French rock legend Johnny Hallyday had a botched operation in France and is now in a medically induced coma in a Los Angeles hospital as he recovers from surgery to fix the damage, his producer said.
Hallyday, 66, is expected to recover, producer Jean-Claude Camus said.
Hallyday is France's biggest rock star, though little known outside of Europe. Beyond his music, Belgian-born Hallyday _ whose real name is Jean-Philippe Smet _ is best known for his glitz, amorous affairs, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a Frenchness as absolute as Elvis Presley's Americanness.
Hallyday had an operation overnight Wednesday to Thursday at L.A.'s Cedars Sinai hospital to fix lingering back trouble from a Nov. 26 operation in Paris, led by Delajoux, for a herniated disc.
"After (he) had woken up, the doctors preferred putting him in an artificial coma to prevent him from suffering and getting tired, and thus to make the treatment easier," Hallyday's Web site said.
Here is a selection of Halliday’s better-known hits. Please note how, unlike most modern-day rockers, Halliday uses a full orchestra to back him up. The effect is tres bien!
JOHNNY HALLIDAY – Pense à moi!
JOHNNY HALLIDAY - Vivre pour le meilleur!
JOHNNY HALLIDAY – Gabrielle!
JOHNNY HALLIDAY – Requiem pour un fou!
And finally, here is Halliday with famed Spanish singer Julio Iglesias – C’est splendide
JULIO IGLESIAS & JOHNNY HALLIDAY – Me olvide del vivir
We wish Halliday a speedy recovery, so he can return to enchanting audiences with his unique musical style.
