The unique journey of Patrick Bruel: the passion for music and Quebec

At a very young age, when he attended a first show, Patrick Bruel already knew that he, too, would go on stage one day. An idea that will follow him until his ascent to the top. In this new biography, the light is thrown on the lover of music, theater and cinema through anecdotes and many happy encounters that span 40 years of career.

The 63-year-old French singer-songwriter who is also an actor and producer has quite a career behind him. 

It is the author Frédéric Quinonero who has only good words for his subject has chosen to highlight Bruel's 40-year career by writing a biography different from what we usually see. Abundantly illustrated, the work of a life is told by theme by associating each letter of the alphabet with a word related to something that marked the singer. A primer. 

For example, the letter Q, is associated with Quebec, where he knew how to conquer his public. We return to the love story that unites Bruel and Quebecers. Since 1992, he has given many concerts. We will remember his show in 2008 on the Plains in Quebec (and not in Montreal as the author indicates) during the festivities of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. Moreover, he will return there in 2015 during the Festival d’été de Québec.

The letter O alludes to his love for olive trees. Bruel has invested in the exploitation of an area of ​​20 hectares of olive trees to produce olive oil. A safe bet according to him.

La Bruelmania

After a few failures and several fruitless attempts, it was in the early 1990s that Patrick Bruel, originally from Tlemcen in Algeria, met with significant media success. 

However, the singer nearly gave it all up as he got hired as a G.O. at a Club Meb in Mexico. 

He doesn't always get the coveted roles in movie auditions. It was then that he turned to the theater in the early 1980s before devoting himself to music. He will try training in drama, but will only last two hours. He gives up. Nevertheless, he is not about to forget his dream which took hold of him at the age of 14 after attending a Rolling Stones concert. Bruel is ready for anything.

Then success will finally come. By dint of determination, the Olympia in Paris will open the doors to him. Described as “Bruelmania”, his fans on both sides of the Atlantic fill the rooms in his path.

During his career, he will make many encounters that will mark the adored singer who has sold more than 15 million albums, author of nine albums. Johnny Hallyday, Patrick Fiori, Céline Dion, Lara Fabian Charles Aznavour are among the artists he has had the pleasure of meeting over the years and with whom he has sometimes shared the stage.

However, in 2019 his successes will be somewhat tarnished by allegations of sexual misconduct, including alleged accusations of sexual exhibition and sexual harassment.

A Passionate

Besides music and cinema, Bruel is also passionate about football and even more poker. And there is no dead hand. Even if we do not know everything, we learn that in 2018 alone, he will win during a tournament the sum of 1.5 million US dollars. 

To this is certainly added his passion for women and not just any women, younger women, always younger than him and of course very beautiful women. First there was his first wife, Amanda Sthers, a French writer, director and screenwriter with whom he had two children, Oscar and Léon. The marriage only lasted three years. Among those who counted, figure Céline Bosquet, model and television presenter with whom he lived together. Their separation occurs three years later. He will then share his life for four years with the Danish model, Caroline Nielsen.

His latest conquest, Clémence, with whom he has been in a relationship for a little over a year. She is only 27 years old and 35 years her junior.

Patrice Bruel has won several prizes and distinctions

• In cinema, he won a César in 2013 for best actor for Le Prénom. He has also played the play by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière at the theatre.
• He has been a Knight of the National Order of Merit since 1996.
• He has also been a Knight of the National Order of Quebec since 2014.

The author, Frédéric Quinonero, is a specialist in music and cinema, and author of several biographies. He has notably authored the books, Serge Lama, La rage de vivre, Johnny Immortel and Françoise Hardy: a long song of love.

Patrick Bruel over the words

Frédéric Quinonero

Archipel Editions

160 pages