Alain Bashung
FranceBiography of Alain Bashung
Alain Bashung, a French singer and songwriter, was born in Paris, France in 1947. He spent his childhood with his adoptive father's parents in the countryside. Later, he moved to the suburbs of Paris where, at the age of 14, he formed his first band. Initially, they played country and rockabilly music, but then switched to R&B and folk. The band toured the country, performing in clubs, bars, small restaurants, hotels, and even military bases.
Afterwards, Alain became an arranger for the record company 'RCA' and recorded three of his own compositions in the 1960s, using the pseudonym David Bergen. Over the next few years, he wrote his own singles, sometimes under the name David Bergen, and composed songs for other artists. In 1973, Bashung made his musical debut, playing the role of Robespierre in Claude-Michel Schönberg's musical. During this time, he met and became friends with singer Dick Rivers, writing numerous songs for him and joining his band.
Alain released his first solo concert album, "Roman Photos," in 1977, followed by his second album, "Roulette Russe," in 1979. However, it was his single "Gaby oh Gaby" released in 1980 that brought him fame and success. The song became a hit, and the album "Roulette Russe" was reissued with "Gaby" as a bonus track. In 1981, his album "Pizza" was released, recorded in London, and the song "Vertige de l'Amour" from the album became a chart-topping hit, opening doors to many concert venues.
Over the years, Bashung released several albums, including "Figure imposee" (1983), "Passe le Rio Grande" (1986), "Novice" (1989), and "Osez Josephine" (1991), which sold over 350,000 copies and received great acclaim. In 1993, he released a box set of 9 discs containing his previous works. He continued to release albums such as "Chatterton" (1994), "Confession publiques" (1996), "Fantaisie militaire" (1998), and "L'Imprudence" (2002).
Apart from his music career, Alain Bashung also worked in the film industry, appearing in more than a dozen films. His last album, "Bleu pétrole," was released in 2008 and earned him three "Victoires de la musique" awards, making him the record holder for the most awards won at a single competition. By that time, the singer was already terminally ill with lung cancer. To conceal the effects of chemotherapy, he performed on stage wearing a felt hat. Despite his illness, Bashung continued to work, touring extensively in support of his album and delivering an unforgettable performance at the awards ceremony.
Just two weeks after his triumphant appearance at the competition, Alain Bashung passed away on March 14, 2009, at the age of 62, in Paris. His funeral took place at the Saint-Germain-des-Prés church, and he was buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery. French President Nicolas Sarkozy bid farewell to the musician, saying, "We have lost a great poet and singer." Prime Minister François Fillon referred to him as a "gentleman-rocker of French song" in his farewell speech.
