Indochina: the shocking and very violent comments of a former member of the group, who says he is ready to “put a bullet” in Nicola Sirkis…

“If he goes too far, he knows that I'm not going to hire a lawyer, I'm going to take the 6,35 and I'm going to put one in his head! »

For 40 years, Indochina has thrilled millions of French people. On November 23, the film will be released Indochina Central Tour to celebrate the group's immense career. Although success has been achieved for several decades, relations between the members of Indochina have not always been good, even chaotic.

This month, author and biographer Sébastien Bataille publishes a book, Chaos Bang!, at Amazon, in which he reveals the exchanges he had with Dominique Nicolas, co-founder of Indochine with Nicola Sirkis and former guitarist-composer of the group. Particularly violent exchanges that he decided to make public. Here are some excerpts…

Interview: You are publishing a book on Indochina. Tell us about this work…

Sébastien Bataille: It is a work in the form of a review of 20 years of biographical writing. Indochina plays a big role there. I prepared this book with Dominic Nicholas, co-founder of Indochine with Nicola sirkis and guitarist-composer of all their 1980s hits, such as The Adventurer, Kao Bang, Miss Paramount, 3rd Gender, Canary Bay or even Three nights a week... We had many exchanges in which he spoke to me about Indochina and Nicolas Sirkis, sometimes in very violent terms. But I had to finish this project on my own.

Why ?
In 2021, we signed a contract with Flammarion. When we sent the first 50 pages to the publisher, he was surprised: Flammarion wanted a book written in "I", in the first person singular, like an autobiography, when he didn't have one. never been a question before.

From there dissensions were born. After initially giving up on continuing the adventure, Dominique Nicolas, ultimately too happy to be signed with Flammarion, announced to me last March that he was OK to continue, but without me... Of course, I I experienced this as a betrayal. He left me stranded with hours of recordings of our discussions on my hands. So I decided to publish my book on my own, with Amazon.

During your discussions, which you make public in your book, Dominique Nicolas had very violent words about Nicola Sirkis. Can you give us an overview of these comments?

Dominique Nicolas' comments about Nicolas Sirkis are indeed sometimes very violent and very shocking. He told me in particular: “If Nicola pisses me off, I’ll take my car and beat the shit out of her. I have his address and he knows that I am capable of going crazy on a whim..." He adds : “It's stronger than him, Nicola Sirkis continues to say stupid things about me, but not too much because if he goes too far, he knows that I'm not going to take a lawyer, I'm going to take the 6,35, XNUMX and I’m going to put one in his head!” It's cold in the back.

At the time, I didn't understand what he was saying. It was when I listened to the tape again that it made my blood run cold, especially since he said it in the most serious way possible, without taking the tone of humor. 

Did these words surprise you?
Yes, because behind his image of a shy and discreet musician, the character hides a rather troubled nature, if these kinds of comments are to be believed. 

Dominique Nicolas also told you that Nicola Sirkis was sometimes compared to Hitler because of his behavior. Isn't that exaggerated and out of place?
Dominique actually told me about comments allegedly made by a roadie on a tour, according to which: “Nicola was nicknamed Hitler and the manager Eva Braun”. Of course the comparison is misplaced. Leaders are often considered dictators, especially in French show biz, hence this kind of very limited shortcut.

Nicola Sirkis may displease because he is very demanding and gets things that bother some people in the industry (low prices for concert tickets, innovative and expensive tours, etc.). From there to nickname him Hitler…, it’s ridiculous.

Do you think there could be bitterness or jealousy on the part of Dominique Nicolas?
Dominique Nicolas criticizes Nicola Sirkis for being paranoid and obsessed with him. But when I listen to him, I wonder which of the two is the most paranoid and the most obsessed with the other... He accuses Sirkis of having become a sort of maximo leader who rewrites the history of Indochina, but in reality I think he can't stand that the singer could have had success without him. So bitterness or jealousy? Both probably...

The tense relations between the members of Indochina, isn't that a reflection of what happens in many groups?
Groups are always fighting over money or ego. We saw it with the Beatles, Oasis, the Smiths and even Telephone in France. Indochina is no exception to the rule, in fact. Even if the group continues brilliantly today, Dominique believes that behind the facade of the formation, it is only Nicola Sirkis solo, accusing him of being a new wave Michel Sardou. Or more precisely a mixture of Michel Sardou new wave, Bernard Tapie and Hervé Vilard.  

Have you received pressure not to release your book?
We did not have a confidentiality clause in the contract with Flammarion. Following Dominique's about-face, I indicated to the publisher and to ex-Indochina that I was resuming my freedom as an author. In a panic, Flammarion sent me a registered letter to sign, which was in fact just a disguised confidentiality clause. Of course, I didn't sign it. And today, I put the church back in the middle of the village with Chaos Bang.

What was Dominique Nicolas’ reaction to the release of your book?
For the moment none. In the event of a denial on his part, I will make public our email exchanges and the audio recordings of our conversations to prove his statements. 

And Nicola Sirkis, did he react?
I doubt he will. The book by his brother Christophe Sirkis (Starmustang), dependent, vaccinated him I think.

What opinion do you have of him?
Nicola Sirkis has been the keeper of the flame and the thinking head of Indochina for 40 years. He is a natural leader, whose charisma and voice – despite all the venom spewed by his detractors – have propelled the group to the top. He survived the murderous criticism, the fashions, the death of his brother Stéphane, etc., and all this strengthened him. The rockiest thing about him is his capacity for resilience.

Furthermore, he sponsors young people suffering (in terms of health or school violence), which is to his credit. As for the fable of the “bad Nicola Sirkis against the good Dominik Nicolas”, conveyed by some, I no longer believe it.

Do you think Indochina fans are hoping for a reconciliation?
Indochina fans should not be surprised not to see Dominique on stage during concerts and anniversary tours, such as the Central Tour recently: the abscess between him and Nicola Sirkis is simply not burst, almost 30 years after the departure of the guitarist-composer, in 1995. The last time they “saw each other”, a few years ago, to settle rights issues, they were separated by a curtain…