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christian

  • hhmn-2009
    Christian Houllemare (centre) with the reformed Happy Hate Me Nots, with the author, Matt Galvin, next to him, second from the right . Mark Roxburgh photo

    It's hard to remember how I first got to know Chris Houllemare. Was I a fan, a friend or a bandmate?

    I was 15 when The Happy Hate Me Nots released their first two singles, in 1985. I saw them by accident at the Strawberry Hills Hotel after walking down Foveaux Street (fuck, EVERYTHING is French this week) from a World Series Cricket one-dayer, and I used my bus pass as ID to get into a gig at Hurstville Master Builders club not long after.

    I was smitten. It was kinetic, real lyricism, real heart, really fucking fast. All at once.

  • christian-gig

    Friends and former bandmates are staging a memorial gig in Sydney on Saturday, September 20 for the late Christian Houllemare, bass player for the Happy Hate Me Nots, New Christs, Someloves and Bad Brains. Funds raised will go to his family in France. 

  • christian-headshotTributes are flowing for much-loved Happy Hate Me Nots and former New Christs and Someloves member Christian Houllemare who has passed away.

    A long-time Australian resident, the French-born bassist was found at his home in Sydney’s inner-west over the weekend.