“OI wanted to do yéyé punk.” “Big idiots, these Americans, whether it's Iggy Pop or the Cramps.” “In my opinion, it is not compatible to reconcile an artistic approach and trying to make it your profession.” “I don't want to learn to play better, because if it's to do like everyone else but worse, I don't really see the point.” There are releases in this style on every page of “Punk ouvrier”, the first book by Didier Wampas.
The 62-year-old singer publishes, in collaboration with music journalist Christian Eudeline, a first autobiography in his image. Crazy, provocative and ultimately rather tender.
He looks back on his French punk journey nourished by Mike Brant and the Rubettes, Johnny and the Ramones, shared between his job at RATP, which he kept until retirement, and Wampas concerts. Group with variable geometry, of which he will be the leader, with quite crazy longevity and random successes.
This weekend, Didier Chappedelaine, his real name, is in Toulon, to present the book at the Var Book Festival and he is curious to meet the public in another context.
“I'm going to bring a guitar, you never know. I don't know if I could make any noise, we'll see”jokes, on the other end of the line, the one who settled in Sète a few years ago and who found a sweetness of life there that suits him.
Less grumpy than he seems, Didier Wampas remains open to all paradoxes. “It's true. Like this book, I didn't want to do it and, ultimately, I'm happy. I liked it and I like talking about it afterwards.”
“To sing about God and then love…”
“I didn’t really want to tell my life story,” continues the singer-songwriter. After talking to Christian, I said to myself, well, if we talk more about the songs, fine.”
And in fact, a good part of this autobiography resides in the comments, today, of Didier Wampas on the texts he wrote for the group. Here again, we wander between last minute idea and big joke or abundance of references and hidden meanings.
There we come across a gallery of astonishing portraits, old music backpackers as office colleagues, fascists but kind, many who have disappeared, who were unable to stop the excesses in time, women too. Love, moreover, and a certain form of spirituality ultimately seem to dominate the man's discography.
“That's it, ''to sing sorrows and hopes, to sing God and then love''… the three fundamental subjects of rock'n'roll. And a bit of cycling too, on some! I don't want to add misfortune to the misfortune of the world, if we can add a little poetry, a little sweetness, in my waysums up the singer. I'm really open to all kinds of things. I listen to a lot of classical music, for example. I got into it about thirty years ago. I know more classical than rock'n'roll today.”
Under the radar
Through this itinerary of a moderately spoiled punk, we also dive with Didier Wampas into a very artisanal way of living a career as a musician. Which, however, concerns so many under-the-radar artists, who move outside the big radio and television circuits.
“I wanted to experience it like that. 15 years old, I discovered rock'n'roll, I think that all people who make music are pure and noble, great and selfless, we quickly realize that it's is not true but I continue to believe in it, to follow my childhood dreams, to go on stage trying to give everything, to be honest. If I became bitter or materialistic, I would stop. It’s not worth it.”
And the artist explains it, in the book, by returning in particular to moments supposed to dedicate him, which he experienced rather badly. The title card “Manu Chao” for example or the invitation to the Victoires de la Musique in 2004.
“Really not the best moment, I went a little crazy. It's like the concerts in Paris, where everyone is won over in advance, I find it disappointing. I say well shit, what's the point? I prefer to do festivals or dates where people don't know me well. It's more interesting when it's hard.”
“Even when I make songs, I look for that.” Which allows him, moreover, to explain certain poorly understood texts. “It’s my fault. We’re doing closed things on purpose, don’t complain afterwards!”
And he's not complaining, anyway. We ask him for a song for Johnny, he does it but doesn't send it. Indochine invites him to the Stade de France, he sings them Partenaire Particulier…
“I don't know why, laughs Didier Wampas on the other side of the phone. I'm so afraid of taking myself seriously, I don't want to. For me, it’s like a game.”
Var Book Festival, this Friday, Saturday November 22 and Sunday November 23. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Place d’Armes, in Toulon. fetedulivredu var.fr
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