Death of a legend

Johnny Halliday, who has died age 74

People of our age are used to iconic figures from the past 50 years dying, but to the French people the death announced today of Johnny Hallyday is akin to the death of Elvis to us anglophones.
Johnny (as he was universally known) has been at the top of show business here since those early rock n' roll days, still touring, changing his appeal to match the times, but retaining the "greatest hits" in his act.
Like so many pop music acts from the sixties, Johnny was a wannabe Elvis, but had the talent to rise above the one hit wonders to become a fixed star in the French music scene. Though in recent years he lived in Los Angeles and was often criticised for tax exile status, his very public fight against cancer did not diminish the affection French people had for their very own king of rock.