My electronic friend Robb Johnson, English songwriter extraordinaire and - see this - confirmed Johnny Hallyday fan, would love this story .. a tale of much belatedly requited adoration
Imagine the scene late at night at a cafe in the eastern French city of Nancy.
It is 1966 and young Jocelyne Criticos is in search of her idol, Johnny Hallyday, best known beyond the francophone world as the French Elvis though the music itself has not travelled too well.
She is clutching a copy of Johnny's new single, Je l'aime, the sleeve of which which she naturally wants him to sign. But having missed him at the theatre, Le Rio de Nancy, she hopes he'll be hanging out, as musicians often did, over drinks in the Place Stanislas.
Still no luck. But someone else, whose music has indeed travelled well and continues to inspire people 40 years after his death, was present. One Jimi Hendrix, American wizard of the electric guitar, by now resident in Britain and the leader of a brand new trio, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, also containing Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums.
This will be hard to take for any Hendrix fan, but France is France and the Experience had been the support act. And all, along with Jimi's manager Chas Chandler, formerly one of the Animals, and a couple of others - Micky Jones, who I think must be the one who went on to be lead guitarist in The Man, and the French rock and folk singer Long Chris - agreed to sign Jocelyn's record.
Jimi preceded his signature with a little heart and the word "love", hoping for a kiss which, I am sorry to say, Jocelyne declined to grant. Why? "He had spots!"
Mission unaccomplished, the Hendrix spots a passion-killer. But there, for Jocelyne, the matter rested. Until a few months ago when her daughter, Valérie, came across the old 45rpm while rummaging through maman's record collection.
She contacted Yazid Manou, described in my Var-Matin as "LE spécialiste français de Jimi Hendrix who - pardon the translation - fell from the clouds". Yazid now owns the photo seen above, which was taken by Jean-Claude Monet, from the concert in Nancy on Oct 14 1966 (and is the first, says Yazid, of the Experience) - but had "no idea there was a Jimi autograph from the very occasion, what's more on a Johnny Hallyday disc".
Yazid had the bright idea of contacting the French TV programme Taratata to suggest that Johnny should be surprised when next he appeared by being presented with a copy of the old 60s record to sign, 45 years later than hoped, for Jocelyn.
And there you have it. Jocelyn is now the owner of a boutique in Toulon. I am indebted to Var-Matin for drawing my attention to this charming little tale, which both she and Valérie confirmed when I spoke to them this morning.
Valérie has promised to send an image of the signed record, as it now appears with Johnny's autograph alongside the others, and that will be added in due course.
Update: the new material has been added, as a new posting at http://www.francesalut.com/2011/05/jimi-hendrix-and-johnny-hallyday-kindred-spirits.html.
* And for those with access to French television, you can see the programme, which was apparently broadcast last night, when it is repeated on France 2 at 0040 on May 6. And Yazid - see above - recommends this as the best French Hendrix site.** see also: Jimi and Johnny: kindred spirits
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