Singercomposer, musician and even actor, he was the alter ego within the metropolis in addition to on stage of Brigitte Fontaine. Multifaceted artist, Areski Belkacem died Monday on the age of 86, introduced his press secretary Marc Chonier.
Most frequently referred to as by his first title, he solely has three solo albums to his credit score, written a number of a long time aside: A gorgeous morning (1970), The triumph of affection (2010) et Lengthy courrier (2025). This percussionist, guitarist or accordionist has nonetheless left his mark on French music. For greater than 5 a long time, he has composed music with European, Jap and African accents, to texts written by his spouse Brigitte Fontaine. The 2 generally sang as a duet, their complicity on stage remaining intact over time.
A protracted friendship with Higelin
Born in 1940 in Versailles to folks of Kabyle origin, he started as a musician at balls and weddings, enjoying fashionable tunes of the time. It’s above all his assembly with Jacques Higelin, in army service, which can change all the pieces. Their friendship, which can final until Higelin’s death in 2018led in 1969 to a primary joint album.
Above all, Higelin launched him to Brigitte Fontaine, who would assist him develop his expertise. Collectively, with Higelin and Rufus, they go to the Lucernaire theater Nioka present re-improvised each night. “I don’t assume it’s good to be troubled to create, any greater than Brigitte must endure to create,” Areski confided just a few years later. In 1970, they recorded their first album, Like on the radiowith jazzmen from the Artwork Ensemble of Chicago.
Well-liked creations by Jean-Louis Trintignant
The 2 artists sing about love, struggle, revolution, injustice, taking the crossroads of slam or electronica, with stunning titles (Conneproduced by Etienne Daho notably), hilarious (It is regular), darkish and erotic (Jungle pulse), or very offset Blue Zealand. “It’s a must to make an effort to hearken to them, however you might be effectively rewarded for this effort,” Jean-Louis Trintignant stated of them.
Actual title Larezeki Belkacem, the person who was generally described because the “prince consort of French track” additionally had his personal life as an artist: along with his son Ali Belkacem, he wrote movie scores (To dying dyingby Romain Goupil in 1999, Golden youth by Zaïda Ghorab-Volta in 2001). He composed for Georges Moustaki, Barbara, Sapho… He additionally performed in two movies, It goes it comesby Pierre Barouh (1970), The massive night (2011), the place he performed the daddy of Benoît Poelvoorde and Albert Dupontel. Brigitte Fontaine clearly performed the mom.
Did he have wishes for solo glory? “Brigitte requested me questions on this. However for me, singing, enjoying music, being with associates, being pleased to do one thing collectively, it is greater than sufficient! », he replied in 2025 to Telerama in a uncommon interview.
