SOCAN is deeply saddened by the news that Lucien Francoeur, an icon of Québec rock’n’roll scene, passed away on November 5, 2024, at the age of 76. Widely considered the father of Québec’s underground scene, Francoeur left an impressive recorded legacy, from his first single, “J’t’aime pis j’t’en veux” in 1974, to the box set Francoeur—Poète rock in 2014, and including six albums with his legendary band, Aut’Chose.
A prolific poet as well, he left his mark on Québec’s literary world with more than 30 publications. In 2023, his daughter Virginie released a film about him, Francœur, on achève bien les rockers.
Select the image to play the SOCAN YouTube interview video with Lucien Francoeur
In 2015, the Gala de la musique indépendante du Québec (GAMIQ) renamed its award the “Lucien” in his honour. We caught up with him back then after Aut’Chose was inducted into the Musée du rock’n’roll québécois at the 2015 GAMIQ event. He talked about his chaotic beginnings, and how he shook up the status quo of formatted music to impose his own uninhibited style — one devoid of any inferiority complex in the face of Anglo-Saxon rock. It was a stance that influenced a whole new generation of soft-hearted rockers. “If we survive, and our longevity allows us to be here, and witness the love of the children of those who hated us, that’s the greatest gift,” he said.
The current members of Aut’Chose published this on Facebook (translated freely):
“Lucien is not alone up there. On September 18, Aut’Chose’s first guitarist, Jacques Racine, passed away. A few years ago, the band’s original bassist, Mick Gauthier, also passed away. They were members of the original lineup, true pillars [of the band]. They were major losses for Aut’Chose.
Friends, this is just to say that Lucien’s departure sounds the final death knell for the group.
We hope his memory will live on forever among us. We can count on more than 15 albums, more than 30 books, and numerous appearances on the web, radio, and television to keep Lucien alive in our minds.
Today, his influence remains concrete, and will continue for a long, long time. Share his body of work.
See you, rocker!”
SOCAN would like to offer its deepest condolences to his family and friends, and to all those who worked with him on his long and prolific path travelling the rock’n’roll road.