"Be erotic", they sang to parody Serge Gainsbourg.
But also "Little wood behind my house", a title that could seem pioneering in many respects, since it is definitely devoted to ecology.
The Charlots have lost one of their faces.
Gérard Filippelli died Tuesday at the age of 78, announced one of his accomplices on the screen, Jean Sarrus.
It was he who, with his guitar, accompanied his friends in their musical, then cinematographic adventures.
“It's a huge page that is turning.
We were more than a bunch of friends.
We were a family.
We saw our children grow up.
From our 20s to our 40s, we have known total recklessness in the cinema or on stage through our songs, ”said Jean Sarrus, specifying that the actor had succumbed to cancer at the Argenteuil hospital ( Val d'Oise).
Les Charlots had six main members, one of the best known, Gérard Rinaldi, died in 2012.
"Paulette, the queen of paupiettes"
Gérard Filippelli, or “Phil”, was born in Paris, on the left bank side in the 14th century.
From the mid-1960s, he participated in what would become the genesis of the Charlots.
With his friends Gérard Rinaldi, Jean Sarrus, Luis Rego and Donald Rieubon, they launched the group Les Problems.
With beautiful references to their charts, ensuring legendary first parts, such as that of Johnny Hallyday or Claude François.
Initially accompanying singer Antoine under the name of “Problèmes”, they became “Les Charlots” in 1966 and became known to the general public with parodies and bawdy songs, before launching themselves on the big screen.
Their adventure begins when Jean-Guy Fechner replaces Donald Rieubon on drums.
It's the time of hits and parodies.
The time of “grief of labor”, of “La Trompette en bois” and of “Paulette, the queen of paupiettes”.
The Charlots and Gérard Filippelli turn to the cinema.
Alongside Claude Zidi in particular, with whom they filmed Les bidasses en folie,
Les Fous du stade
(1972) and
Le Grand Bazar
(1973).
In 1976, Gérard Filippelli decided to leave the group.
A scenario, more dramatic than usual, is then sent to them by Bertrand Blier.
But their producer Christian Fechner refuses to hear about it, wishing to manage the career of the Charlots from A to Z.
He redeems the script before throwing it away.
Tribute to Gérard Filippelli, distinguished guitarist of Les Charlots, with this single, unstoppable
Thank you boss https://t.co/S6p95jFPfM
- Belkacem BAHLOULI (@ 75_belkacem) March 30, 2021
Filippelli finally returned a year later, in 1977. There were only three left after the departure of Jean-Guy Fechner.
They founded their own production house and returned to success.
A huge success, in music and in cinemas (Les Charlots en délire, Les Charlots contre Dracula, Le Retour des bidasses en folie).
Before a decline, until the mid-1990s. It was at this time that Gérard Filippelli left the group, not participating in the group's future reformations.