To avoid any confusion with any group - musical or otherwise - that might argue against the concept that our planet is spherical, the Flat Earth Society big band often identifies itself simply as FES. Founded in the 1998 by clarinettist, saxophonist, composer/arranger Peter Vermeersch, Flat Earth Society has become one of Belgium's most original bands on the jazz and avant-garde musical scene. It comprises no less than 17 members whose diverse influences traverse the realms of swing, mambo, latin, chanson, cabaret, R&B, and freestlye. Before embarking on FES Peter Vermeersch was probably best known as the frontman of X-Legged Sally, an avant-garde jazz-rock band with a taste for tight horn arrangements, driving rhythms, memorable hooks, hot improvisations, and Zappa-influenced compositional complexity. Vermeersch also took X-Legged Sally in some rather arty directions during the nineties, which is not surprising since all his personal projects have tended to skew in a decidedly avant-garde direction. It was in X-Legged Sally that Peter Vermeersch met Pierre Vervloesem, who was a key player in the formation of FES and is still a member of the band.

After their formation, FES quickly progressed. By the end of February
1999 they premiered their act with concerts in Ghent and Brussels. The
new millenium started with FES touring Belgium, and recording their first
album, which was eventually released in January 2001 through Zonk! Records - Peter's own label. Since 2000 FES have put out all their records throught Zonk! In Spring 2004 FES were invited by Mike Patton to perform a concert in London
with his band Fantomas. The reception to their show was stupendous, and their next record, Isms which was produced by Mike Patton, will be released through Ipecac in Autumn 2004.

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