Thousands of people lined the streets of Paris on Saturday as a convoy of 700 Harley-Davidson motorcycles escorted the white coffin of late French rock ‘n’ roll giant Johnny Hallyday to a memorial service attended by French stars and politicians.
Hallyday’s hearse drove the length of the famous Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, in a rare honour usually reserved for foreign statesmen on July 14 National Day.
As his band played instrumental versions of his biggest hits, the crowds belted out the words, many in leather biker jackets and carrying pictures of Harley-Davidson enthusiast Hallyday, who died of lung cancer on Wednesday.
Speaking on the steps of Paris’ Madeleine Church, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was mourning a “part of France” that departed with Hallyday’s death and called him a prodigal son of the nation.