Here, as promised, is the second part of Salut!'s interview with Eric Kasker, a father-of-five who took advantage of France's generous provisions for big families to produce important books* on the Beatles ...
Do you have a favourite Beatle?
Well, I always considered that John Lennon was the most interesting personality of the group, firstly because his songs are more personal, introspective and authentic. He really had a versatile talent as a song writer. He could as well compose great rock ’n’ roll songs such as I Call Your Name and Hey Bulldog, and creating unforgettable pop numbers such as It Won’t Be Long, I Should Have Known Better, Nowhere Man or Don’t Let Me Down. His surrealistic style is also outstanding and brilliant in songs such as I’m Only Sleeping, Strawberry Fields Forever, Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite or I Am The Walrus. Secondly, I am very sensitive to his sharp wit and his offbeat sense of humour. His attitude was also the one of a rebel who quickly took a minimum of distance with the show-business and star-system (while also using it sometimes). For instance, he was able to stand back as early as 1964, while Beatlemania was increasing everyday and, although rich and famous, he was already conscious that the Beatles had lost a part of their authenticity and freshness, and from then on simply were to promote their own same 11 or 12 hits at every show.
I met Paul several times. The first time was on 31 May 1989, while he was coming to Paris for the promotion of his new album, Flowers In The Dirt. I welcomed him at Le Bourget airport and I was lucky enough to share his car during around 45 minutes going all the way to the TV studios in Boulogne Billancourt, and we talked about his souvenirs of the Beatles’ Olympia concerts in January/February 1964. He clearly remembered Bruno Coquatrix, the Olympia owner who engaged them for a series of shows as early as June 1963. I also questioned him about the Beatles’ Decca audition of 1st January 1962 in London because I wanted to know if the group (still featuring Pete Best on drums) recorded more than the 15 songs we know on that day, but Paul could not remember any more! During the trip in the car, he was wearing the pink round glasses that can be seen on the sleeve of the My Brave Face single. Later, I also attended his press conference at Paris Bercy on 13 October 1993 along with Tony Sheridan and the late Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. I hope to meet him again the next time he’ll be in Paris for Stella’s défilé de mode so that I could give him a copy of the English version of my book. As far as Ringo Starr is concerned, I met him in Paris in July 1992 while he was touring with his All-Star band and playing at the Zenith in front of 8000 people. Along with a journalist friend, I interviewed him backstage for France Inter radio.
Is there French music that you like, too, or do you share the view often expressed that French pop doesn't travel?
Any more writing projects, or for further work of any kind on the Beatles?Well, it is true that I never liked Johnny Hallyday’s music for instance, but French pop also had indeed its big time, you know, thanks to people like Jacques Dutronc, Serge Gainsbourg and Michel Polnareff who did produce good material, mainly because they weren’t shortsighted and were clever enough to incorporate British influences in their own music. For instance, Gainsbourg used to record some of his songs in London with English musicians (such as Initials BB), Jacques Dutronc’s songs were clearly influenced by the Kinks and the Rolling Stones, and Jimmy Page was asked to play guitar on Michel Polnareff’s song, La Poupée Qui Fait Non. More recently, singer Etienne Daho also recorded good material.
Along with my co-author friend Jean-Claude Hocquet, I’m working on the second volume of La France et les Beatles which will deal with the historical side of the subject. The first volume was dedicated to the French original discography and was published in 2005 (with many previously unpublished release sheets). This second volume will not only include a complete study about the Olympia concerts in January/February 1964, but also it will reveal new info about the 1965 tour during which the Beatles performed at the Paris Palais des Sports, Lyon and Nice.
Your wife, Brigitte, famously preferred the Stones to the Beatles. Is that still the case or has she come round to your way of thinking?
She still likes the Rolling Stones but also listens to more obscure things such as “modal music” from the Middle Ages.
Bring us up to date on what she and the famille nombreuse are up to.
Brigitte is a scientific researcher in Greek philosophy from the Renaissance until the 17th century. My first son Hadrien is 23 and finishing his master in cinema in Paris VIII University. My second son Cyrille is 22 and is also at Paris VIII University to get his bachelor’s degree in Art and Pictures techniques. My third son Edern is still in high school to get his GCE A levels (baccalaureat). Heather, my first daughter (almost 17), is in high school and wants to be a professional dancer at the Opera de Paris, and Prudence (almost 13) is doing her second year of secondary school.
Are there other aspects of British culture that especially appeal to you?Yes, I enjoy many aspects of the British culture, and especially the cinema. In fact, I have a good reason to do so, too. There are several artists in my family. Aside from my father who was a professional accordionist in Paris in the 50s and the 60s, one of my relatives, Robert Krasker who belongs to the English branch of my family is well known for his photography work on Carol Reed’s film, The Third Man (featuring Orson Welles, 1949), and got an Academy award for best Black and White cinematography in 1950. I have a nice collection of Robert’s films such as Romeo And Juliet, Alexander The Great, The Fall Of The Roman Empire, The Cid, Trapeze, Senso, Billy Budd, The Collector, The Heroes Of Telemark, etc. Interestingly enough, the soundtrack of The Third Man – a zither instrumental by Anton Karas which became a huge hit in the 50s – used to be played by the Beatles themselves (then the Quarry Men) on stage in Liverpool between 1957 and 1959, and even during the 1969 rehearsals of the Get Back sessions!
Did you need help with the English version of the book or was your English - which I find excellent - up to the task?
The English version of my book was done with a little help from my friends! I personally worked on it and wrote many paragraphs and footnotes, but I also got the help from professional translators and English teachers for proofreading every chapter. For instance, chapter three was entirely translated by an English man (also a Beatle fan…). So, I would say it’s a collective work indeed!
* Want more? You can obtain Eric Krasker's Beatles books at the usual Amazon knockdown prices at this link
Recent Comments