It was rare to see her without him. And yet, this will now be the norm. The acrobat poet and genius composer Areski Belkacem passed away this Monday, June 1, at the age of 86. Although he left discreetly, the mark he left behind is immense, as his destiny was so extraordinary. Beyond his immense talent as a jack-of-all-trades, in turn percussionist, guitarist, actor and accordionist, Areski was above all the inseparable half of another legendary figure of French song: the unclassifiable Brigitte Fontaine. Together, in the city as on stage, they formed one of the most fusional, creative and deliciously eccentric couples of our cultural heritage. A story of love and notes that lasted more than five decades.
Jacques Higelin and Brigitte Fontaine: the two encounters in Areski’s life
Born in Versailles in 1940 into a family of Kabyle origin, the young Larezeki Belkacem cut his teeth where the hearts of the people beat, playing popular tunes in neighborhood balls and weddings. But it was military service that turned his life upside down by provoking a decisive meeting: that of Jacques Higelin. Between the two men, friendly love at first sight was immediate and gave birth, in 1969, to a joint album. Above all, it is the whimsical Higelin who will introduce him to the woman who will become his muse, his wife and his eternal alter ego: Brigitte Fontaine. With her and the actor Rufus, they first put on the show Niok at the Lucernaire theater, a total theatrical adventure reinvented every evening. From then on, the duo would never leave each other. Brigitte pushes Areski to refuse other prestigious roles in the theater to devote himself exclusively to their common work: “What we both do is much more important”she had whispered to him, relates The World. She was right.
Brigitte Fontaine and Areski, a legendary couple at the heart of French song
Revealing each other, Areski and Brigitte Fontaine broke the codes of traditional song in 1970 with the cult album Like on the radiorecorded with the jazzmen of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. As a duo, their voices blended perfectly and they explored everything, from electronics to slam, singing about love, revolution or injustice through pieces as dark as they are funny, like the famous It’s normal or not décalé Kékéland. Sometimes affectionately referred to as “Prince consort of French song”, Areski Belkacem nevertheless led a rich life as an artist outside of his relationship. He notably released 3 albums : A beautiful morningin 1970, The Triumph of Lovein 2010, then Long courrier, released in 2025. Also a composer for his friend Barbara and Georges Moustaki, he also wrote film scores with his son Ali. We even saw him actingnotably by playing an unforgettable father alongside Benoît Poelvoorde and Albert Dupontel in the film The Big Evening… where Brigitte obviously played the mother! If he still confided in 2025 that he had never chased solo glory, simply preferring the joy of creating with those close to him, Areski today leaves his thousands of admirers and his queen of hearts very alone.
