By far the most successful French Heavy Metal band of all, Nanterre based TRUST produced some excellent albums chock full of aggression and lyrics that were unafraid of using social and political commentary. The group, founded by singer Bernie Bonvoisin, previously a drummer with TAXI and KILLERDRINK, and guitarist Nono (a.k.a. Norbert Krief) even made it to UK shores, touring nationwide in a headlining capacity. Despite this, TRUST had a quite stormy career, dogged by line-up changes that were allegedly due to frontman Bernie Bonvoison's dictatorial method of running the band. The band's very first stage performance, with Christian Cheffeu manning the drums, came on September 9th 1977 as support to BANG at the Golf Drouot in Paris. TRUST went through numerous band members in its formative stages, including drummer Omar Ben El Mabrouk and second guitarist 'Moho' (Mohammed Shemlok).

The group's initial recording roster, cutting tracks for a 1977 demo called 'Prends Pas Ton Flingue', comprised Bonvoisin, Nono, bassist Raymond Manna and drummer Jean-Émile "Jeannot" Hanela. Two of these tracks saw issue as a 7" single, released that October by Pathé-Marconi. Another switch in drummers found Sherwin Rosman taking the role whilst Mann was substituted by ex-VOLCANIA man 'Vivi' (Yves Brusco). TRUST famously provided the opening honours for AC/DC on October 24th 1978 at Le Stadium in Paris, here Bonvoisin forging a famous friendship with Bon Scott.

TRUST released their first album on CBS Records in May 1979. 'L'Elite', recorded in London with producer Herv Muller, included a cover of AC/DC's 'Ride On'. A French tour to promote the album, which novelly included a concert at the Fleury-Merogis prison, saw many concerned local town authorities drafting in extra police, fearing TRUST's political message would incite rioting. The group was an immediate hit, scoring platinum sales status and boasting a sell out crowd of 10,000 for a headline show at the Pavillon de Paris on January 12th 1980.

With the exception of the core pairing of Bonvoisin and Nono, TRUST was unable to cement a solid roster of players, a curse which would dog the band throughout its entire lifespan. At one stage guitarist Jack Starr was offered a position but declined, opting to relocate to New York where he duly founded VIRGIN STEELE. For May 1980's 'Repression', co-produced by the band with Dennis Weinreich and again put down onto tape in London, Manna was ousted in favour of Yves Brusco and Kevin Morris handled drums. Subsequently, ex-PAT TRAVERS band and STREETWALKER drummer Nicko McBrain joined the fold as TRUST also re-introduced second guitarist Moho.

The 'Repression' album is generally looked upon as the band's greatest slice of vinyl, replete with the much admired opener 'Antisocial', and covering a wide range of controversial topics, most finding Bonvoisin spitting out venomous lyrics in his mother tongue aimed at police and politicians alike. The band's profile in France was kept at boiling point as Bonvoisin's acerbic and cutting lyrics gave the media plentiful scope on which to either vilify or praise the band. Social injustice was the singer's main target, with tracks such as 'Mr. Comédie' attacking Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini, then enjoying exile in France, 'Darquier' dealing with Nazi quisling Louis Darquier de Pellepoix, 'Les Brutes' directed at the Czech security forces for their ill treatment of protestors in Prague and 'H & D' ("Hôpital & Débiles") exposing the Soviet Lubyanka prison. However, 'Repression' main point of ire in France was due to Bonvoisin apparently enthusiastic support for the late French criminal Jacques Mesrine, although the subject meant little, if anything, to foreign record buyers. Indeed, it has often been acknowledged that TRUST sounded more subdued when Bonvoisin was forced to translate the band's songs into English, with the help of SHAM 69's Jimmy Pursey, in order to make an entry into the international market.

In 1981 the French quintet hopped over the English channel in order to push the English version of 'Repression' album by opening for IRON MAIDEN on the East Londoners 'Killers' British tour that February before returning for a successful headline run. 'Savage' was in fact a re-titled English version of TRUST's October 1981 'Marche Ou Creve' album, produced by Tony Platt in Stockholm. Pointedly, the track 'Les Brutes', featuring a line chastising then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was not on the English version, retitled 'Savage' and released in 1982.

After a ten date tour of Germany supporting IRON MAIDEN promoting 'Marche Ou Creve', McBrain was informed that TRUST could no longer afford to pay him. Fortuitously, with Clive Burr leaving the IRON MAIDEN drum stool, McBrain was offered the position. Evolving yet again, the live formation of trust added Thibault Abrial of FURIOSO as second guitarist, who in turn was superseded by SHAKIN' STREET's Eric Levy.

By the recording of 1983's Andy Johns produced 'Trust IV' album, (also known as Idéal), ambitiously including a full symphony orchestra, Farid Medjane was manning the drums. Concerts naturally ushered in yet another version of TRUST, this time Benjamin Raffaeli as rhythm guitarist. In a bizarre swap, ex-IRON MAIDEN man Clive Burr then joined the fold, alongside new bassist Frederique Guillemt to record the 'Mans Trap' album. Burr's tenure was fleeting, the Englishman decamping for the ill-fated GOGMAGOG project before terms with both ELIXIR and PRAYING MANTIS, and he would be replaced by Thierry Dutru, then in quick fire fashion by Farid Medjane.

At this point the group had seemingly given up any ideas of international recognition and opted to solely concentrate on the French market. A change in domestic politics too had seen their audience dwindle, the left wing arrival of president François Mitterrand having made a significant impact.

A poor reception to TRUST's 1984's 'Rock n' Roll' album led to a split, Bernie Bonvoisin subsequently recording a couple of solo albums for PolyGram and Nono working with legendary French crooner JOHNNY HALLIDAY. Meantime, New York Thrash giants ANTHRAX covered 'Antisocial' on their 1988 'State Of Euphoria' album, prompting renewed curiosity from the English speaking world. Bonvoisin subsequently joined ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna for a live rendition of 'Antisocial' included on the US act's 'Make Me Laugh' EP. That same year the reformed TRUST put in two major shows opening for IRON MAIDEN and performed at the 'Monsters Of Rock' festival, which spawned a live album entitled 'Live - Paris By Night' for Celluloid Records. A studio offering, '... En Attendant ...' complete with a cover of the ROLLING STONES 'Paint It Black', saw release before the year was out.

In 1990 the guitarist teamed up with ex-SPEED QUEEN vocalist STEVIE to form TOUCH. Other former TRUST men Thibault Abrial and Farid Medjane subsequently formed FURIOSO with erstwhile SORTILEGE vocalist Christian Augustin and former SATANS JOKERS drummer Renaud Hantson.

Bonvoisin returned to his solo career after Epic released a 'greatest hits' live album, 'Répression Dans l'Hexagone', recorded in 1980 and boasting two AC/DC tributes in 'Live Wire' and 'Problem Child', during November 1992. Bernie subsequently released his third solo album for PolyGram in 1993 but Epic persuaded Bonvoisin and Nono to reunite for a 1995 record 'Europe Et Haines'. New personnel on these recordings would be bassist David Jacob and drummer Nirox John. Impressively, the band's latest offering quickly sold over 100,000 copies but somewhat predictably the group shifted shape soon after as live work had Hervé Koster on drums. Another hiatus ensued, broken by the delivery in April 2000 of 'Ni Dieu Ni Maitre'. Quite spectacularly, and in keeping with his legend as front page news, Bonvoisin then issued legal proceedings to withdraw the album from stores claiming he was not satisfied with the finished product.