On attendait des nouvelles de Nobunny depuis pas mal de temps, c’est un fait il n’est pas sorti de sa tannière depuis 2013, et au moment où on s’y attendait le moins, le voilà ! Nobunny, Justin Champlin, notre sautillant chanteur rock’n’roll qui arborait un masque de lapin et affublé d’un perfecto noire et d’un slip, une sorte de Chantal Goya à l’américaine de part ses chansons innocentes, un déjanté du milieu garage, défraie aujourd’hui la chronique chez nos amis américains en quittant le monde du rock’n’roll. Il n’a pas vraiment choisi tant la vague déferlante de révélations sur de sombres affaires d’abus sexuels sur mineures qui ont eu raison du label Burger Records, ont poussé notre Bunny a faire des révélations consternantes : il aurait abusé de jeunes filles mineures. Nobunny s’est repenti, il aurait fait une thérapie, il aurait arrêté la boisson, il a lui-même été abusé enfant et adulte par un gang . Quoi en penser ? Certains vous diront que comme Céline, certains artistes sont souvent un peu détraqués mais leur art restera. Pour ma part, le concert organisé par la loboto’s à la scène Michelet à Nantes le 05 Octobre 2010 me restera en mémoire longtemps. On avait fait l’accueil des groupes, avec mon ami Domi et on avait demandé dans un anglais hésitant où était Nobunny. Ils nous avaient demandé de la coke, ou de l’herbe, mais on avait rien à fournir au groupe. Tous nous ont dit qu’il était en train de dormir (He’s sleeping now), on l’a cru à ce moment là. On avait pas reconnu Justin sans son masque de lapin. A part cette anecdote innocente, ce fut un concert explosif, ce concert a marqué l’histoire de la scène Michelet à Nantes. Bien sûr, cette histoire est assez triste pour tous les fans de notre animal lagomorphe. Je réécoutais du Nobunny ce soir, reste son œuvre, un premier album innocent « Love Vision », avec une reprise de « Nobody but me » des Human Beinz à la sauce moudardée. Reste pour les plus curieux de découvrir son ancien groupe The Okmoniks qui va certainement passer à la trappe également. Le label Burger records n’existe plus, Goner records a supprimé le catalogue Nobunny. A savoir si le lapin finira en cage, il n’y a qu’un pas.
Frédéric Quennec
LE MESSAGE DE NOBUNNY :
I don’t believe I have been publicly “called out” but it is def long past time for me to say something.
I fucked up bad.
I used my power and influence to take advantage of young women and teenage girls.
I have hurt people.
I let my “fame” go to my head.
Young money acting dummy.
My time is up.
I am truly sorry to anyone who was hurt by me.
Nobunny was supposed to be about love and silliness and it got dark.
I let people down.
I hurt people.
I am deeply ashamed.
I apologize to my friends and family and fans whom I have disappointed.
Everything I have ever done was consensual and seemingly enjoyed by both parties, but with age, gender, and power dynamics, I realize that consent isn’t always there if the power dynamic is off.
Some of you know me as a nice kind man.
I am that.
I am also someone who has used his power to hurt others.
Sex Drugs and RnR became my religion.
Please Kill Me was my Bible.
Kim Fowley was my god.
Not an excuse.
These should not be templates.
And one should eventually grow up from that.
I was sexually abused as a child.
I was gang raped as an adult.
9/10 times when I perform people touch me inappropriately on stage.
These however are still not excuses.
I am still guilty
When I was a freshman in HS a member of arguably the most popular punk band from Chicago ever used to come to my school after class and buy my friends and I booze and sleep with my teenage female friends. It seemed perfectly normal. It shouldn’t have been then and it shouldn’t be now.
For the past 3 years I have been proactively changing my life for the better. I quit drinking over a year and a half ago and go to weekly therapy.
I have been and will continue to do serious self reflection on my actions and how they have affected others. Not an excuse. I am still guilty.
I do believe that just like more white people need to speak up and do the work to be anti-racist, more men need to hold themselves and others accountable for their toxic behavior. Anti-chauvinist action needs to be part of mens daily routine. I have seen plenty of fucked up things and said nothing. The patriarchy is real and it needs to be destroyed. Men need to do better. I need to do better
Nobunny is over.
Thank you all for your past support over these 19 years.
I’ll be removing all the social media in the next 48 hours.
To the people speaking up and sharing their stories. I commend you. It is brave and I imagine difficult. You are doing the right thing.
I believe people can change and grow but it doesn’t happen overnight and it takes real commitment and work. It is often not easy and often painful, but worth it and necessary.
Again I am truly sorry and deeply ashamed and I apologize to all the survivors and victims of myself and the toxic scene at large that I am a part of.
I know this will not be enough for some. I am trying my best and will continue to try harder.
– Justin “Nobunny”
Thee Savage Beat 