Biography Jannick Top

Jannick Top is a French bassist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, born in Marseille, France. He is best known as the bassist for the pioneering Zeuhl band Magma during what is often considered their "golden years" (Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh, Wurdah Itah, Köhntarkösz and Üdü Wüdü). As well as bass, Top also plays cello and piano/synthesizers.

His dark, aggressive style became one of the staples of the Zeuhl sound. On his two solo efforts, Soleil d'Ork (2001) and Infernal Machina, he continued in the Zeuhl vein. Soleil d'Ork (named after a track on Üdü Wüdü) featured a collection of his own compositions dating from 1974 to 1980. Two of these compositions were reworkings of his own writing contributions to Magma's Üdü Wüdü and Mekanik Machine was a rare Magma track. Two of the songs on the album were also featured on his 1975 Utopia Viva EP. Infernal Machina, released in 2008, featured all new material, comprised of one long 12 part suite, recorded live.

After Magma, Top played in the popular electronic project Space from 1977 to 1980. The title-track for their 1977 album Magic Fly, Magic Fly, reached #2 on the UK charts. Space split up officially in 1981.

Since then, Top has worked with many other musicians, including session work for Michel Berger, France Gall, Richard Cocciante, Bonnie Tyler, Eurythmics, Ray Charles, Celine Dion and played live and done musical direction for spectacles, including Johnny Halliday and Starmania. In association with keyboardist Serge Perathoner, he has also done a variety of film and advertisement musics.

Top still occasionally plays live with Magma.

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