Where it all began
I arrived in Paris in 1972, and I wasn’t even 20 yet. Back then, we hung out in the Latin Quarter and Les Halles, where there were record stores and shops practically everywhere, it was a completely different city. So, 50 years ago, I was a student and frequently visited Open Market on Rue du Roule, which was kind of like the first concept store. You could find everything there, rare records, American records, rock magazines from all over the world, comic books... It was a bit like a Colette for the counter-culture of that time. In the beginning, rock in Paris was all about 100 people. We were just a small group of long-haired kids. As soon as there was a concert somewhere, everyone was there.
The record store of his life
There was a record store I used to go to, and where I still go, is Gibert. Gibert is simply unmissable, it’s truly a music temple. It’s been around since the 60s, and it’s perfectly located next to the Sorbonne. There are lots of young people hanging out, coming to check out the latest releases and reissues. The other record shop I love to stop by is Record Station, a fantastic shop run by Quentin. He has some really lovely vintage records. Quentin is a true music scholar, he knows everything. He may be young, but he’s totally dedicated to sharing the great music of the past. We’re in a neighborhood that’s not the easiest, squeezed between two train stations, with a lot of foot traffic... And there’s this little shop on a beautiful street, a real peaceful oasis with a spotless window display.
Adresse: 34 Bd Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris, FranceAdresse: 13 Rue des Récollets, 75010 Paris, France
©Andred
The Club of Endless Nights
In the 70s, the big event in Paris was the opening of the Palace. Something truly magical happened there. It was a club that Europe envied us for, where we enjoyed the most incredible nights of our lives. We danced a lot, it was the dawn of disco, and there was a wonderful mix of people. You could spot famous designers like Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent, models and artists like Grace Jones and Amanda Lear, but also delivery drivers and the "little people" of Paris. Everyone came together in the love of dance.
Adresse: 8 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris, FranceLa salle qui l’a électrisé
Quand je suis arrivé à Paris, il y avait très peu de grandes salles, alors on improvisait. Les Who ont joué Porte de Versailles, là où se tient le Salon de l’Agriculture. Led Zeppelin a joué sur l’île de Saint-Ouen, Deep Purple à la patinoire de Saint- Ouen... Nous, on allait plutôt au Bataclan. C’était une des nouvelles salles rock, si je ne compte pas les clubs comme le Bus Palladium. Il y avait une émission de télé à l’époque, hebdomadaire, qui s’appelait Pop 2, présentée par Patrice Blanc-Francard. La place coûtait 5 francs et j’y ai vu absolument tout le monde, Jeff Beck, Genesis, Roxy Music... Il y a eu le Velvet Underground qui s’est reformé avec Lou Reed, Nico et John Cale, et ils ont fait un concert au Bataclan. C’était merveilleux d’aller voir ça toutes les semaines, il y avait vraiment les groupes qu’on avait envie de voir.
Adresse: 50 Bd Voltaire, 75011 Paris, France
Le Pigalle de l’époque Rock & Folk
La rédaction de Rock & Folk était rue Chaptal, à Pigalle. On était dans les anciens locaux de Jazz Hot, Boris Vian avait travaillé là, on était impressionnés. Dans les années 80, Pigalle, c’était plein de bars louches et de voyous et ce n’était pas du tout un quartier sûr la nuit. C’était bon enfant en journée, mais à 4 heures du matin, vous ne repartiez pas seul. La SACEM était aussi rue Chaptal, à quelques numéros, alors on voyait passer les musiciens qui, une fois par an, venaient voir s’ils avaient de l’argent à encaisser. S’ils n’en avaient pas, ils venaient pleurer à Rock & Folk pour qu’on leur paie une bière.
L’endroit disparu qui lui manque le plus
Le Gibus me manque, j’aimais beaucoup ce club. On a organisé un festival, « Passe ton bac d’abord » avec Yarol Poupaud, à l’époque du mouvement des baby rockers en 2005. Il y avait 24 groupes à Paris, on les avait recensés dans Rock & Folk : Naast, Second Sex, les Brats, Plasticines, BB Brunes... Le premier soir, la jauge est montée à 1800 spectateurs en quatre heures, alors on nous a demandé de refaire ça chaque semaine. On a fait des concerts pendant trois ans, tous les vendredis, au Gibus ou au Triptyque. C’était mémorable.
Ses concerts les plus marquants
There was the concert of the Specials at the Palace, for many, it was one of the best concerts of their lives. Then I would mention Nirvana at the Zenith. We entered the venue on a December evening, and something absolutely incredible happened. When we came out, it had snowed, and the city was all white, it was very poetic. Lastly, how could I not mention the festival at Parc des Princes in 1997 that brought together Wu-Tang Clan, Rage Against the Machine, David Bowie, and Prodigy. There were exceptional moments.
The rock spirit today
We've lost a lot of rock places in Paris, but we need to reinvent new spots. You have to be 25 and think...
: this city belongs to us. It's up to the new generation to envision around their music. Today, my landmark is the Saint-Ouen Flea Market. Around the Dauphine market, there are about ten record stores, sellers of vintage high-fidelity audio, jukeboxes, and neon lights. The rock nation has found a cozy home there. For me, the soul of Paris today is at the Flea Market. Address: 124 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, FranceVoir cette publication sur Instagram
A Rock Child's Tale
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