Higelin was an actor before he sang, and spent the sixties running from theatre to cabaret, often alongside Brigitte Fontaine. His records of the eighties borrow their energy from rock and from poetry a syntax that breaks free. At the Cirque d'Hiver, in 1981, he was seen playing until five in the morning, night after night. The slab of pebbles that covers him is the work of his three children.
The story
Jacques Higelin was born at Brou-sur-Chantereine on 18 October 1940. An actor before he was a singer, he spent the sixties between theatre, cabaret and the stage with Brigitte Fontaine, in a register nothing will file.
“BBH 75”, then “Higelin 82”, set up a French song that took its energy from rock and its freedom of syntax from poetry. There is music hall in him, and free jazz, and pure improvisation.
The Cirque d'Hiver concerts of 1981 are still talked about: he played whole nights there, sometimes until five in the morning, turning a recital into a party with no closing time.
He kept going to the end — “Amor doloroso” in 2006, “Beau Repaire” in 2013 — with a voice that had thickened without losing a thing.
He died on 6 April 2018. His three children designed the slab in Division 20: pebbles set side by side, no marble and no bronze, on the chemin de la Vierge.
The grave
A slab made of assembled pebbles, designed by his three children: no marble, no bronze, no monumental mason. It is one of the very rare monuments of Père-Lachaise conceived by the family itself, and the only one in this guide made of gathered stones. The inscription is to match: “Jacques Higelin, 1940 2018” — a name, two dates, without even a dash between them.
On site, do not miss
The pebbles of the slab, assembled one by one — the only monument in the cemetery designed by the children of the deceased.
Visitors' questions
Where is Jacques Higelin's grave?
In Division 20, chemin de la Vierge, first row, in the central part of the cemetery — the Division where Claude Bernard rests. The slab of assembled pebbles makes it unique in the cemetery.
Claude BernardWho designed his grave?
His three children: the slab is made of pebbles set together, with no marble and no bronze. It is one of the rare monuments at Père-Lachaise designed by the family itself rather than by a stonemason or a sculptor.
Alain BashungWhat are his best-known albums?
“BBH 75” and “Higelin 82”, which established a French chanson fed on rock and free jazz, then “Amor doloroso” in 2006 and “Beau Repaire” in 2013. He sang to the very end, his voice worn and heavy.
Georges MoustakiWhat was the Cirque d'Hiver concert?
A moment that became legendary, in 1981: Higelin played there whole nights through, sometimes until five in the morning. The recital turned into a party with no closing time — which was his way of being on stage.
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