Every day, a personality invites itself into the world of Élodie Suigo. Tuesday October 17, 2023: the lyricist, singer and actor, Eddy Mitchell. He published a best of: “The album of his life (1964-2021)” including 100 of his emblematic titles and a book: “Eddy Mitchell, my ideal discotheque” in which he selected 50 albums that marked his life.
Eddy Mitchell is for many a true living legend of French song, a notable actor in French cinema. When we talk about songs, we invariably think of “Water mint color (1980), On the road to Memphis (1976), No boogie woogie (1976), The last session (1977) or even You can prepare black coffee (1979) with five Victoires de la musique. He also received a César for best supporting actor for the film “Happiness is in the meadow” by Etienne Chatiliez.
Eddy Mitchell has just released a box set entitled Eddy Mitchell – The album of his lifeor 100 titles and then there is a book: Eddy Mitchell, my ideal nightclub by Alain Artaud-Macari and Marc Maret published by Hors Collection.
franceinfo: There are lots of things inside this book, interviews and above all you offer us the total opening of your discotheque. Are you still as passionate as ever?
Eddie Mitchell: Yes. When we talk about disco, we talk about things that we listen to again. There are many people forgotten but who are not forgotten in my memory, who are part of my life. I think of Johnny, I think of Dutronc, who are not part of the ideal disco and who nevertheless are there.
You can summarize your ideal discotheque very easily. There really is this very American side, but not only that. I have the impression that it also sums you up since we quickly understand to what extent this discotheque had an impact on your life.
Yes of course. There are triggers like Bill Haley and the others, Gene Vincent, James Brown, Ottis Reding, everyone.
“Bill Haley started everything in my desire to become a singer, to change my life at least.”
Eddie Mitchellat franceinfo
When does music come into your life? What was the trigger because first of all there was cinema, comic strips.
I’m 14 years old and the starting point is Bill Haley. I’m buying his record!
You feel captivated by American music. We understand that it is more than a line of conduct, that it has become a philosophy over time.
I don’t know if it’s a philosophy, but let’s say that I’ve always preferred American music to English because the Americans know how to emphasize, the English don’t. On the other hand, the English write fantastic songs, but behind them, they sound like rusks.
From the start you also wanted to bring what you loved in American music, in French music and we understand that it was not necessarily always easy to find the key.
No, it’s not simple, but when you have the passion like I have, like I had, it seems simple to you. On the other hand, it must be admitted and that’s something else!
Initially, there was cinema, but you understood that music was the “keystone” of all your passions, particularly that of comics. You will have titles like The last session related to cinema and also very emblematic covers – we also discover them inside this book – tell us about them and the importance for you of having designed covers.
“What I love about record covers is that you can tell a story.”
Eddie Mitchellat franceinfo
In one of my last albums Come backthe cover is a tribute to Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, to these western heroes, where everything ended well. The hero left on horseback, the horse reared and he waved his hat and farewell! And so that’s funny, it’s this relationship between music and cinema.
There’s a photo taken with Chuck Berry in 1965, you’re at the Olympia. This photo is very emblematic because it’s Johnny B. Goode’s dad, it’s a very memorable song and besides, you point out, it was sent into space. the little story also makes the big History?
Yes, of course, I don’t know how the aliens will receive the message, but I hope they receive it well.
Tell us about Johnny B. Goode, a title that was a huge UFO. What makes a title so iconic?
First there’s the guitar riff. His riff remained monumental since everyone tried to cover it and cover it more or less well. But to do it like him is impossible, impossible.
Finally, a word about the box cover which is a drawing by the illustrator Michel Blanc-Dumont. Drawing which, as the title says, you performed for the first time in 1984 Rock cinema and comicssince it is your third passion.
It’s important because I really like what Michel does. I have admiration for people who draw as well as him. Blanc-Dumont is a kind of alien who draws like that and who is not easy to handle because he never wants to work, either.