Invariably, when you say the word "Belgium" to an Englishman, they think of chocolates and the war trenches but to a French citizen you would discover the same ridicule found should you mention Wales to an Englishman. The same bestial jokes about inbred farm life. Yet despite the menial labouring in the vast green fields, you would be surprised to hear that there is also a vast pasture of culture in the cities, rich in supplements and waiting to be exploited for global economic triumph.

However, the French are in no position to mock the entwining musical family that is spreading slowly across Europe through our speakers. A family that share members from other groups, with someone providing vocals or guitars here and there; no one is spared when it is time for a record to be made or toured around Europe.

Of course, this is not a literal family. This is a family of musicians, much akin to the loyal mafia families famously portrayed in Hollywood movies with a musical family tree that is truly phenomenal. Combining the talents of every member of this exclusive musical society is such a novel yet simple way of conceiving such a lush scene. Rather than rivalry and bickering as found in the British music scene, the Belgian approach seems to be less aggressive and a lot more efficient. Everything recorded ends up being a huge melting pot of extraordinary talent and with such a truly astounding heritage, a fan is able to get involved and be active by researching the history of a band that they have miraculously discovered by accident.

One of, if you will, godfathers of the Belgian music scene is a Mauro Pawlowski. A half Italian, half Polish Belgian bred man born in 1971 from Heusden-Zolder who founded the deranged yet mind-blowing "guitar wankery" of Evil Superstars in 1992, often being compared to "Marx Brothers on speed". This is a man who would have been a musical legend globally if he had been brought up in a location more accessible for the record company bigwigs.

Pawlowski undeniably should be classed as a genius and you could argue that his genius is bordering on barking mad for instance, the inlay for a Mitsoobishy Jacson album it stated "during the day he was seen, on a number of occasions, chewing slices of brown bread with ridiculous amounts of mustard on". His insanity, in particular, shone through on stage as he was put microphones where no microphones had gone before while screaming his lyrics and thrashing out a heavy guitar-riff. It is unbelievable when listening to his lyrics to think that his first language is not English, it would be almost fantasy that someone could use the English language with such flair even if it was their native tongue. Pawlowski's lyrics resemble the chaotic, cut up lyrics of Bowie () in his Stardust era while being sharp enough to test the lyrical skills of Prince's sleaziest work with lines ().

In 1996, Mauro Pawlowski wrote "Love Is Okay". Something set this band apart from everything else, something that would have started a musical revolution if they got a break. With a young fifteen-year-old Tim Vanhamel in tow the band went on to tour the album for two years, which included supporting Placebo in England and dEUS in Europe. The album was a critical success in Belgium, het Nieuwsblad wrote:

"They'll make a statue in Heusden-Zolder one day for Mauro Pawlowski. He writes the tunes by walking around in the discotheque of his head. ... walks through the alleys, browses through the shelves and takes home more than he's allowed to: Beatles, Zappa, the whole top-100 of all time, but also an obscure B-side from a lo-fi band, or twisted modern jazz by John Zorn, or a record of Rage Against The Machine, or Mariah Carey. Evil Superstars make avant-garde music, but they know how to wrap it up to disguise it so it's funny, catchy and with so many oeoeoeoe's and golden melodies, that it's still pop."

With the help of Vanhamel, Pawlowski wrote 1998's "Boogie Children R Us" which was once again a critical success. One track 'Oh Girl' even getting as far as being on the "Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrel" soundtrack. The first release, 'B.A.B.Y', off the album was banned by MTV however and 'It's A Sad, Sad Planet' became a radio cult hit in Belgium. The record label was taken over and the band were dropped; this ultimately means that the few Evil Superstars albums that were bought while they were signed are the only ones available to date making it very difficult for new fans to purchase.

Pawlowski's many side projects have included Kiss My Jazz, X-legged Sally, Mitsoobishy Jacson, Sue Daniels, Thou, Atomic, Sukilove, Chitlin Fooks and The Shadowgraphic City well as providing the musical accompaniment to both "Zippo" and "Freaks", productions from Theatre Froe Froe; plus the soundtrack to the films "Dialling the Devil" and "Rosie". Pawlowski also co-founded free-jazz Monguito with Miguel Angel of Cassini Division, Atomic Color Perceptions and Atlantic Palace Hotel fame, and only goes to show the diversity of Pawlowki's talent.

In 2000, Pawlowski founded a backing band by using members who had played for Dead Man Ray, Agathocles, Noordkaap, Revelaires, Whim Punk and Whodads. David Sardy who had previously worked with Evil Superstars, Helmet, Soulwax, Slayer and Rage Against The Machine produced the album, "Songs From A Bad Hat". Critics, once again, adored his work; Mao magazine wrote:

"The energy, the drive and the slightly tempestuous attitude of before have remained, but on top of this the album has everything we missed in the Evil Superstars: control, simplicity, purpose and a powerful, crystal-clear and functional sound and - mainly - a refreshing penchant for the seventies and everything that period represented music- and mentality-wise."

In early 2003, Somnabula was born. The myth is that the satanic disciple can only communicate through music, that when dark falls the song "I Am Somnabula" can be heard by everyone. Somnabula turns up at various clubs around Belgium in his cape to chant hymns before jumping off stage and falling to the floor while recreating spasms, yelling into his microphone; leaving after smashing everything in sight. Rumour has it that Somnabula is none other than Pawlowski, a metamorphosis into Somnabula after listening to his satanic record collection. This is an example of how Pawlowski's mind works; by reinventing himself and hiding under a cloak, that he is still recognisable despite the gigs being so hushed.

However, Mauro And The Grooms have only just released their debut album; "Black Europa". Be warned; this is not for the light-hearted. Your ears will be raped and pillaged as the music challenges you; this is nothing you have ever heard before. It is refreshingly original! How novel. How daring. How astonishing! This man really is something, something for the real music lover.

Jondalar