Johnny Hallyday fans in Paris prepare for the music legend's funeral

(9 Dec 2017) JOHNNY HALLYDAY FANS IN PARIS PREPARE FOR THE MUSIC LEGEND'S FUNERAL
Crowds of fans waited outside the Madeleine Church on Saturday to bid farewell to France's biggest rock star Johnny Hallyday.
France is honouring Hallyday with an exceptional funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a motorcycle parade - all under intense security.
Few figures in French history have earned a sendoff as elaborate as the one for the man sometimes dubbed the French Elvis.
It was ordered by President Emmanuel Macron, a Hallyday fan himself, like generations of others across the French-speaking world.
Hallyday's death on Wednesday at age 74 after a battle with lung cancer unleashed a wave of emotion across the country, where he had been a fixture for more than half a century.
The Paris police chief says hundreds of thousands of fans could come out to pay tribute as the funeral procession moves from Hallyday's home in a Paris suburb near Versailles to Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe monument in western Paris and down the iconic Champs-Elysees.
Adding a rock touch to the event, hundreds of motorcyclists will join the procession.
The singer's band is expected to play some of his hits on a stage in front of the Madeleine Church, where a religious ceremony will follow.
Macron plans to speak during the ceremony and other attendees are expected to include former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.
Fans will be able to follow the ceremony on giant screens.
About 1,500 police officers are securing the area.
The words "Thank you Johnny" are being displayed on the Eiffel Tower over the weekend, and football stadiums are playing Hallyday's songs before kick-off.
Hallyday, born Jean-Philippe Smet, is expected to be buried on the French Caribbean island of St. Barts where he owned a house.


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