Jean-Michel Andre Jarre was born on August 24th in 1948 in Perrache, Lyon. His Parents are France Pejot and the award winning Hollywood composer Maurice Jarre (Famed for such music as Lawrence of Arabia and Ghost).
Since Jean-Michel arrived onto the world wide music scene in 1977, he has set numerous world records for concerts he has performed, shocked the music world by telling the public to pirate - Music for Supermarkets and he has sold more than 55 MILLION albums worldwide.
This is the life of a creative genius, this is Jean-Michel Jarre.
It is 1953, and Maurice Jarre leaves for the United States to pursue his career in film music full-time and a young Jean-Michel starts to learn to play piano.
During 1957, Jean-Michels piano teacher changes and his new teacher brings back Jean-Michels desire for music.
In 1958, on his 10th birthday, Jean-Michel is taken to the small club Le Chat-qui-peche and is surrounded by other musicians for the whole evening.
1964 and Jean-Michel went to see "Danny Logan & The Pirates" and when he went back to school he set up his first own band "Mystere IV" - note the start of Jarre's famous numbering routine for music :)
In 1967, Jean-Michel - along with his new band "The Dustbins" feature in a small party scene in the film "Des Garcon Et Des Filles." This is only a small scene but it is worth having if you can find someone with a copy (Very hard to find).
In 1968 Jean-Michel finishes his thesis on comparative literature entitled "The Faust Of Literature and Music" with main emphasis on Goethe and Berlioz. After a short while, Jean-Michel leaves the Paris Conservatoire and meets the man who was to change his perception of music and technology - Pierre Schaeffer of the G.R.M.
In 1969 Jean-Michel joins the G.R.M. and whilst there he records the track "Happiness is a Sad Song" for the Maison de Culture (This track has had no subsequent release - legally).
In 1970 Jean-Michel Records the tracks "La Cage" and "Erosmachine" - the latter is lovingly called washing machine by alot of Jean-Michels fans.
During 1971, the single La Cage is released which is following by Jean-Michel leaving the G.R.M. He then creates electronic sounds for the group "Triangle" and is also commissioned to write a ballet for the Paris Opera and he gives it the title AOR - I believe Aor means Light in Hebrew?
1972 see's Jean-Michel starting to work freelance and while he is doing this he meets Francis Dreyfus and then composes and records various musical pieces that are collected under the name "Deserted Palace" by an American film rights company.
In 1973 the Deserted Palace LP is issued in the US. He also records the soundtrack to the film "Les Granges Brulees" and it is subsequently released on LP.
It is during 1974 that Jean-Michel meets Michel Geiss. Michel Geiss is to play a very important role in Jean-Michels future, creating such instruments as the Matri-Sequencer and the Digi-Sequencer.
1976 proves to be the year that success and Jean-Michel were to meet, with the launch of the now legendary "Oxygene" in France. He also receives the "Grand Prix Du Disques" award for Oxygene from the Charles Cross Academy.
During 1977, Polydor license Oxygene and all future recordings for release around the world. The American magazine "People" choose Jean-Michel as their 'Personality of the Year'.
1978 and Jean-Michel records his second album under the name of "Equinoxe". Jean-Michel marries the British film star "Charlotte Rampling" and allows music from Equinoxe to be used in the film "La Maladie de Hambourg" - better known as "The Illness Of Hamburg".
1979 is to be the year that the 'concert spectacular' is born, Jean-Michel brings his unique blend of electronic music to the outdoors at the "Place de la Concorde" for Bastille Day. Mick Jagger is quoted as saying - after the event - "I have never seen anything like that in my entire life!". Around 1 MILLION spectators see this event LIVE. Jean-Michel then goes to Japan on a promotional visit and then goes to China to see the country. Oxygene is presented for the Ballet at the Paris Opera House.
Jean-Michel then receives a gold medal for musical broadcasting from the S.A.C.E.M. for contributing to French culture throughout the world. Tracks from Oxygene are used in Peter Wier's Australian film "Gallipoli".
During 1981, Jean-Michel released the superb album "Magnetic Fields". Jean-Michel becomes an honorary member of the Beijing 'Conservatory of Music' and he and also performs five concerts in China, known as "The concerts in China". This has since been released on various formats including CD and Video. Also, Jean-Michel was to be the first western musician to be invited to perform a concert in China. A little extra is that Oxygene and Equinoxe were one of the first non-Chinese albums to be played on the radio and therefore had audiences of around 500 Million (There you go Spice Girls, top that :-))
During 1982, Jean-Michel goes to Switzerland on a promotional visit and also to receive various awards for record sales. This is also the year that "The Concerts in China" double album is released. A special documentary on "The Concerts in China" is also filmed. Also, this is the year that the Guinness Book of Records official recognize the one million people who attended the "Place de la Concorde" concert during 1979.
During 1983, Jean-Michel is asked to record some background music for an art exhibition - which was known as the "Orrimbe" show. Jean-Michel records the infamous "Music for Supermarkets". The Orrimbe show officially opens. Also, the auction of Music for Supermarkets at the Hotel Drouot, Paris fetches tches 69000 FF. and Jean-Michel is awarded a certificate by the French Edition of The Guinness Books Of Records for the largest amount of money a record has been sold for in France. Also, "The Essential" compilation album is released and he collaborates artistically on the film "Le Voyage D'OrphČe". Jean-Michel also receives the Designers & Art Directors Associations Award for most outstanding record promotion.
During 1984 the album "Zoolook" is released. This mix of ethnic vocals (Which were digitally altered by Jean-Michel in his private studio) and acoustic instruments and Synthesizers makes Zoolook one of the most unusual albums of all time, but it also showed musicians how samplers could be used - creatively.
In 1985, the premiere screening of the Zoolook video at MIDEM 1985 in France takes place. Jean-Michel also receives the "Grand Prix du Disque" award for his fantastic Zoolook album from the Charles Cross Academy and he also receives the "Victoires de la Musique" - best instrumental album award - for the Zoolook album.
Jean-Michel visits Japan and Australia on promotional visits, and while he is in Australia is invited by the head of the aborigines to see Ayers Rock.
1986 and Jean-Michel performs the awesome "Rendez-Vous Houston: A City in Concert". Jean-Michel also becomes honorary citizen of Houston city, US. The album "Rendez-Vous" is released and he stages his second major concert for this year entitled "Rendez-Vous Lyon: Concert for the pope".
Jean-Michel also receives the "Victoires de la Musique" award for the best instrumental album "Rendez-Vous" and he also receives the same award for "best musical spectacle" for his Houston concert. The Guinness Book Of Records officially recognize the 1.3 million people that attended the Houston concert. There is a disagreement between some quarters that say there were 1.6 million people and not 1.3 million in attendance.
During 1987 the "In concert: Houston/Lyon" live album is released. Polygram celebrate ten commercial years of Jean-Michel's music by releasing a limited edition "10th anniversary" CD only box set. The Jean-Michel Jarre biography is published by Jean-Louis Remilleux in France (and if you don't have this, although it is out of print now, it is worth finding a copy, it is great).
During 1988, Jean-Michel releases his "Revolutions" album. To some people this album sounds dated, but to me it represents allot of varied emotions. During this year both concerts for "Destination Docklands" get underway. Jean-Michel has been reported as saying he had mild electric shocks during the shows (As it was raining very heavily) but in true Jarre style, the show had to go on.
1989 and Jean-Michel and Hank Marvin perform the track they co-wrote "London Kid" as part of the Champs Elysees event (The Eiffel Tower 100th anniversary celebrations).
The great "Concert D'Images" celebratory book is published and the exhibition of the same name also opens in Paris. Jean-Michel fails to hold a show to celebrate 200 years of the French revolution.
The album "Jarre-live" is released (The recording from Docklands during 1988). Francis Dreyfus repromotes Jean-Michel's music with a special promotion entitled "Jean-Michel Jarre - The Laser Years" and a special box set is released in France.
During 1990, The long awaited "Waiting for Cousteau" album is released. This album is dedicated to Jacques Yves Cousteau (Undersea explorer) who made many documentaries until he sadly passed away during 1997.
Jean-Michel also performs his amazing "Paris La Defense - a City in Concert". "La Cite de la Reussette" conference held in La Sorbonne entitled "La qualite de l'enviroment urbain, facteur de reussiye?" and Jarre is one of the guest speakers. Jean-Michel also performs Calypso live on the show SacrČe SoirČe. Jerome Monod of "Lyonnaise des Eaux-Dumez", a French water company commissions Jean-Michel to record a corporate hymn. Jean-Michel accepts to the sum of $75000,- and composes "Remanences" from old material, which lasts 2 minutes and 50 seconds.
1991-2002 to follow shortly. |
