Robin Le Mesurier: "My relationship with Johnny has lasted longer than many marriages"

"We hooked up directly with Johnny, I liked his honesty, his"smile", We had the same musical tastes.Since their meeting in 1994 until the death of Taulier on December 5, 2017, guitarist Robin Le Mesurier has never left French legend, living a vibrant friendship with him. Memories he recounts in his book "My 1000 concerts with Johnny", recently published by Talent editions.

"He was known in the United States, the American tour in 2014 sold out“, Robin Le Mesurier argues, long invisible in the media. However, he refuses the nickname of "French Elvis Presley" acclaimed by the US press after the death of Johnny Hallyday. "They were both icons and stage performers, but they didn't have the same style. "

Robin Le Mesurier and the rocker met in Los Angeles, where the 66-year-old guitarist still lives. And more precisely at the Sunset Marquis hotel. "Chris Kimsey asked me to write several songs in English for the album" Rough Town ", then to play in the studio"Remembers one who has long been the"sideman " by Rod Stewart. Contact was made, and he found himself in the Hallyday Circus in 1994. He would never leave the artist he nicknamed "The Singer".

"Her voice directly transcended me, she is incomparable“Pleads Robin Le Mesurier, who finds it just as powerful on the last album of Taulier. Their "simple" relationship quickly becomes strong, to the point that he is the only musician to go through all the team changes. "I remember when I was on a tour with Rob Stewart in Orlando, Johnny called me to promise him that I would not give up on him", He reports, adding that the rocker had even refused to" lend "to Michel Sardou.

First activist on a tribute tour with a hologram

Besides the artistic aspect, there were still fraternal ties between the two men. "He became a brother to me, he was funny, generous. We never yelled at each other. Our relationship has lasted longer than many marriages"Amuses himself to say the London musician, letting go:"I miss him a lot". Because they also rubbed shoulders outside the stages and studios, multiplying meals with their respective wives when the Taulier moved to Los Angeles. "No one here knew him, he wasn’t harassed. "

Through this book bringing together 20 years of sharing, the idea of ​​which was suggested to him by his publisher, the English guitarist multiplies the anecdotes: the excitement of the concert at the Stade de France after the victory of the Blues in 1998; but also less rock’n roll memories: the fact that at the end, Johnny no longer smoked but continued to squirm; he kept saying "i want to die on stage"; the films they watched together, the fact that he introduced him to "Stoemp" (a Belgian puree), but also presented to actors Catherine Deneuve and Jean Reno. He also remembers very well that former President Nicolas Sarkozy asked them to play for July 14 at the Eiffel Tower. "But he hadn't moved, Johnny was very angry with Mr. Sarkozy. "

And Robin Le Mesurier likes to proclaim his love for "The Singer": "When, with my wife, we ask Alexa (Amazon connected object) to play a record without specifying an artist, the first thing that comes out is his last album. It makes me think he's still hereIn addition to his book, the Briton wants to remember the singer in a patriotic and musical way. Thus, he campaigns for a public holiday to be dedicated to the memory of Johnny Hallyday; and to organize a French tour in 2020 with a hologram of the singer. "I saw a similar concert by Roy Orbinson (deceased) at the Wiltern – a legendary hall in Los Angeles – it was incredible. I would like to do a show that traces his entire career. We cannot pay homage to Johnny without hearing his voice ringing.He would like to take back some of his great hits, including his favorites "Que je t'aime", "Je promise" and "Something from Tennessee".

The publication comes two years after Johnny’s death, where inheritance issues still rock his family. "But I prefer not to talk about it“, Says Robin Le Mesurier. However, he remains very close to Laeticia, the latter having invited him to Saint Barth in particular and having written the preface to the book.