After being held in Brussels for several months, the Johnny Hallyday exhibition launched in Paris on Friday 12/22 and continues until June 19, 2024. This exhibition dedicated to the late French rock star extends over an area of 3,000 square metres. Since the first day, the exhibition has received a large response from visitors from various French regions, wearing scarves bearing his name or wearing leather jackets in his style.
Published on: 12/23/2023 – 15:20
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The exhibition is in the form of a guitar and is produced by the widow of the late star, Letitia Hallyday, in collaboration with the Belgian company Tempura.
The exhibition includes replicas of places that were important in Johnny Hallyday’s life, such as his bedroom as a teenager and his office at Villa Marne-la-Coquette near Paris.
At the heart of the exhibition’s main hall, there is a room featuring giant screens showing an immersive concert. The exhibition also includes a memorial plaque in honor of Johnny Hallyday, which reads: “Jean-Philippe Smit, known as Johnny Hallyday, the French rock icon (1943-2017), grew up here.”
The widow of the late Halliday, Letizia, had previously stated: “My duty, which Johnny has entrusted to me, is to revive his works, so that they continue to accompany millions of fans and new generations.” She added: “I hope that everyone will be able to recognize or rediscover what Johnny was, through this journey through time, and thanks to an emotional experience that engages the various senses.”
Johnny Hallyday…and more than a thousand songs
Johnny Hallyday, known by his real name Jean-Philippe Smit, was a French singer, composer and actor who began his artistic career in 1960. He was famous for performing rock and blues music and was one of the most famous French and Francophone artists, with more than 100 million copies of his albums sold and more than 1,000 songs recorded. .
Halliday was born in Paris on June 15, 1943. He had a difficult childhood after his father abandoned him when he was eight months old and his mother left him to live with his aunt in London. There he learned music and entered the world of show business. In 1955, he appeared in a small role in the film “Les Diaboliques” directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, and in 1957 he decided to settle permanently in Paris and mix with the artistic community.
Halliday was married five times, his first wife being singer Sylvie Vartan in 1965, with whom he had a son, David. After that, he married Elisabeth Etienne and Nathalie Bay, who gave birth to his daughter, Laura. In 1990, he married Adeline Blondeau, and finally to model Letizia Bodo in 1996.
Halliday died on December 6, 2017 after a battle with colon cancer that quickly spread throughout his body. He left a huge artistic legacy and is considered one of the icons of rock and roll.
