Biography - Facts and Figures

Band creation: 1994

Original line-up: Fred Lani (guitar and vocals), Jean-Marie 'Papy X' Lani (bass), Marc Lhommel (Drums)


Fred Lani, at the age of 18, in 1995 in Louvain-la-Neuve (Nuit du Rock)
Copyright: Willy Philippo 1995

The band originally comes from the french speaking country side of Belgium, from a small village named Maredret.

The original name of the band was 'The Healers' but was soon changed as it was already taken by a contemporary band from Antwerp (with Tee & Wuff).

First gig: november 1994 @ Kotch Musical Bar - Les Boscailles

First CD: Fred and the Healers (EP 4 tracks) - 1996

The band played 800+ Gigs, mainly in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, but also in Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Luxemburg and Italy

The band won the Belgian blues prize in 1997 and the Belgian Blues Challenge in 2014

Counting all EPs and LPs the band has sold over 23000 cds.

The band saw the internet broke, the social media rise and the streaming platforms win !

Discography:

  • 1996 - Fred and the Healers (4 tracks) - Oompah Beat Records
  • 1997 - First - Kroko Records then Oompah Beat Records - Universal Music Edition
  • 1997 - Limited (reedition of the first EP) - Kroko Records
  • 1998 - I Gotta Leave - Crossover then Oompah Beat Records - Universal Music Edition
  • 1999 - Voodoo Family (2 tracks) - Crossover then Oompah Beat Edition - Universal Music Edition
  • 2001 - Electerrified - Mercury Universal Music - charted 22
  • 2004 - Red - Bang! - charted 24
  • 2014 - Hammerbeatmatic - Team 4 Action - charted 72
  • 2025 - No Escape - Team 4 Action - to be released March 29 2025

Main festivals and venues

  • Peer Rythm and Blues Festival
  • Werchter festivalplein (w/ Bon Jovi & Mel C)
  • Couleur Café
  • Montreux Jazz Festival (CH)
  • Dour festival
  • Ancienne Belgique
  • Botanique
  • Hof ter Lo
  • Den Atelier (LU)
  • Spirit of 66
  • Grand Mix (FR)
  • Jazz à Liège
  • Nandrin Rock
  • Fêtes de Wallonie - Liège/Namur
  • Festiblues Montréal (CA)
  • Brussels Summer Festival
  • Boogie Town Festival
  • Francofolies de Spa
  • Roots and Roses Festival
  • Fiesta City
  • Fiesta du Rock
  • Handzame Blues Festival
  • Blues Oan Da Stoazze
  • Wuustwezel Nacht van de Blues
  • Binkom blues
  • Patersdreef
  • DLB Blues
  • Acosse Rock and Blues
  • Kwademdamme Blues Festival (NL)
  • Nuit du blues Charleroi
  • More Blues Festival
  • Park Rock
  • Paradiso (w/ Fred Lani with Jake LaBotz) (NL)
  • L'Esprit (NL)
  • Wilhelmina (NL)
  • Harelbeke blues festival
  • La Flèche D'Or (Fred Lani w/ Superslinger)(FR)
  • Gentse Feesten
  • Genk on stage
  • Oetsloven Blues
  • Fonne feesten
  • Kids Rythm and Blues Festival
  • Gouvy Jazz and Blues Festival
  • Zap'in (FR)
  • Mehlsack (D)
  • .... and many more (including blues routes) .... list to be updated .... depending on how fast memories are coming back...
  • We've played as support act for

  • Robert Cray
  • Canned Heat
  • Bon Jovi
  • Joe Cocker
  • Omar Dykes & the Howlers
  • Blof
  • Triggerfinger (actually for a series of 4 double bill gigs in 2004)
  • Gypsy Kings, Howe Gelb, Los Lobos (Fred Lani & Superslinger)
  • Tony Joe White (Fred Lani w/ Jake LaBotz)
  • Percy Strother
  • Popa Chubby
  • .... and a few others we do not remember ...