Johnny Hallyday: Huge crowds gather for France's 'Elvis Presley'

9 December 2017

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Fans lined the streets to bid farewell to the 'French Elvis'

Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Paris on Saturday to bid farewell to the French rock star Johnny Hallyday, who died this week at the age of 74 after a battle with lung cancer.

His coffin was driven in a cortege down the Champs-Elysees followed by hundreds of leather-clad bikers.

President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the singer in a eulogy at the Madeleine church.

Paris was brought to a standstill by the ceremony, which was broadcast live.

As the cortege carrying his coffin left the funeral home in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, some 700 bikers took to the Champs-Elysees.

Poster reads: "Goodbye to you, Johnny, you will stay in our lives for ever" — Image caption,
People gathered on Place de la Concorde to pay a "popular tribute" to Hallyday

Bikers on the Champs-Elysees pay tribute to late French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday in Paris, 9 December 2017 — Image caption,
Fans ride their bikes down the Champs-Elysees as part of the tribute

People gather outside the Madeleine church in Paris for the funeral ceremony of the late French singer Johnny Hallyday, 9 December 2017 — Image caption,
Large crowds gathered to pay their respects outside the Madeleine church in Paris

Hallyday's white coffin was driven slowly from the Arc de Triomphe along the famous avenue as emotional fans cheered and wept.

During the service, members of his band performed instrumental versions of his songs outside at the Madeleine church as the crowds sang along.

Musicians perform Johnny Hallyday songs outside the Madeleine church in Paris during the funeral ceremony of late French singer, 9 December 2017 — Image caption,
Members of Hallyday's band and other musicians performed as part of the ceremony

The hearse leaves the Madeleine church in Paris after the funeral ceremony in tribute to late French singer Johnny Hallyday, 9 December 2017 — Image caption,
Hallyday's white coffin leaves the church with a picture of the singer on display at the entrance

Fans began to gather in the city overnight in anticipation of the country's "national homage" to the singer as giant screens were erected to show footage of the man known as the "French Elvis".

National television and radio have put out a stream of special programmes since his death on Wednesday, with Hallyday's best-known songs being played along with recordings of tributes from friends and fans.

Mr Macron approved Saturday's ceremony along with Hallyday's widow Laeticia amid a popular clamour for a national homage.

The French president said the singer had touched everyone's lives: "In each of your lives there have been moments where one of his songs translated what you had in your heart, what we have in our hearts.

"A love story, a loss, a moment of defiance, the birth of a child, pain - in his voice, in his songs, in his face."

As Mr Macron addressed the large crowd gathered at the church, many of whom were in tears, they chanted: "Johnny, Johnny, Johnny Hallyday."

A woman cries as the coffin of the late French singer Johnny Hallyday arrives at the Madeleine church prior to the funeral ceremony in Paris, 9 December 2017 — Image caption,
Many of those gathered outside the church became emotional during the tributes

Fans of Johnny Hallyday gather outside his house in Marnes-la-Coquette, 6 December 2017 — Image caption,
Fans had earlier gathered outside the star's home in Marnes-la-Coquette, west of Paris

Some of the musician's fans have demanded that a monument be built in recognition of his achievements.

Others have expressed disappointment at news that Hallyday is likely to be buried on the French Caribbean island of St Barts, where he had his home.

One fan, Francois Le Lay, told AFP news agency: "We would have preferred if he was buried in Paris, but if Johnny wanted that, we will respect it.

"My wife and I will put the money aside that we would have spent going to his concerts so we can fly to Saint Barts one day."

On Friday, the Eiffel Tower was lit up with the words "Merci Johnny".

At the famous L'Olympia music venue in Paris where Hallyday once enjoyed a three-week residency to mark 40 years in show business, the singer's name was displayed as a tribute.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is illuminated with the message "Merci Johnny" (Thank you Johnny) in memory of Johnny Hallyday, 8 December 2017 — Image caption,
The Eiffel Tower displays the message "Merci Johnny" (Thank you Johnny)

The Olympia Music theatre lights up with the name of Johnny Hallyday in Paris on December 8, 2017. — Image caption,
L'Olympia, one of Paris's oldest surviving music halls, pays tribute

The star, whose real name was Jean-Philippe Smet, sold more than 110 million records and starred in a number of films, including one directed by Jean-Luc Godard.

He once performed before a million people in a mobile musical cavalcade down the Champs-Elysees.

However despite 6,000 fans chartering flights from Paris to see him play Las Vegas in 1996, he failed to crack the American or any other English-speaking market.

The singer, who was once condemned as the rock 'n' roll "corrupter of youth", was often referred to as "the French Elvis" by critics.

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