Information/Write-up
This obscure 1970 single from Michel et la 4ième Volonté is one of Quebec’s most ferocious early forays into heavy rock—two fuzz-drenched barnburners that predate the mainstream arrival of metal in the province. Originally issued on the short-lived Volt label, Fais attention (Je suis un homme) and Fille de Terre des Hommes are explosive French-language covers of Rare Earth’s version of “Get Ready” and Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen,” respectively. But these aren’t just simple translations—they’re volcanic reinterpretations, louder and looser than most anything coming out of Quebec at the time.
Fronting the group is Michel Dion, now confirmed to be the older brother of global superstar Céline Dion. Long before Céline sang at his wedding at the age of five, Michel was already blazing a trail in the province’s underground rock scene. His shrill, urgent vocal style rides the amphetamine fuzz and cowbell groove like a man possessed—equal parts garage grit and stage theatrics.
“Fais attention (Je suis un homme)” is lean and loud, echoing Rare Earth’s thunderous energy but replacing Motown polish with raw, Francophone attitude. On the flip, “Fille de Terre des Hommes” brings heavy psych riffs and proto-metal distortion into perfect collision. It’s stripped down, distorted, and urgent—like a francophone cousin to early Grand Funk or Blue Cheer.
While little is known about the other band members (aside from possible credits to G. Rivest and drummer Michel Desjardins), the band later dropped the “Michel” and released two more 45s under La 4ième Volonté on the psychedelic-leaning Pop Apex label. One of those tracks, Cegep Blues, was rescued decades later on the Freak Out Total Vol. 3 compilation by Satan Bélanger—further cementing their cult status.
Remarkably, this single may mark the first-ever commercial release by a member of the Dion family, with Michel preceding his sister’s rise by over a decade. He would later surface in the new wave pop band Le Show, which scored hits in the 1980s, including “L’homme de la rue.”
Today, this Volt 45 is a prized collector’s item—a lost proto-metal artifact with a direct bloodline to Quebec’s reigning musical queen. Essential listening for fans of early Canadian hard rock, obscure psych covers, and the ever-unfinished archaeology of 1970s Quebec music.
-Robert Williston
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