César et Les Romains
Websites:
No
Origin:
Montréal, Québec, 🇨🇦
Biography:
Pioneers of Quebec’s Yé-Yé Rock Revolution
César et les Romains were one of Quebec’s most popular and flamboyant yé-yé bands of the 1960s, known as much for their theatrical stage presence as for their infectious blend of French pop and early rock & roll.
The group began in late 1964 under the name Dino et les Questions, led by charismatic frontman Denis “Dino” L’Espérance of Rouyn-Noranda. Their manager, Dominique Mandanice, helped them transition from playing hotel gigs across the province into a fully-fledged showband. Seeking a distinctive image to match the rising yé-yé wave in France and Canada, the band rebranded as César et les Romains on April 25, 1965. They took the stage in Roman togas, sandals, and short tunics—an audacious gimmick that instantly made them stand out in the burgeoning Quebec pop scene.
Their early singles—like “Splish Splash” and “Toi et moi”—were huge hits in Quebec, turning them into teen idols and formidable rivals of The Classels. By 1966, the group was crowned "the most spectacular band of the year" thanks to frequent television appearances and their high-energy stage antics. At the height of their fame, their records appeared on labels like Choc!, Citation, and DSP Idole, and they recorded a string of LPs and dozens of 45s that captured the excitement of Quebec's 1960s youth culture.
By 1967, however, the band began to chafe under the weight of their centurion personas. In a symbolic and headline-grabbing act of reinvention, César et les Romains burned their Roman costumes onstage that spring—marking a turn toward more serious material and signaling the beginning of the end. Their final studio album, Dalila, was released in 1968, the same year Dino departed and the group officially disbanded.
While Dino continued performing into the early 1980s—occasionally reuniting with other band members for special events such as Le retour des groupes in 1976—the band’s legacy was cemented by a steady stream of compilation albums, including 21 Disques d’Or (1974), Rock & Roll (1978), and Le Top 30 (2010), which kept their music in circulation for new generations.
In 2015, César et les Romains staged a comeback. Original members Donald Seward (keyboards) and Jacques Moisan (drums) were joined by Ric Lozier (guitar, formerly of Les Checkmates), Rémi Perron (bass, from the band Abbittibbi), and vocalist Guy Lamarche. The reformed group performed at the Festival Rétro de Joly and other venues that year, bringing their classic hits back to life.
Founding guitarist Daniel Lachance passed away in 2017, but the impact of César et les Romains remains significant. They helped define the sound and spectacle of Quebec’s 1960s music scene, blending American rock and French pop with a unique theatricality that continues to inspire retrospectives, reissues, and nostalgic revivals.
With their bold image, sharp pop sensibilities, and unwavering devotion to performance, César et les Romains remain a cornerstone of 1960s Quebecois rock history—a reminder that music, when paired with vision and flair, can transcend both borders and eras.
-Robert Williston
Dino L’Espérance: lead vocals
Daniel Lachance: guitar
Maurice Bélanger: bass (replaced in 1966 by Pierre Sidor)
Donald Seward: keyboards
Jacques Moisan: drums
