[10][11] In 1983, Norman Boileau, François Gourd and Bernard Paquet, 3 friends from the same musical theatre group, decided to open a bar which would also serve as a place to showcase burgeoning alternative musicians and different types of art.

[5][6] The name "Les Foufounes Électriques" in Quebec French literally translates to "the electric buttocks".

[1][10][11][13] According to a 2008 article which appeared in The Guardian the name originated from "its founders' habits of exhibiting their painted derrieres in old TV sets.

[2][7][12][15] The club tends to attract a younger punk/alternative rock crowd in addition to and including students from one of Montreal's many colleges and universities.

[11][15][16] Some of the more well known international artists who have performed at the venue include Nirvana, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age, Mano Negra, The Dickies, William S. Burroughs and Marianne Faithfull.