The Garçons Bouchers perpetuate on stage the generosity of François Hadji-Lazaro

Reformed to honor its leader who died in February 2023, the alternative rock group performed in its favorite Parisian venue, the Élysée Montmartre. Reunions, pogos and lambada.

«Pour François, hip hip hip, hourra ! Hip hip hip, hourra ! Hip hip hip, hourra ! » Paris, Friday November 22. The Élysée Montmartre shouts one last time to greet François Hadji-Lazaro whose globular face occupies the big screen. Died on February 25, 2023, this pillar of alternative rock, steeped in musette and punk, notably led three memorable groups: Pigalle (1982-1998 and 2007-2022) of which he was the singer, Los Carayos (1985-1990) with Manu Chao, and the Butcher Boys (1986-1997) with whom he practiced plethora of instruments, including the accordion. Boys Butchers resurrected, in the light of an evening as generous as their late leader, less commemorated than joyfully celebrated with a public in their juice, many reunions and pogos as before.

The genesis of the concert takes place in the Père-Lachaise cemetery, a few days after the death of François Hadji-Lazaro. On the steps of the crematorium, among relatives and friends dominated by winegrowers and restaurateurs, Stefff Gotovski, the saxophonist of Les Garçons Bouchers, meets an old acquaintance of the group: Edgard Garcia, director of Zebrock, an association which works to emergence of talents and public education. Who has an idea: organize a tribute evening, in September of the same year, on the Zebrock stage of the Fête de l'Humanité. The historic Butchers' Boys are reunited and emotion grips the participants, twenty-six years after their separation, so much so that singer Pierrot Sapu, who has long disappeared from the radar, asks for more: “How about we go on tour?” »

Tour ago. Called “Tchao François”, it stretches over sixty dates between 2024 and 2025, including the Élysée-Montmartre, of course, the favorite venue of the Garçons Bouchers, where Stefff Gotovski also organized 350 “balls” from 1995 to 2010 with survivors alternative rock. The repertoire is mainly taken from the group's first two albums (1987 and 1988), the most subversive: “François wrote things that were timeless at the time, so we take the opportunity to bring it back, especially since we consider that the music scene has become sanitized”said Gotovsky. At the back of the stage, archive images and a François Hadji-Lazaro modeled in 3D cartoon style by one of his two sons, Pierre, are projected. Artistic director specializing in rap, he indicates that the family was associated with the reformation of the group: “My father remained closer to the musicians of the Garçons Bouchers than to those of Pigalle. His death brought them together, even though Stefff and Pierrot had not seen each other for years. It's good to have done it. And we prefer that the concert does not force the homage, so as not to ruin the atmosphere. »

An atmosphere from beyond the grave all the same, the voice of François Hadji-Lazaro opening the concert in front of a thousand spectators whose heads are now more often bald than combed. On stage too, heads changed. White beard, tattooed head, damaged life, volunteer for twenty years at Secours catholique, Pierrot Sapu tows the troupe composed of Stefff Gotovski in “Sex, beef & rock'n'roll” t-shirt, Gaël Mesny (guitar), Benoît Simon (bass), Christophe Gauziède (drums) and Toto Rossi (trumpet), all former members of Les Garçons Bouchers and/or Pigalle. To which are added surprise guests throughout the titles: Sanseverino on The garbage collector and Jacotte Hadji-Lazaro (widow of François) on SometimesRoberto Basarte and Yan Darçon, of the former Mano Negra (Antoine Chao, Daniel Jamet, Pierre “Kropol” Gauthé), Docteur Destroy… Doesn’t that make anyone younger? Not so sure. The songs follow one another, emphasizing the intact insight of François Hadji-Lazaro's texts (Guerre, Black and White, Old people in the trash), and the sauce sets as the joints loosen. To the point that on the hymns (The rap of the Garçons Bouchers, Stuffed Stuffed Ratatam, Beaujolais, Lambada we don't like that, Beer), the pogos are fiery and the stage divings follow one another, even from veterans who risk breaking their backs.

Visibly involved and happy, like his comrades who we hear have worked on their return, Pierrot Sapu recalls that François Hadji-Lazaro created the Boucherie Productions label (the first Mano Negra, Roadrunners, Happy Drivers, Les Tétines Noirs, etc.) then he intones Zorro de BB Doc et le shall Long live life by Doctor Destroy. “Long live life”he insists before the concert ends with Pigalle's hit, In the room of the tobacco bar on rue des Martyrs. Nearby street, along which spectators left, less nostalgic than energized.

On tour: Nov. 23 in Wasquehal, Nov. 29 in Bordeaux, Nov. 30 in Nantes, Dec. 6 in Miramont-de-Guyenne, December 7. in Perpignan, December 12 in Villeurbanne, December 13. in Audincourt, December 14. in Nilvange…