audio and ethnomusicologic analysis contributions to CD Box sets for major, national museums exhibitions took place (including ''Beat Generation'' at Centre Pompidou and ''The Color Line'' at Musée du Quai Branly, both in 2016), Blum was granted a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]] for his 2016 book ''De Viandard à Végane''. He also played several shows with his new vegan group Cabaret Végane formed in 2015, featuring young female singer Gojy Gojy, who stars in the ''Clémentine est végane'' video, to which artists [[Mandryka]], Pascal Le Gras and [[Invader (artist)]] contributed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obCmW83qM8k|title=Cabaret Végane - CLÉMENTINE EST VÉGANE|last=Bobo Cosmique|date=9 October 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> An English version of the song was also issued.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-09-26 |archive-date=2023-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801190136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4L21Jb1gI |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both were successful on Facebook.

In 2017 Bruno Blum ran for MP in the French General Elections (for the Parti Animaliste) and obtained 1,36% of the votes in the Paris district of ''Le Marais''. In January until March 2018, his three-CD collection devoted to the history of avant-garde music in the twentieth century created an opportunity for the Frémeaux Gallery to put together an exhibition about avant-garde visual arts, as well as a conference by Blum on the topic. Blum translated three books that year: [[Roger Steffens]]' definitive [[Bob Marley]] biography, [[Norman Mailer]]'s ''Hipster'', street artist [[Invader (artist)|Invader]]'s ''Invasion Los Angeles'' for which he also wrote a four-page introduction. His instrumental dub album ''Sophisticated Love'' partly recorded and mixed in Jamaica was issued in 2019.

=== 2020s ===
Blum also translated bluesman [[Robert Johnson]]'s award-winning biography ''Up Jumped the Devil'' in 2020. He published two vegan humor, cartoon books, showing once again an ability to deal with entirely different subjects. On a different note, his major history book of 2021 ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' echoes his fine African-American cults-inspired ''Culte'' album, which was recorded in several African countries, Yemen, Jamaica and France. A Caribbean music anthology also entitled ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' was awarded a Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros in 2021.
A new album entitled ''Le Cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (partially recorded in Jamaica on the ''Marilou Reggae'' sessions with Horsemouth Wallace and Flabba Holt) was released on bandcamp.com. It includes music recorded with [[Coxsone Dodd]], [[Flabba Holt]], Sticky, Chico Chin and Horsemouth Wallace, [[The Wailers]] and [[Sly & Robbie]] in Jamaica, and Manu Dibango's musicians in Cameroon as well as some French musicians in Paris.
The covid crisis inspired Blum to publish a humorous cartoon book in which he condemns a totalitarian, downward slide that has also led him to move to the countryside in the South West of France where he formed an acoustic trio, Bruno Blum et ses Amis (upright bass and percussion, acoustic guitar) playing his own French songs.
In 2023 Blum was sued by Hunters National Federation president Willy Schraen for a caricature published in his satirical cartoon book ''Humour Végane Extrémiste'', resulting in a trial won by the artist.

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Bruno Blum'' (New Rose, 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/bruno-blum-album|title = Bruno Blum [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Sexy Frogs: ''Sexy Frogs'' (Ménilmontant International, 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sexy-frogs-album|title = Sexy Frogs [album], by Sexy Frogs|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nuage d'Éthiopie'' (Culture Press, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/nuage-d-thiopie-album|title = Nuage d'Éthiopie [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Think Différent'' (Culture Press, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/think-diff-rent-album|title = Think différent [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Amala & Blum: ''Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us!'' (55/BMG, 2003, bandcamp.com)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/welikom-2-lay-gh-us-album|title = Welikom 2 Lay-Gh-Us! [album], by Amala & Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Cabaret Végane'' (Ménilmontant International, 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/cabaret-v-gane-album|title=Cabaret végane [album], by Cabaret Végane|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Rock n Roll Deluxe'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-de-luxe-album|title = Rock n roll de luxe [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Culte'' (Ménilmontant International, 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/culte-album|title=Culte [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (Ménilmontant International, 2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/sophisticated-love|title = Sophisticated Love [album], by Dub de Luxe|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Le cœur à gauche, le fric à droite'' (Ménilmontant International, 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/le-c-ur-gauche-le-fric-droite-album-2|title = Le Cœur à Gauche, Le Fric à Droite [album], by Bruno Blum|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

(all albums can be listened to on bandcamp.com <ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music | Bruno Blum |publisher=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com |date=2017-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> )

=== Compilations ===
* With Private Vices (in 1979): ''Total Control''/''Paris 84'' (45 RPM single, Shattered! Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/private-vices|title = Private Vices, by Private Vices|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* With Les Manches (in 1982): ''These Boots Are Made for Walking'' on the ''Week End à Nice'' album (Black and White 1983)
* With Les Amours (in 1984): ''La Tentation (elle est dans ton cœur)'' (adapted from [[Lou Reed]]'s ''Temptation Inside Your Heart'') on the ''Romances 85'' album (Romances 1985)
* With [[the Wailers]] (in 1996): "[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]" and "Guerre" on "The War Album" (Rastafari 2001), a Human Race (Jamaica 1997) 45rpm single, and a Rastafari (Europe 2009) 45rpm single.
* With Dub De Luxe (in 2003): ''Viens fumer un p'tit joint'' on the ''Libérez Marie-Jeanne, Tolérance Double Zéro Volume III'' album (Productions Spéciales, 2003)
* With the Revolutionaries (in 2002): ''Lola rastaquouère (English Version)'' on the [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' album (Mercury, 2003)

=== Production ===
* Annabelle Mouloudji: ''La Bombe Glacée'' (brunoblum.bandcamp.com), 1999
* ''The War Album'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], [[Big Youth]], Buffalo Bill and Bruno Blum (Rastafari Records, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-album|title = The War Album, by Haile Selassie I featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers|website=Brunoblum.bandcamp.com|accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>
* King Stitt: ''Zoot Suit Hipster'' (vinyl single, Human Race 2002)
* [[Big Youth]]/Spectacular and the voice of Marcus Garvey: ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (12" 4-track single, Human Race, 2002)
* [[Bob Marley]] and [[The Wailers]]: ''Freedom Time'' (mix of 1968 recordings and booklet notes, JAD 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux Armes Et Cætera]]''' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles'' (Mercury, 2003)
* Nada: ''À l'Olympic'' (live recording, Ménilmontant International, 2003)
* Nada: ''Ultrash'' (Ménilmontant International, 2004)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg... et Cætera: Enregistrement Public au Théatre Le Palace'' (Mercury, 2006)
* Joseph Cotton: ''Conflicts'' (vinyl single Rastafari, 2008)
* Haile Selassie I, [[Bob Marley]], [[the Wailers]], Big Youth, Doc Reggae, Buffalo Bill : ''[[War (Bob Marley song)|War]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* Spectacular, Big Youth and the voice of Marcus Garvey : ''[[Marcus Garvey]]'' (vinyl 10", Rastafari, 2010)
* The Asmara All Stars: ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Human Race'' featuring the voices of [[Haile Selassie I]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Gandhi]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Big Youth]], Spectacular, Buffalo Bill, [[King Stitt]], Brady, Annabelle Mouloudji, [[Joseph Cotton]], Lady Manuella and Bruno Blum (double CD Rastafari/Patch Work, 2011)
* Yaoundé All Stars : ''Cameroon's Got Soul'' (bandcamp.com, 2011)
* ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition)
* ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Mercury, 2015) (3-CD Super DeLuxe edition, includes photographs and drawings by Bruno Blum)
* Dub De Luxe: ''Sophisticated Love'' (bandcamp.com, 2019) (Jamaican roots reggae dub)

== Bibliography ==

=== Books ===
Aside from his songs, booklet notes, writings for ''Best'', ''Rock & Folk'', ''Les Inrockuptibles'', ''Actuel'', ''Hara-Kiri'', ''Nova Magazine'', Bruno Blum has published several books, often illustrated by his own artwork and photographs:

In French:
* ''Le Reggae'' (Librio 2000. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010, 2021)
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Le Serpent à Plumes 2001. Updated and illustrated edition with photos by [[Bob Gruen]]: Hors Collection 2008. Final, complete edition: Le Castor Astral 2014. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)
* ''Couleurs reggae'' (photo portfolio, Tana 2001)
* ''Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas'' (Hors Collection 2004. Revised edition, augmented with a discography, foreword by [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]: Hors Collection 2010)
* ''Le Ragga'' (Hors Collection 2005)
* ''John Lennon'' (Biography. Hors Collection 2006)
* ''Punk, Sex Pistols, Clash et l'explosion punk'' (Hors Collection 2007)
* ''Cultures Cannabis'' (Scali 2007)
* ''Jamaïque, sur la piste du reggae'' (Scali 2007) (narrative, photos and travel drawings)
* ''De l'art de savoir chanter, danser et jouer la bamboula comme un éminent musicien africain'' (Scali 2007) (A guide and essay on African music)
* ''Les 100 plus grands tubes du reggae à télécharger'' (Fedjaine 2008)
* ''Le Rap est né en Jamaïque'' (Le Castor Astral 2009)
* ''Reggae Vinyls'' (Stéphane Bachès 2012, a collection of mostly Jamaican vinyl record sleeves. Éditions du Layeur 2017: new edition, twice as big as the first one)
* ''Shit! Tout sur le cannabis'' (First 2013)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''Serge Gainsbourg : Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* ''De Viandard à végane'' (Mama Éditions 2016, with a foreword by [[Paul McCartney]])
* ''Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come'' (Éditions GM 2017, includes 160 previously unpublished pictures and a DVD of the original film)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes'' [tome 1 "du vaudou au calypso"] (Le Castor Astral 2021, with forewords by [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Christiane Taubira]])

In Czech:
* ''Lou Reed - Electric Dandy'' (Biography. Czech edition: Volvox Globator 2014)

Most of Bruno Blum's books are illustrated by some of his artwork and/or photographs.

=== As an artist and script writer ===

* ''Motörhead - Rock Commando'' (Motörhead, 1980) [Comic book, UK, with Klaus. Second edition as part of the Super Deluxe edition of Motörhead's album ''Ace of Spades''(BMG 2020).
* ''Madness - Nutty Boys Comix #1'' (Madness, 1981) [Comic book, UK, with Spike and Dave Mitchell]
* ''Manga Comix n° 1 : Radasse la Grosse Pouffiasse'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Adult comic book, art & scenario]
* ''Manga Comix n° 2 : Humour Végane Intégriste Bête et Méchant'' (Ménilmontant International, 2015) [Art & scenario]
* ''Carnets exceptionnels de mes voyages'' (Magellan 2017) (travel book illustrations and text)
* ''Rock and roll comics'' (Tartamudo 2019) (autobiographic novel and fiction)
* ''Humour végane extrémiste'' (À Base de Plantes 2021, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''Mort aux antivax'' (À Base De Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com) (cartoons and comics)
* ''La Bible des Khmers verts herbivores'' (À Base de Plantes 2022, bruno-blum.com)
* ''À Base de Plantes #0 - Chassons les chasseurs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)
* ''À Base de Plantes #1 - Abattons les abattoirs'' (À Base de Plantes 2023, bruno-blum.com)(cartoons and comics)

=== Contributions as an artist ===
* ''L'Abécédaire de rien de ce §#ç&%$ de monde du « rock »'' (Autour du Livre 2007) by Pascal Samain [illustrations].
* ''Too Much Class... Dogs, l'histoire'' (La Belle Saison, 2013) by Catherine Laboubée [includes a comic book story by Blum].
* ''Mystère Monk'' (Robert Laffont 2022) by Franck Médioni [includes a double page artwork portrait of Thelonious Monk]

===Translations===
* ''Sur la route avec Bob Marley, un chevalier blanc à Babylone'' by Mark Miller (Bob Marley's stage manager in 1978–1980)(Scali 2007. Revised, augmented and illustrated edition: Le Castor Astral 2010). Introduction, translation, iconography, Marley biography and various added texts by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley l'Africain'' (Scali 2008) by Adebayo Ojo, introduction and translation by Bruno Blum.
* ''Bob Marley, un portrait inédit en photos'' (Hors Collection 2011) by Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Jeff Walker, [[Roger Steffens]] and [[Cameron Crowe]].
* ''Hipsters'' (Castor Astral 2017) by Norman Mailer, introduction, translation and illustrations by Bruno Blum.
* ''So Much Things to Say - L'histoire orale de Bob Marley'' (Robert Laffont 2018) by Roger Steffens. Translation and footnotes. Foreword by [[Linton Kwesi Johnson]].
* ''Et le diable a surgi - la vraie vie de Robert Johnson'' (Castor Astral 2020) by [[Bruce Conforth]] and [[Gayle Dean Wardlow]]. Foreword and two illustrations also by Bruno Blum.
* ''Rencontres avec des musiciens remarquables - The Seekers'' (Castor Astral, 2022) by [[John Densmore]].

===Contributions===

In French:
* ''Seventies Graffiti'' (1993), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Blues'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock.
* ''Best of Reggae'' (1994), special issue of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Florent Droguet, Mehdi Boukhelf, Christian Eudeline, Patrick Eudeline, Blaise Ndjehoya, Jean-Pierre Boutellier, Pascale Geoffrois, Awal Mohamadou, Hélène Lee, [[Steve Barrow]] and [[Roger Steffens]].
* ''Le Siècle rebelle, dictionnaire de la contestation au XXe siècle'' (Larousse 1999) edited by Emmanuel de Waresquiel.
* ''Nova Collector'', a special issue magazine devoted to Bob Marley, edited by Bruno Blum, with contributions by Léon Mercadet (the magazine included a CD of ''Punky Reggae Party'' and the previously unreleased ''Is This Dub'').
* ''Le Dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2000) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''Rock Critics'' (Don Quichotte, 2010).
* ''Best of Best, tome 1, 1968–1979'' (Le Castor Astral, 2010), an anthology of ''Best'', le mensuel du rock. Conception, coordination and editing: Bruno Blum
* ''Le Nouveau dictionnaire du rock'' (Robert Laffont 2014) (contribution: 14% of the texts, edited by Michka Assayas)
* ''À Base de Plantes'' (À Base de Plantes) special hunters issue #0 (2023), special animal farming issue #1 (2023).
In English:
* ''Rebel Music'' (Genesis Publications, Guildford, Surrey, UK, 2004) by Kate Simon.
* ''Invasion Los Angeles'' by [[Invader (artist)]] (Control P Editions, 2018), introduction and English version.

=== CD booklets ===
Nearly all of the following albums were also produced by Bruno Blum, as new productions or as reissues.

* The Asmara All Stars - ''Eritrea's Got Soul'' (Out Here, 2010)
* ''Bill Haley Live in Paris 14–15 Octobre 1958'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)

In both English and French:
''The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972'' series in partnership with Leroy Jodie Pierson and Roger Steffens:
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rock to the Rock'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Selassie Is the Chapel'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Best of the Wailers'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Rebels'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Revolution Part II'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, More Axe'' (Jad 1997)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Keep on Skanking'' (Jad 1998)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Satisfy my Soul Jah Jah'' (Jad 1998)

Please make a note that most of the extensive Frémeaux & Associés CD booklets listed below (both in English and French) are available online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

Caribbean series:
* ''Dance Music Masters: Calypso'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Harry Belafonte, Calypso, Mento & Folk 1956–1957'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2009)
* ''Jamaica - Roots of Rastafari, Mystic Music from Jamaica - Folk, Trance, Possession 1939–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2013) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2013]
* ''Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2010)
* ''Jamaica - Rhythm & Blues 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1353&category_id=128&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=-1 |title=World music Jamaica rhythm & blues 1956–1961 The roots of jamaican soul - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Jamaica - Jazz 1931–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2016)
* ''Bahamas - Goombay 1951–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Trinidad - Calypso 1939–1959'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2011)
* ''Bermuda - Gombey & Calypso 1953–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Virgin Islands - Quelbe & Calypso 1956–1960'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Dominican Republic - Merengue 1949–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Haiti - Meringue & Konpa 1952–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Haiti - Vodou - Ritual Music From the First Black Republic - Folk, Trance, Possession 1937–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Cuba - Jazz, Jam Sessions, Descargas 1956–1961'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''Cuba - Son, The Afro-Cuban Founding Recordings 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2019)
* ''Cuba - Santería, Folk, Trance, Possession, Mystic Music From Cuba 1939-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2021)
* ''Les Musiques des Caraïbes, du vaudou au ska'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021) [awarded Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros "Coup de Cœur Musiques du Monde" 2022]
* ''Puerto Rico - Plena, Bomba, Mambo, Guaracha, Pachanga 1940-1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2022)

America series:
* ''Voodoo in America - Blues Jazz Rhythm and Blues Calypso 1926–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1380&Itemid=13 |title=Blues Voodoo in america Blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, calypso (1926–1961) - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Africa in America - Rock, Jazz & Calypso 1920–1962''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1424&Itemid=13 |title=Jazz Africa in america Rock jazz & calypso 1920 - 1962 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Slavery in America - Redemption Songs 1914–1972''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1602&Itemid=13|title=World music Slavery in america - redemption songs Musiques issues de l'esclavage aux amériques 1914–1972 - Frémeaux & Associés Éditeur, La Librairie Sonore|website=Fremeaux.com}}</ref> Foreword by Minister of Justice [[Christiane Taubira]] (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2014)
* ''Cuba in America 1939–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)
* ''Caribbean in America 1915–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''Road Songs - Car Tune Classics 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage - 1954–1956''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1337&Itemid=13 |title=Elvis Presley World music Elvis presley face à l'histoire de la musique américaine vol.1 (1954–1956) Elvis Presley & the American Music Heritage vol.1 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Elvis Presley & The American Music Heritage vol. 2 - 1956–1958''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7178&product_id=1406&category_id=81 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''Electric Guitar Story 1935–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Rock Instrumentals Story 1934–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Race Records - Black Rock Music Forbidden on U.S. Radio 1942–1955'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''Beat Generation - Hep Cats, Hipsters & Beatniks 1936–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Centre Pompidou 2016)
* ''The Color Line - African American artists and segregation 1916–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/[[Musée du Quai Branly]] 2016)
* ''Klezmer - American Recordings 1909–1952'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Roots series:
* ''Jamaica - USA - Roots of Ska - Rhythm & Blues Shuffle 1942–1962'' (Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''Roots of Punk Rock Music 1926–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''Great Black Music Roots 1927–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés/Cité de la Musique Paris 2014)
* ''Roots of Soul 1928–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''Roots of Funk 1947–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''New Orleans Roots of Soul 1941–1962'' (Frémeaux & Associés 2016)

Indispensable series:
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1955–1960''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1373&Itemid=13 |title=Bo Diddley Country rockn'roll Bo diddley the indispensable 1955–1960 - Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Bo Diddley 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable James Brown 1956–1961''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.livrets&content_id=7057&product_id=1391&category_id=34 |title=Frémeaux & Associés éditeur, La Librairie Sonore |publisher=Fremeaux.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-24}}</ref> (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2012)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent 1956–1958'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux et Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Gene Vincent Vol. 2 1958–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
*''The Indispensable B.B. King 1949–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Chuck Berry 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2013)
* ''The Indispensable Eddie Cochran 1955–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Roy Orbison 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Rockabilly 1951–1960'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2014)
* ''The Indispensable Bill Haley 1948–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Miriam Makeba 1955–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Little Richard 1951–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2015)
* ''The Indispensable Joan Baez 1959–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Fats Domino 1949–1962'' (6-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2017)
* ''The Indispensable Jerry Lee Lewis 1956–1962'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Aretha Franklin, Intégrale 1956–1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Indispensable Buddy Holly, 1955–1959'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2020)
* ''The Indispensable Johnny Cash, 1954–1961'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2021)

Twentieth Century series:
* ''Avant-Garde 1888–1970'' (3-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2018)
* ''The Birth of British Rock 1948-1962'' (3 CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2022)
* ''The Birth of Surf Rock 1933-1962'' (2-CD set, Frémeaux & Associés 2023)
French/English booklet texts are online on the Frémeaux & Associés site.

* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg and the Revolutionaries'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Gainsbourg in Dub'' (Super DeLuxe 10" book, 3 CDs, Mercury, 2015)

In partnership with [[Gilles Verlant]] (available in English editions):
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''[[Aux Armes et Cætera - Dub Style]]'' (Mercury, 2003)
* [[Serge Gainsbourg]] : ''Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles - Dub Style''<ref>[[:fr:Mauvaises Nouvelles des étoiles - Dub Style]]</ref> (Mercury, 2003)

In French:
* ''The Very Best of Jamaica'' (Trojan 1990)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Freedom Time'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Soul Adventurer'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jungle Dub'' (Jad 2002)
* ''Bob Marley & the Wailers, Rebel'' (Jad 2003) (4 CD)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACArt}}

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[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Vichy]]
[[Category:French journalists]]
[[Category:French music journalists]]
[[Category:French musicians]]
[[Category:French reggae singers]]
[[Category:French illustrators]]
[[Category:French comics artists]]
[[Category:French photographers]]
[[Category:French biographers]]
[[Category:French male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:French veganism activists]]