To the blast of electric guitars, the revving of Harley-Davidsons, applause and tears, France bade an emotional farewell to 74-year-old Johnny Hallyday, France’s rock and roll “national hero” on Saturday.

The centre of Paris ground to a halt as the wave of national grief that had overwhelmed the country following the death of the singer, known as the French Elvis, on Wednesday morning finally broke.



In scenes resonant of the mass mourning in Britain following the death of Princess Diana, police said a million fans had lined the route of the funeral procession, which was accompanied by Hallyday’s band playing live, as it made its way from the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs-Élysées to Place de la Concorde and on to the church of La Madeleine.

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Johnny Hallyday from La Madeleine church. Photograph: Pascal Rossignol/Reuters

Hallyday’s widow, Laeticia, and their two adopted children Jade, 13, and Joy, nine, followed the cortege. Fans, many in tears, threw flowers at the hearse.

Hallyday’s older children, David Hallyday and Laura Smet, waited on the steps of the church to receive the coffin.

A visibly emotional Emmanuel Macron, a Hallyday fan who had called for a “people’s tribute” to the singer, told the crowds: “You are here for him, for Johnny Hallyday. After 60 years of career, 1,000 songs, 50 albums … you are still there, still there, always there. I know you’re waiting for him to jump out from somewhere, he’s on a bike, he comes towards you and starts the first song and you start singing with him.”

As the crowd cheered, whistled and shouted “Johnny, Johnny”, he continued: “Yes, this December Saturday is sad, but you have to be here for Johnny because from the beginning Johnny was there for you. In moments of your life one of his songs translated something you had in your heart … an indefinable humanity that made us feel less alone. That’s how Johnny came into our lives … he became a necessary presence, a friend, a brother.”

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, delivers his address. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/EPA

The French president had earlier described Hallyday as a “national hero. He concluded by telling the singer’s family: “Johnny belonged to you, to the public, to France.”

As the unadorned white coffin was carried into the church, the crowd continued to chant.

Inside, the former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, prime minister Édouard Philippe, former ministers, first lady Brigitte Macron, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and stars from the entertainment world, including Jean Reno, were among the mourners.

Hallyday’s longtime friend, the writer Philippe Labro, described the singer in his address as “timid, humble and modest”. “He brushed aside disaster and self-destruction and this made him worthy of respect and admiration,” he said. “Johnny became a man through his errors.”

The funeral cortege makes its way down the Champs Élysées. Photograph: Chesnot/Getty Images

Hallyday, born Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, sold more than 110m records worldwide, making him one of the most successful musical artists of all time, but he was largely unknown and ignored outside the French-speaking world. Despite moving to Los Angeles and attempting to crack America, whose singers and music had so influenced his long career, he failed to make his mark.

His French fans could not care less that unkind foreigners considered him uncool and mocked the cheesy glitz of his performances. Back home, generations of music fans adored him as their parents and grandparents had.

Hallyday rewarded them with frequent tours and live appearances. His trademarks were his charisma, spectacular entrances – he was once winched on to the stage from a helicopter – and rock music delivered in an impressively true and belting voice.

Friends, family and fans knew Hallyday, an inveterate smoker of filterless Gitanes, had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. He was said to be making another album due for release next year, however, and for fans his disappearance seemed unthinkable. Until this week.

Hallyday’s body is due to be flown to St Barts in the French West Indies where he had a home and will be buried.