42 - JOHNNY HALLYDAY

JOHNNY HALLYDAY Gibson ES-335 Dot Cherry, Nashville, 1985 / Electric guitar that belonged to Johnny Hallyday and was given to producer Christian Fechner, a longtime friend, in 1992; it bears a handwritten dedication by the artist and was most likely used on stage during the 1990–1991 Cadillac Tour. Gibson ES-335 Dot electric guitar, Cherry finish, manufactured in the United States in 1985, serial number 81145575, from the family of film producer Christian Fechner (1944–2008). According to the family, this instrument originally belonged to Johnny Hallyday before the singer gave it to Christian Fechner, with whom he had a long-standing personal and professional relationship. The guitar’s soundboard bears traces of a handwritten dedication, which becomes more clearly visible when examined under ultraviolet light. The dedication includes the phrases “Merry Christmas,” “to our friendship,” the date “1992,” and Johnny Hallyday’s signature. This date corresponds to a documented period of collaboration between the two men. In 1992, Johnny Hallyday played one of the leading roles in the film *La Gamine*, directed by Hervé Palud and produced, among others, by Les Films Christian Fechner. That same year, the two men appeared on the show *Sacrée Soirée*, which aired on TF1 on April 15. The ES-335 holds a place in the history of Johnny Hallyday’s instruments. During the Cadillac Tour (1990–1991), the singer notably appeared on stage with a red Gibson ES-335, visually comparable to this example. The back of this guitar shows significant signs of wear, particularly in the area where it came into contact with a belt buckle, indicating prolonged use and consistent with stage performance. The chronological alignment between its manufacture in 1985, its possible use during the Cadillac Tour, and its donation to Christian Fechner in 1992 suggests that this may be the instrument played by Johnny Hallyday during that tour. This hypothesis, supported by several corroborating clues, has not, however, been definitively confirmed by photographic identification. The instrument was kept by Christian Fechner before being passed on to his son, Maxime Fechner, following his death in 2008. Presented in its Gibson hard case. Visible signs of use and patina.