Brigitte, communism and Pacman: the life of Marc Lavoine before fame

Alexis Patri 3:25 p.m., January 27, 2022

He is releasing his fourteenth studio album,

and is a writer, actor and coach on

.

Guest of

Thursday, Marc Lavoine lends himself to the game of "pre-fame portrait", where Lisa-Marie Marques recounts the life of the singer before fame.

The columnist reveals in particular that the singer, born in Longjumeau on August 6, was almost called Brigitte, her mother thinking she was expecting a little girl.

When it came to finding a boy's name, the whole family was involved.

If the first name Luc was not retained, it is because of the grandfather, who pointed out that it was read "ass" backwards.

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As a child, Marc Lavoine grew up in Vissoux, in the south of Paris, in a small house near Orly airport.

The noise of the planes then helps him to fall asleep.

"I loved it. At the time, I moved back and forth, I didn't speak much, I whispered. I started to express myself and to exchange quite late", completes Marc Lavoine.

Francis, a big brother who "taught everything" to Marc Lavoine

The singer grew up with a militant communist dad who made him stick up posters, and sell

on Sundays and lily of the valley on May 1.

He also grew up in music.

His mother introduces him to Barbara and his father sings him

by Guy Béart.

But, in the Lavoine house, the one for whom silence is demanded when he goes on the radio is Claude Nougaro.

While hiking, Marc and his big brother Francis sing Dick Annegarn.

"It's magnificent! I was still listening to a Dick Annegarn record three days ago", rejoices the singer listening to a few notes from his Belgian colleague.

"With my brother, we sang a lot. He taught me everything, especially guitar and singing. Some sang with a hairbrush. I sang in front of fields of flowers. And fields of tobacco! Because in the Lot, we grew the tobacco and brought it back in the tractors, it was amazing.

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Marc Lavoine reveals the stars' school memories, for a good cause

As a teenager, Marc Lavoine followed his brother Francis to school in rue Madame, to learn the printing trade. But he quickly realizes that what he wants to do is play comedy. To earn a living, he becomes an usher at the Olympia, where he will sing later. After work, the young man used to go to the "Ten Gallions" pub to play Pacman. "There was also the 'Bar Romain' and the 'Sherwood'. There was everyone: Roland Blanche, Bohringer...", adds Marc Lavoine. "All the Parisian cultural night was there. It was great."

It was at this time that Marc Lavoine started singing.

"I met the mother of composer Fabrice Alboulker, who brought her son in front of me saying to me, 'He looks very stupid, but he may have talent.

Maybe you should receive it." I swear it's true!" Laughs the singer.

"I was received by Barclay editions, where I entered the big house where there was already Balavoine, Yvette Berger, Galle Sanson. I made a hard rock band, then

."

It is with this title, released in 1985, that Marc Lavoine will begin his career as a singing star.