Vaguely protected from the icy wind by their masks, Father Bruno Horaist and sociologist Jean-François Laé observe the crowd of fans from the top of the steps of the Church of the Madeleine.
"The fervor is intact"
, notes the researcher, co-author of
Johnny, I can't do without you
(ed. Bayard).
To read also: Johnny Hallyday: three years after the death of the rocker, armed peace between the heirs
This Wednesday December 9 at noon, the monthly mass in homage to the rocker takes on a special dimension.
His funeral was celebrated right here exactly three years ago.
To be sure to respect the 200-person gauge, church volunteers distribute tickets at the entrance to the gates.
Leather jackets, tattoos, the bikers of the Desperados Chapter make their entrance by making their Harley Davidson roar.
"Out of 240 club members, we came to 30,"
explains Jo Rodriguez, their president, recognizable by his military fatigues and his impressive skull rings.
I am the only bodyguard to have lived with Johnny for five years, day and night.
It was the era of Villa Molitor and Villa Lorada in Saint-Tropez. ”
Read also: Three years after his death, three documentaries in tribute to Johnny Hallyday
Despite the confinement, some fans have come a long way.
“Antoine has done 400 kilometers from the English Channel,”
recounts Michel, a 60-year-old former truck driver, introducing his boyfriend.
At the entrance to the church, Sylvie warms up as best she can behind her table of Johnny-stamped products.
Member of the association of fans Rouge et Noir, it offers masks (12 euros), T-shirts, key rings ... Business is going well.
"I hardly have any masks left and the small ten euro crosses are going well too,"
she said.
Jean-Marie, 70, from Yonne, former employee of Fnac does not know what to choose.
"Today is my birthday, so I'm giving myself a little extra gift,
" he said, grabbing a black scarf.
I've been a fan since Johnny's first TV appearance on April 14, 1960! ”
The priest Bruno Horaist, who has a lot of humor:
"It's all very well all these derivative products but after, there will be no money left at the time of the quest."
Inside, the altar is to the glory of the idol.
In addition to several sheets tinted with the effigy of the singer, there are no longer the framed photos, the white roses in their individual plastic packaging.
On the small steps, there is even a composition
"Johnny we love you"
written with lighted candles skillfully arranged.
With one row in two and one in two condemned, the church is full.
The bell rings.
It is noon.
The time to respect a minute of silence for the President of the Republic Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and the liturgical and rock'n'roll show can begin.
On guitar, the priest Jean-Yves Jaffré sings to the tune of
Marie,
not that of Johnny, the other:
"Oh Marie full of grace, the Lord is with us ..."
“We must not sink into misfortune.
In the minds of some, Johnny is like God.
Johnny is huge but God is even greater.
It is not easy to imagine but you can never compare someone you admire to God ”
Father Bruno Horaist
Rudy who cultivates a certain resemblance to his idol, bleached blond mullet hairstyle and fitted jacket with black sequins, grabs the microphone.
It left for
"We all have something in us of Jesus Christ"
to the tune of
Tennessee
.
Maria, at the head of the Rouge et Noir association, succeeds her.
She takes off her black mask bearing the effigy of Johnny and reads a poem of her own composition:
"You have gone to take refuge in Marie's arms, the penitentiary doors have closed on your face ..."
A little scratch of the claw by the way:
"You look like an abandoned singer on your island."
Before adding:
“We are there with the desire to want.
Between us, it will never end. ”
At 12:27 p.m., the assembly enters the celebration itself.
“Three years ago, Johnny Hallyday disappeared,
begins the priest Bruno Horaist.
There is a psalm that says a thousand years, it's like a day.
Time passes very quickly in joy and very slowly if we are sad.
You are in between, ”he
says to the assembly of the faithful who listen to him with respect.
By force, they know each other well.
Without Bruno Horaist's idea of organizing a monthly mass in homage to the rocker in January 2018, fans would have had no easily accessible place to meet.
The tomb of their idol is 6,500 kilometers away on the island of Saint-Barthélemy.
The priest who knows his flock well insists:
“There is Johnny Hallyday and the Lord in your heart.
God is with Johnny and each of us.
But we must not sink into misfortune.
In the minds of some, Johnny is like God.
Johnny is huge but God is even greater.
It's not easy to imagine, but you can never compare someone you admire to God.
"
“I should have been in Saint-Barthélemy but I had to postpone because of the Covid.
This Mass on December 9 is a pilgrimage because my mother died on December 4, Johnny was on December 6.
Listening to his songs makes me feel good especially when I have a stroke of the blues ”
Pierre, Johnny Moselle fan
The priest Jean-Yves Jaffré decidedly very well acquainted with the repertoire of Johnny Hallyday attacks on the guitar
Vivre pour toi Jésus
to the tune of
Living for the best
.
Bruno Horaist asks God to receive
“Johnny fans in your light”
and suddenly dozens of fans stand up for communion.
“Don't stick to each other,”
the priest warns.
Come see me through the central aisle and leave through the side aisle.
Pierre went to communion with his friend Ludovic.
Very proud of their tattoos with Johnny's face drawn on their biceps, the two friends pose by rolling up their sleeves.
They came on purpose by train from Moselle.
“I live in a small village near the Luxembourg border with a small Johnny museum at home and I work in porcelain in Germany,”
says Pierre, almost 50 years old.
I should have been in Saint-Barthélemy but I had to postpone because of the Covid.
This Mass on December 9 is a pilgrimage because my mother died on December 4, Johnny was on December 6.
Listening to his songs does me good especially when I have a stroke of the blues, ”
confides this great guy.
"We meet on January 9,"
announces Bruno Horaist at the microphone.
Surrounded by Rudy, guitarist Michel and another singer, father Jean-Yves Jaffré sings
Que je t'aime
.
On the chorus, the arms are raised as in Bercy.
"Do you still want rock 'n' roll?"
roared Rudy.
Let's go for
All the music I love
.
Our two hundred fans get up to dance quietly and clap their hands.
The opportunity also to warm up.
Inside the Madeleine, a current of icy air infiltrates.
Is it he who, on the cheeks of the fans, makes some tears flow?