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| A million take to Paris streets for Johnny Hallyday's funeral | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| To the blast of electric guitars, the revving of Harley-Davidsons, applause and tears, France bade an emotional farewell to Johnny Hallyday, France’s rock and roll “national hero” on Saturday. | |
| The centre of Paris ground to a halt as the wave of national grief that has overwhelmed the country since the singer – aged 74, and known as the French Elvis – died broke early on Wednesday morning. | The centre of Paris ground to a halt as the wave of national grief that has overwhelmed the country since the singer – aged 74, and known as the French Elvis – died broke early on Wednesday morning. |
| In scenes resonant of the mass mourning in Britain following the death of Princess Diana, thousands of fans gathered along the Champs Élysées as the funeral procession, accompanied by Hallyday’s band playing live, made its way from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde and on to the church of La Madeleine. | In scenes resonant of the mass mourning in Britain following the death of Princess Diana, thousands of fans gathered along the Champs Élysées as the funeral procession, accompanied by Hallyday’s band playing live, made its way from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde and on to the church of La Madeleine. |
| Hallyday’s widow, Laeticia and their two adopted children Jade, 13, and Joy, nine, followed the cortege. Fans, many in tears, threw flowers at the hearse. | Hallyday’s widow, Laeticia and their two adopted children Jade, 13, and Joy, nine, followed the cortege. Fans, many in tears, threw flowers at the hearse. |
| Hallyday’s older children, David Hallyday and Laura Smet, waited on the steps of the church to receive the coffin. | Hallyday’s older children, David Hallyday and Laura Smet, waited on the steps of the church to receive the coffin. |
| A visibly emotional President Emmanuel Macron, a self-confessed Hallyday fan who had called for a “people’s tribute” to the singer, told the crowds: “You are here for him, for Johnny Hallyday. After 60 years of career, 1,000 songs, 50 albums … you are still there, still there, always there. I know you’re waiting for him to jump out from somewhere, he’s on a bike, he comes towards you and starts the first song and you start singing with him…” | A visibly emotional President Emmanuel Macron, a self-confessed Hallyday fan who had called for a “people’s tribute” to the singer, told the crowds: “You are here for him, for Johnny Hallyday. After 60 years of career, 1,000 songs, 50 albums … you are still there, still there, always there. I know you’re waiting for him to jump out from somewhere, he’s on a bike, he comes towards you and starts the first song and you start singing with him…” |
| As the crowd cheered, whistled and shouted “Johnny, Johnny”, Macron continued: “Yes, this December Saturday is sad, but you have to be here for Johnny because from the beginning Johnny was there for you. In moments of your life one of his songs translated something you had in your heart… an indefinable humanity that made us feel less alone. That’s how Johnny came into our lives… he became a necessary presence, a friend, a brother. | As the crowd cheered, whistled and shouted “Johnny, Johnny”, Macron continued: “Yes, this December Saturday is sad, but you have to be here for Johnny because from the beginning Johnny was there for you. In moments of your life one of his songs translated something you had in your heart… an indefinable humanity that made us feel less alone. That’s how Johnny came into our lives… he became a necessary presence, a friend, a brother. |
| “Certain [people] feel they’ve lost a member of their family. Some of you have discovered a strange solitude… we have often stolen your husbands, father, grandfather. Today we have to leave him to you a bit because the mourning is yours.” | “Certain [people] feel they’ve lost a member of their family. Some of you have discovered a strange solitude… we have often stolen your husbands, father, grandfather. Today we have to leave him to you a bit because the mourning is yours.” |
| Macron earlier described Hallyday as a “national hero” who was “part of our country”. He concluded by telling Hallyday’s family “Johnny was yours, he was the public’s, he was France’s” and asked people “wherever you are” to ensure the star lived on by applauding “Monsieur Johnny Hallyday”. | Macron earlier described Hallyday as a “national hero” who was “part of our country”. He concluded by telling Hallyday’s family “Johnny was yours, he was the public’s, he was France’s” and asked people “wherever you are” to ensure the star lived on by applauding “Monsieur Johnny Hallyday”. |
| As the white, unadorned coffin was carried into the church, the crowd continued chanting. | As the white, unadorned coffin was carried into the church, the crowd continued chanting. |
| Inside, the great and the good had gathered, with former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, prime minister Edouard Philippe, former ministers, first lady Brigitte Macron, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and stars from the entertainment world including Jean Reno, among the mourners. | Inside, the great and the good had gathered, with former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, prime minister Edouard Philippe, former ministers, first lady Brigitte Macron, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and stars from the entertainment world including Jean Reno, among the mourners. |
| In an address Hallyday’s longtime friend, writer Philippe Labro, described the rocker as “timid, humble and modest”. “He brushed disaster and self-destruction and this made him worthy of respect and admiration,” he said. “Johnny became a man through his errors”. | In an address Hallyday’s longtime friend, writer Philippe Labro, described the rocker as “timid, humble and modest”. “He brushed disaster and self-destruction and this made him worthy of respect and admiration,” he said. “Johnny became a man through his errors”. |
| Hallyday, born Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, sold more than 110 million records worldwide, making him one of the most successful musical artists of all time, but he was largely unknown and ignored outside the French-speaking world. Despite moving to Los Angeles and attempting to crack America, whose singers and music had so influenced his long career, he failed to make his mark. | Hallyday, born Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, sold more than 110 million records worldwide, making him one of the most successful musical artists of all time, but he was largely unknown and ignored outside the French-speaking world. Despite moving to Los Angeles and attempting to crack America, whose singers and music had so influenced his long career, he failed to make his mark. |
| His French fans could not care less that unkind foreigners considered him uncool and mocked the cheesy glitz of his performances: back home, generations of music fans adored him as their parents and grandparents had. | His French fans could not care less that unkind foreigners considered him uncool and mocked the cheesy glitz of his performances: back home, generations of music fans adored him as their parents and grandparents had. |
| Hallyday rewarded them with frequent tours and live appearances. His trademarks were his charisma, spectacular entrances – he was once winched to the stage from a helicopter – and rock music delivered in an impressively true and belting voice. | Hallyday rewarded them with frequent tours and live appearances. His trademarks were his charisma, spectacular entrances – he was once winched to the stage from a helicopter – and rock music delivered in an impressively true and belting voice. |
| Friends, family and fans knew Hallyday, an inveterate smoker of filterless Gitanes, had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. But he was said to be making another album due for release next year and, for fans, his disappearance seemed unthinkable. Until this week. | Friends, family and fans knew Hallyday, an inveterate smoker of filterless Gitanes, had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. But he was said to be making another album due for release next year and, for fans, his disappearance seemed unthinkable. Until this week. |
| Hallyday’s body is due to be flown to St Barts in the French West Indies where he had a home. He will be buried there. | Hallyday’s body is due to be flown to St Barts in the French West Indies where he had a home. He will be buried there. |