Johnny Hallyday

Johnny Hallyday was born in France in 1943. Since his early childhood, he began crossing Europe in company of the trio band "The Hallyday's". His vocation as a rock'n'roll singer will begin after he sees the Elvis Presley movie "Loving you"

In 1960, Johnny released his first record "Laisse les filles". This title will confirm the birth of rock in France as well as the launching of a unique & exceptional career for the artist himself . This record is swiftly followed by "Souvenirs, Souvenirs" the first historic title by Johnny.

The 1^st rock festival ever to take place in France was held in the Palais des Sports in Paris on Feb 1961. There Johnny triggers riots. That same year he sets his own starshow at the Olympia and in 1962 he registers his first golden record "Viens danser le twist".

In 1964 he signs his mythical album" Les Rocks les plus terribles" giving tribute to rock idols such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Gene Vincent and others…

Great successes are to follow in the Olympia with Sylvie Vartan, an unprecedented show at the Palais des Sports, and a far reaching tour in Latin America. 

In 1970 he meets Philip Labro. This encounter is to mark a turning point in Johnny's career for his lyrics become more poignant and representative of his era. They soon become top of the charts.

In 1971 he releases his album "Flagrant Délit" produced by Chris Kimsey (Rolling Stones) and in 1973 a second album Insolitudes is produced by Kimsey too & recorded in London.

This sumptuous album contains one of Johnny's classical title "Toute la musique que j'aime " a blues number that Johnny sings at all of his concerts.

In 1976 Johnny plans a strong comeback on the Paris stage . He then imposes a new concept in the show business where the singer himself assumes the whole show.

In 1980 Johnny is awarded with 4 platinium records (400.000 copies) consecrating him as the 1^st French artist to win this amount of recognition. Two years later Johnny stages a stunning comeback at the Palais des Sports for a sold out six weeks performance. This show entitled 

"The Survivor" is inspired by movies such as Mad Max & Conan the Barbar.

In 1984 he meets again with his audience at the Zénith de Paris for a most spectacular show staged by Hilton MacConnico. The performance will last for 4 months.

And in 1985, the author-composer Michel Berger will write him a whole album "Rock'n'Roll Attitude" including famous hits such as "Le chanteur abandonné", "Rock'n'Roll attitude" and "Quelque chose de Tennessee". This album becomes an instant hit.

The following year, Jean-Jacques Goldman writes him a new album "Gang".

The Stadium at Bercy hosts Johnny in 1987. This spectacular production staged by Michel Berger is to crown Johnny as the most glorious French star of all times.

The show is sold out registering 215.000 entries in Paris alone and 500.000 on tour. He is awarded as the "Artist of the year" with a "Victoire de l'Artiste" as a performer with the highest record of entries.

More hits are to follow:

1990, Bercy again with a new show entitled Dans la Chaleur de Bercy, awarded with best musical performance.

1991, the Cadillac Tour, breaking all records including a fan club of 23 million people.

His new album "Ca ne Change pas un Homme" is written by famous artists among them: Bon Jovi and Patrick Bruel.

In 1993 Johnny celebrates his 50^th birthday by giving three magical evenings at the Parc des Princes in front of 180.000 spectators.

A "Hallyday night" is scheduled on Canal + TV, entitling the artist to a 7 hour program, a premiere never to previously given to any artist.

Hallyday receives the Victoire de la Musique for the Best Concert of the Year.

His album "Rough Town" is entirely in English and is credited with double golden record, as well as his album Lorada which won a double platinium record.

The President of the French Republic decorates him with the Légion d'Honneur in 1997.

His fans are to meet him again in 1998 in the Stade de France. They will be 240.000 acclaiming him. The stage is under the limelight with enchanting duos by Lara Fabian, Patrick Bruel, Jean-Jacques Goldman & Lionel Richie. This unique show remains unforgettable: helicopter arrival, symphonic orchestra, 400 chorists. A triple CD and a video marking the even are sold at breaking record levels.

The year 2000 is a major year for Hallyday. His record Sang pour Sang is written by his son David and its sales will skyrocket up to 1.500.000 copies. And in June Johnny performs at the tour Eiffel in front of an audience of 400.000. The album "Live à la Tour Eiffel" wins a double platinium, few days after its launching. In August he goes on a triumphal tour performing in front of more than a million fans.

For two years Johnny stops his musical career to devote himself to movies. Then a comeback to music with a new album "A la Vie A la Mort" in collaboration with different authors and composers, among them Gerald de Palmas. 40 days after its release, this double album wins the "diamond record". After Christmas more than 1.6 million copies are to be sold. His single "Marie" composed by de Palmas surpassed the million copies. The clip "Marie" is nominated at the Victoires de la Musique on 15^th February 2003.

For his 60^th birthday tour in June 2003 Johnny added a 4^th performance at the Parc des Princes on the 10^th of June. This goes for other French cities where audiences have doubled the stages. Johnny will perform in Baalbeck on the 2^nd & 3^rd of August. He will be interpreting famous hits such as "Marie", Que je t'aime, Tennessee, and others.

Johnny Hallyday 

The Actor

In 1954, Johnny Hallyday appeared for the 1^st time in a movie entitled Les Diaboliques, directed by Clouzot.

His second movie is in 1970 Point de Chute by Robert Hossein, and the following year he plays his own role in a film by Claude Lelouch l'Aventure c'est l'Aventure with Lino Ventura, Jacques Brel, Aldo Maccione and Charles Denner. In 1985 he co-stars in Detective with Nathalie Baye and Claude Brasseur under the direction of Jean Luc Goddard.

In 1998 he plays a remarkable role in the movie Paparazzi by Alain Berberian.