Jeanne Mas: “Music saved me from everything”

It was a letter of revolt, which was translated as “it is for the reinstatement of the death penalty”. Obviously I am against the death penalty. But when I wrote it, I saw my two-year-old daughter and I said to myself, “I put her in a world where children are not protected. It had shocked me.

Just like the disappearance of Daniel Balavoine.

It was an avalanche that swept me away. He was more than a best friend, I admired him like a father. He gave me self-confidence, put me on a pedestal and without him, I was nothing more than a stone sliding down. After him, even if I always fought, I felt that I was missing the spark. He is irreplaceable. Today you see someone who has this courage? The artists especially think of not disturbing the media, which can be cruel.

You know something about it…

After my three Bercies of 1989, they no longer wanted to watch what I was doing artistically. I wanted to move on, to propose something other than the 80s, but that no longer interested anyone. I left France because I was trapped in an image, because behind success, money, popularity, my personal life was very sad. I found other things to fuel my life.

That is to say ?

I set up a production box, made short films. Today, I edit films, it is very stupid but it fascinates me, like food, animal condition. I will continue to write books on it. And I want to isolate myself more and more, to get closer to nature. I dream of living in a trailer. I can live on very little, I don’t want anything material. At each move, I take only my books and my photos, I give my furniture and my superfluous clothes to the poor.

And you move often!

I am totally unstable. I moved three times in three years to Los Angeles, then to New York, and to Arizona. I bought my house a year and a half ago above Phoenix and it is already on sale (laughs). My daughter left for Paris because she was fed up with it.

In your book, you write: “I am not made for family life”

When I became a mom, I said to myself Oh my God, how I managed to do that (laughs). Selfishly, I was afraid that my life and my career would disappear. But it’s such a responsibility that I accepted this mold … I raised them alone – the life of a couple worries me too much and I don’t like to be anxious (laughs) -, like a wolf, by protecting them but leaving them all freedom. The only radical thing is to respect others, the differences – there were always transvestites at home – the animals, not to criticize and to work to be independent. It makes children open-minded (Editor’s note: his 30-year-old daughter lives in Paris, his 27-year-old son in New York) and, I think, happy.

In your book, you reveal that you attempted suicide at the age of 17. Why ?

I did not exist for my parents, I arrived in Italy, where I did not exist either. So I took pills … Fortunately, I was shown that life matters and that people love me. Music saved me from everything. Depression – I am not a real depressive but I sometimes get out of breath -, the loss of loved ones … Music is dance with the most beautiful therapy.

You return to sing with “Stars 80”, after you left the tour two years ago.

After two concerts! They wanted me to sing in playback. They fired my musicians. I went with them. But there it is a gigantic show, American style, where I will meet friends and people. I missed them.

Do you think you will return to France one day?

As the song sings beautifully Michel Polnareff in “Lettre à France”, even if we go abroad, we don’t betray France either. Anyway, I have my son in New York. I have been an American citizen for four years, I have a Franco-American passport.

On your forearm, you had “Born to be wild” tattooed.

Yes, that’s me. I was born to be wild, free. In fact, I’m rock, I started in a rock band. I made myself nice afterwards because it was easier to sell. But I would love to age like the Rolling Stones. They are cool.

“Reminiscences”, Jeanne Mas, May 15 at Flammarion, 19.90 euros, the best of 3 CD on May 17, Warner, € 17, the CD “Goodbye je reviendi”, May 31.