In 1977, Bert Bertrand joined a humorous, non-existent "music band" the Bowling Balls, invented by his friends, Thierry Culliford (whose father, renowned Belgian cartoonist Peyo, extensively collaborated with Bert's dad) and [url=https://discogs.com/artist/211353]Frédéric Jannin[/url]. Initially introduced as a recurring plot element in Culliford's and Jannin's comic strip "[url=https://discogs.com/artist/4236274]Germain et nous…[/url]," the Bowling Balls soon became a full-fledged "spinoff" hoax with bogus interviews, non-existent record covers, and other similar artifacts created to support the mystification. Bert posed as Billy Ball, one of four "brothers," and soon raised to a frontman with natural vocal talents and a knack for songwriting alongside Averell Ball (Fred Jannin's alter ego), a keyboardist and the most musically skilled member. By late 1978, Bertrand and Jannin recorded a few songs to issue a flexi-disc insert with Spirou magazine (which had been publishing the "Germain et nous…" comic strip). Ultimately, though, the publication's budget was insufficient to cover manufacturing costs, and The Bowling Balls released their debut 7" single, God Save The Night Fever, on Spirou instead (the label even accommodated the release date on 1 April 1979, symbolic for the band that started as a joke.) The following year, Bowling Balls signed a contract with Spirou, with three 7" singles released between April 1980 and September 1981 and several notable live and TV appearances. Most songs were co-written by Bertrand, who adopted another pseudonym, Bret Beauling, for his production credits.

By the summer of 1981, Bert and Fred had enough material for a full-length album which Ariola kept postponing. In response, two artists started branching out and kickstarted two short-lived side projects. As [url=https://discogs.com/artist/4152810]The Piggies[/url], they released a Cheaper Christmas 7" single on Spirou. The full Bowling Balls band re-recorded an alternative version of the song, "Praying For A Cheaper Christmas," which came out in December 1981 on the Chantons Noël - Ghosts Of Christmas Past LP compilation by Spirou label under Swinging Buildings pseudonym. (As part of their absurdist "mystification" lore, musicians spread rumors that "Swinging Buildings" was a secretive New Order alias.) In 1982, Jannin and Bertrand wrote a few solo songs for their bandmate and "brother," Fernand Ball (Christian Lanckvrind), released on two 7" singles by Spirou label, La Danse des Bêtes / Le Chacha De Mon Chouchou, and Régime Sans Sel. Shortly after, Bert Bertrand suddenly left Belgium, informing his bandmates he'd be traveling to Bora-Bora without a specific return date (forcing the aspiring band on an indefinite hiatus). Bert eventually went to the United States and settled in New York City. In early February 1983, reportedly hours after interviewing Lou Reed, he committed suicide.