The Flying Padovani's – Font L'enfer! 12 inch maxi. VG+. Instrumental surf rock from The Police's original guitarist. Ships from Germany.
About Font L'enfer!
A VG+ 12 inch maxi vinyl pressing of a genuinely obscure instrumental surf rock record from Henry Padovani, the original guitarist of The Police.
Font L’enfer! is an album from The Flying Padovani’s, recorded across 1980 and 1983 under the direction of Marc Zermati and released via Skydog Records. The project was led by Henry Padovani, a Corsican guitarist best known as the original guitarist for The Police before Andy Summers joined the band. This listing is a VG+ 12 inch maxi vinyl pressing, with inner sleeve included, from a Berlin based eBay seller.
- Who was Henry Padovani
- About Font L'enfer!
- The instrumental surf rock revival
- Pressing details and buying advice
In Brief
- Artist The Flying Padovani’s were led by Henry Padovani, the original guitarist of The Police, a Corsican musician discovered by punk label boss Marc Zermati.
- Release Font L’enfer! was recorded across 1980 and 1983, released via Skydog Records, and reissued in Japan in 1984 and again in France in the early 1990s.
- Lineup Featured Henry Padovani on guitar, Paul Slack on bass and Chris Musto on drums, with Ian Cleverly on percussion.
- Sound Instrumental surf and rock and roll influenced by the Ventures, mixing Padovani originals with covers including Wipe Out and a Link Wray tribute.
- This copy Very Good Plus (VG+) sleeve condition, with inner sleeve included, shipped from Berlin, Germany.
The Flying Padovani's – Font L'enfer! (12", Maxi, VG+)
12 inch maxi vinyl, Skydog Records, includes inner sleeve
Very Good Plus condition 12 inch maxi vinyl pressing of Font L’enfer!, includes inner sleeve, sold by a Berlin based eBay seller with 100% positive feedback.
Pressing Specifications
Who Was Henry Padovani?
Henry Padovani, born on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, first discovered his passion for surf-influenced instrumental guitar in 1979 after fellow musician Wayne County played him a record by the Ventures, a band still hugely popular in Japan and beyond. Padovani was already known to rock history as the original guitarist for The Police, playing on the band's earliest recordings before departing and being replaced by Andy Summers as the group moved toward greater commercial success. Undeterred, Padovani pursued his own musical direction, working through a succession of guitars, from a Gibson 335 to a green Fender Jaguar he was eventually forced to sell, before returning to the Gibson to record Font L'enfer!
About Font L'enfer! And Its Legacy
Recorded across sessions in 1980 and 1983 under the direction of punk scene figure Marc Zermati, Font L'enfer! brought together Padovani with drummer Chris Musto, a respected British session player, and bassist Paul Slack, playing a Travis Bean bass. The ten track record, whose title translates roughly to they play like hell, blends Padovani's own compositions including Rattlesnake, Three For Trouble and Murder, the latter a tribute to Ennio Morricone, with instrumental covers spanning Link Wray's The Last Bullet, the surf standard Wipe Out and a Ventures-styled rendition of Caravan. Despite achieving a degree of cult status and later reissues in Japan and France, the album never received a proper follow-up, and Font L'enfer! remains the sole full length statement of Padovani's surf rock side project.
- VG+ condition, with the original inner sleeve included
- A genuine historical curiosity from The Police’s original guitarist
- Well regarded instrumental surf rock, drawing strong ratings from collectors
- A cult record that never received a proper follow-up
- Not a sealed or mint copy
- Niche appeal outside instrumental surf rock and Police history collectors
- The band never released further material beyond this record
What is Font L'enfer! by The Flying Padovani's?
It is an instrumental surf rock record led by Henry Padovani, recorded across 1980 and 1983 and released via Skydog Records.
Who was Henry Padovani?
The original guitarist of The Police, who left the band before their major commercial success and was replaced by Andy Summers.
What condition is this vinyl copy in?
The sleeve is graded Very Good Plus (VG+), and the listing includes the original inner sleeve.
What songs are on this record?
Ten tracks blending Padovani originals with covers including Link Wray’s The Last Bullet, the surf standard Wipe Out and a Ventures-style Caravan.
Does this listing ship outside Germany?
The seller is based in Berlin and lists a fixed shipping cost; check the current listing for up to date international shipping options and rates.
Where To Buy This Pressing
Worth The Spin?
- A genuine cult rarity from The Police's original guitarist
- VG+ condition 12 inch maxi with original inner sleeve
- Best suited to instrumental surf rock and Police history collectors
Font L’enfer! remains a fascinating, little known chapter in Henry Padovani’s career, and this listing offers a VG+ pressing from a highly rated German seller.