Bertrand Cantat

Cantat was born in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The son of a navy officer, he spent his childhood in Le Havre. His family moved when he was an adolescent to Bordeaux.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} At the lycée Saint-Genès, he met {{ill|Denis Barthe|fr}}, Serge Teyssot-Gay, and {{ill|Frédéric Vidalenc|fr}}, who soon became members of his band.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

At the height of Noir Désir's success in the 1990s, Cantat was a prominent figure in French music.{{cite news |author= |date=8 June 2018 |title=Cantat: ... |url=https://www.capital.fr/conso/cantat-des-fans-quelques-manifestants-et-pas-trop-deffusion-1291972 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221003185150/https://www.capital.fr/conso/cantat-des-fans-quelques-manifestants-et-pas-trop-deffusion-1291972 |archive-date=3 October 2022 |access-date=3 October 2022 |work=Capital |language=fr |trans-quote=French rock icon of the 1990s, the singer from Bordeaux ...}}{{cite news |last=Pons |first=Charlotte |date=24 December 2013 |title=Videos ... |trans-title=Videos. Rock legends #2: the broken destiny of Noir Désir |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/musique/videos-les-legendes-du-rock-2-le-destin-brise-de-noir-desir-24-12-2013-1773904_38.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221003184033/https://www.lepoint.fr/musique/videos-les-legendes-du-rock-2-le-destin-brise-de-noir-desir-24-12-2013-1773904_38.php%2311 |archive-date=3 October 2022 |access-date=3 October 2022 |work=Le Point |language=fr |trans-quote=Icon and model of committed French rock in the 90s, Noir Désir ... the text is very characteristic of the pen and the literary culture of Cantat}} Noir Désir is regarded "to have made the history of the French rock scene for three decades". He was known for the quality of his lyrics, charisma, and live performances, often compared to Jim Morrison of the Doors.{{cite news |author= |date=28 July 2010 |title=Bertrand ... |trans-title=Bertrand Cantat is done with justice |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/07/28/880548-bertrand-cantat-en-a-fini-avec-la-justice.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221003190120/https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/07/28/880548-bertrand-cantat-en-a-fini-avec-la-justice.html |archive-date=3 October 2022 |access-date=3 October 2022 |work=La Dépêche du Midi |language=fr |agency=AFP}}

In 2003, Cantat was arrested for beating his girlfriend, Marie Trintignant, who died five days later in hospital. He was then charged with first degree murder. Following his guilty sentence of manslaughter in 2004, Cantant was sentenced to eight years in a Lithuanian prison,{{Cite news |date=2004-03-29 |title=Singer jailed for killing lover |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3577769.stm |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} but would eventually be transferred back to France.{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=2004-08-18 |title=Cantat can move to French prison |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-18-et-quick18.4-story.html |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He was released on probation in 2007.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=2018-03-13 |title=French singer who killed his girlfriend pulls out of festival performances |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/bertrand-cantat-singer-papillons-de-nuit-petition-killed-girlfriend-marie-trintignant-noir-desir-solo-career-a8253056.html |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

In October 2010, three months after his probational status of release was lifted{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Lizzy |date=2010-07-28 |title=Noir Désir singer convicted of murdering girlfriend has parole lifted |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/28/noir-desir-bertrand-cantat-free |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} and his sentence declared completed, Cantat resumed his musical career with a gig in Bordeaux. His re-entry into the public eye upset women's rights campaigners and victim support groups.{{cite news |author=Lizzy Davies in Paris |date=3 October 2010 |title=Bertrand Cantat returns to the stage seven years after murdering his girlfriend |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/03/bertrand-cantat-girlfriend-murder |access-date=15 March 2012 |work=The Guardian}} On 30 November 2010, Noir Désir announced that it would split up for good.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-30 |title=Infamous French rock band Noir Désir splits |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20101130-france-noir-desir-band-girfriend-killer-bertrand-cantat-splits-music-rock |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204120739/http://www.france24.com/en/20101130-france-noir-desir-band-girfriend-killer-bertrand-cantat-splits-music-rock |archive-date=2010-12-04 |access-date=2021-11-13 |website=France 24 |language=en}} Cantat has continued as a solo musician.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

In early 2011, Lebanese-Canadian playwright Wajdi Mouawad chose Cantat to sing in his production in Montreal of a Sophocles cycle, entitled Chœurs. This sparked public criticism due to Cantat's murder conviction. Politicians proposed to ban Cantat's entry into the country, as Canada's immigration legislation bars from entry anyone convicted abroad of a crime which is punishable in Canada by a maximum term of at least ten years in prison, until at least five years have passed since the end of the complete sentence handed down. Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in Canada.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

In April 2011, the artistic director of Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, Lorraine Pintal, announced that Cantat would not be performing in Chœurs.[https://montrealgazette.com/news/Convicted+killer+Bertrand+Cantat+will+perform+Canada+theatre/4584361/story.html Convicted killer Bertrand Cantat will not perform in Canada: theatre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411064107/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Convicted%2Bkiller%2BBertrand%2BCantat%2Bwill%2Bperform%2BCanada%2Btheatre/4584361/story.html|date=11 April 2011|publisher=Montreal Gazette}} Wajdi Mouawad responded to the controversy by publishing an open letter to his three-year-old daughter Aimee in the newspaper Le Devoir, in which he argued for Cantat's right to full reintegration into society.{{cite web |date=16 April 2011 |title=Aimée, ma petite chérie |url=https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/theatre/321334/aimee-ma-petite-cherie |access-date=9 July 2019 |website=Ledevoir.com}}

In November 2011, Cantat released the album Chœurs, composed for Mouawad's namesake production with musicians Pascal Humbert, {{ill|Bernard Falaise|fr}}, and {{ill|Alexander MacSween|fr}}.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

In November 2013, Cantat released the album Horizons, credited to his duo Détroit with Pascal Humbert on Barclay Records label. The first single, titled "Droit dans le soleil", had been released on 30 September 2013.{{cite web |title=Detroit Musical Game Blog |url=http://www.detroitmusic.fr/ |access-date=21 June 2018 |website=Detroitmusic.fr}}

In 2018, Bertrand was set to appear in a string of festivals. In response to the news, a petition to remove him from the Normandy festivals was spread online, gaining almost 75,000 signatures. The petition stated that by inviting him, they "trivialise domestic violence and violence against women." He pulled out of all festival appearances.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-13 |title=Bertrand Cantat: Killer rock star pulls out of French festivals |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43386417 |access-date=2025-03-30 |language=en-GB}}

In 2002, Cantat began an affair with French actress Marie Trintignant after meeting at his concert. In 2003, the two were in Vilnius, Lithuania, while Trintignant was filming the television movie, Colette, une femme libre.{{Cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |date=2004-03-17 |title=The rock singer, the film star and the fatal blows that shattered a French dream |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/17/arts.france |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

On July 27, local authorities received a call from Trintignant's brother, Vincent, for emergency services for Trintignant.{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7046593.stm |title=French rocker released from jail |work=BBC News |date=23 June 2004 |access-date=16 March 2012}} According to Cantat, the previous night, Trintignant received a text from her estranged husband, Samuel Benchetrit and the two began arguing.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10469835 |title=Early release for Bertrand Cantat |date=15 October 2007 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=12 September 2011}} In initial interviews with authorities, Cantat claimed that she became physical and he hit her in response, accidentally knocking her down and causing her to hit her head on the radiator.{{Cite news |last=Tagliabue |first=John |date=2003-08-05 |title=Brutal Death of an Actress Is France's Summertime Drama |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/05/world/brutal-death-of-an-actress-is-france-s-summertime-drama.html |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} He claimed he put her to bed around 1AM and called her ex for relationship advice. He then called Vincent to come over. After reviewing the situation and realizing she would not wake up, Vincent decided to call the police.{{Cite web |last=Moreno |first=Justine Briquet |date=2025-03-27 |title=On a vu le documentaire sur Bertrand Cantat : voici ce qu’on apprend sur l’affaire - Elle |url=https://www.elle.fr/Societe/News/On-a-vu-le-documentaire-sur-Bertrand-Cantat-voici-ce-qu-on-apprend-sur-l-affaire-4337608 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=elle.fr |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Sourya Sur |first=Roy |date=28 March 2025 |title=‘From Rock Star To Killer’ Recap Explained: What Happens To Krisztina Rady And Marie Trintignant? |url=https://dmtalkies.com/from-rock-star-to-killer-recap-explained-2025/ |access-date=20 March 2025 |website=DMT}}

Trintignant was taken to a local hospital, where she had two surgeries performed. After four days, severely injured and still in a deep coma, her parents had her transferred back to Paris. She died of a cerebral edema the following day, August 1.{{Cite web |last=Klaussmann |first=Liza |date=2004-03-29 |title=Cantat sentenced to eight years |url=https://variety.com/2004/music/news/cantat-sentenced-to-eight-years-1117902482/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Trintignant was 41 at the time of her death and left four young sons.{{Cite news |title=Marie Trintignant, 41 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2003/08/02/marie-trintignant-41/c437a7de-58a2-4b12-83af-bffbcebd7840/ |access-date=2022-06-18 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Cantat was detained by the police upon their initial arrival, where he gave his initial account of the accident.

The post-mortem examination suggested that Cantat had inflicted nineteen blows to Trintignant's head, causing irreversible brain damage.{{cite news |date=23 June 2004 |title=Should domestic abuse ever be forgotten? |url=http://www.womensviewsonnews.org/2013/08/should-domestic-abuse-ever-be-forgotten/ |access-date=16 March 2012 |publisher=Women's Views on News}} A separate French inquiry determined she died from violent shaking and severe, repeated blows.{{Cite web |date=2003-12-04 |title=Singer to face Trintignant murder charge |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/singer-to-face-trintignant-murder-charge-20031204-gdhwu2.html |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

Cantat was charged with first degree murder and faced up to fifteen years in prison.{{Cite news |date=2004-03-16 |title=Rock star lover 'lost control' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3514996.stm |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

The defense portrayed her death as a crime of passion and a "tragic accident," which carries a lighter sentence in Lithuania. They argued that Trintignant became enraged during their fight, yelling at him to leave back to his wife. Cantat claimed he "slapped" Trintignant four times after she attacked him and threw her onto a sofa before leaving the room. He would later clean her blood and put her to bed, claiming to believe she was just in a deep sleep.{{Cite web |last=Bremner |first=Charles |date=2004-03-17 |title=‘It was a love that took over everything, with an incredible force that I have never known’ |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/it-was-a-love-that-took-over-everything-with-an-incredible-force-that-i-have-never-known-jcg06r2xgpf?region=global |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}{{cite news |date=16 March 2004 |title=Europe | Rock star lover 'lost control' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3514996.stm |access-date=16 March 2012 |work=BBC News}} Krisztina Rády, Cantat's estranged wife, testified that he was "very good and very gentle." She denied he had ever been violent towards her.{{Cite news |date=2004-03-17 |title=Wife defends singer over 'murder' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3519686.stm |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

The prosecution's argument was that Cantat became enraged by the text and the argument, before severely beating Trintignant. They also cited Cantat's failure to call for assistance for seven hours, as an aggravating factor. Samuel Benchetrit, Trintignant's estranged husband, testified that she had told him she was a victim of violence. He claimed Trintignant told him that Cantat had struck her and even chased her with a knife at one point.

The trial lasted three days.{{Cite web |last=Bremner |first=Charles |date=2004-03-23 |title=Forgive me, says singer on trial for murder |url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/forgive-me-says-singer-on-trial-for-murder-cpwf0g36w3s |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}} In March 2004, Cantat was sentenced by Vilnius Regional Court under Article 129 of the Lithuanian Criminal Code to eight years in prison for murder, committed with indirect intent (dolus eventualis).{{Cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |date=2004-03-30 |title=French rock musician gets eight years for killing his actor lover |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/30/arts.filmnews |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The verdict was at first appealed by Trintignant's family, who believed that her killing warranted a harsher sentence, and later by Cantat, who wanted the higher court to reclassify his crime as manslaughter, and therefore lessen his sentence.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2004-06-07 |title=Appeal Trial Set In Cantat Murder Case |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/appeal-trial-set-in-cantat-murder-case-1430938/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} Both parties ultimately decided to cancel their appeals, which rendered final the original sentence of eight years.{{cn|date=August 2020}} At the request of his lawyers, Cantat was moved from the Lithuanian Lukiškės prison,{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210422-vilnius-to-redevelop-notorious-prison-turned-netflix-set | title=Vilnius to redevelop notorious prison turned Netflix set | date=22 April 2021 }} to a prison near Muret, France, in September 2004.{{cite web | url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2004/10/26/246154-le-prisonnier-de-muret.html | title=Le prisonnier de Muret }}

Cantat served four years of his eight-year sentence in prison.{{cn|date=August 2020}} According to French law, after half of a prison sentence has been served, a criminal with good behavior can be released to serve the rest of his sentence on parole.{{cite news |date=23 June 2004 |title=Europe | French singer drops jail appeal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3832185.stm |access-date=16 March 2012 |work=BBC News}}

Cantat was released from the French prison on parole in October 2007. His early release aroused the anger of women's rights activists and the victim's parents, who had failed to persuade French President Nicolas Sarkozy and French judges to block his early release.{{cite web | last1=Times | first1=The | last2=Bremner | first2=Charles | title=Anger as rock star Bertrand Cantat who murdered girlfriend is freed after four years | website=The Times | date=11 September 2011 | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2672512.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911035756/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2672512.ece | archive-date=11 September 2011 | url-status=unfit | access-date=18 June 2022}} His parole status was lifted in 2010.

In 1997, Cantat married Krisztina Rády, an art director of Hungarian descent, with whom he had two children; Milo, born in 1998, and Alice, born in 2003.{{cite web |author=lefigaro.fr |title=French killer Bertrand Cantat's controversial comeback (RTL) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24991534 |access-date=19 October 2013 |work=BBC}}

In September 2003, Cantat's Moustey house was burned down.{{cite news |date=2003-09-15 |title=Armed guards for band of rock star on murder charge |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/1441518/Armed-guards-for-band-of-rock-star-on-murder-charge.html |access-date=2021-03-21 |work=The Daily Telegraph |language=en-GB}} His spouse and his two children were supposed to be in the house at that time, but were in Bordeaux, instead.{{cite web |date=15 September 2003 |title=On va vous cramer, vous allez payer |url=http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/on-va-vous-cramer-vous-allez-payer-16-09-2003-2004393488.php |access-date=21 June 2018 |website=Leparisien.fr}}

On the night of 10 January 2010, Rády committed suicide. At the time of her death, Cantat was present in the house. She was discovered by their children the following day.{{cite web |author=lefigaro.fr |date=10 January 2010 |title=Suicide de l'ex-femme de Cantat (RTL) |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/01/10/01011-20100110FILWWW00132-l-ex-femme-de-cantat-s-est-suicidee-rtl.php |access-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=Lefigaro.fr}}

Shortly before her death, Rády had complained of mental abuse by Cantat. The physical abuse she complained of on the answering machine is that he threw some objects at her. According to Cantat, Rády's parents had spent a week with him after the suicide.

Accused by lawyer Yael Mellul,https://www.lemonde.fr/police-justice/article/2018/07/06/mort-de-krisztina-rady-la-plainte-visant-bertrand-cantat-classee-sans-suite_5327422_1653578.html magistrates in Bordeaux investigated Cantat in connection with Rády's suicide, but ultimately decided not to press charges.{{cite web |author=lefigaro.fr |date=11 January 2010 |title=French rocker questioned over ex-wife 'suicide'(RTL) |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6967410/French-rocker-questioned-over-ex-wife-suicide.html |access-date=19 October 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}

In 2023, journalist Anne-Sophie Jahn released her book, Désir noir, after having spoken to a former Noir Désir member, French music industry insiders, and medical professionals. The book claims that Rády was abused by Cantat throughout their entire relationship and it was an industry secret. Jahn interviewed a medical provider of Rády who claimed that Rády had come into the hospital with suspicious injuries including scalp detachment consistent with being dragged by her hair.{{Cite book |last=Jahn |first=Anne-Sophie |title=Désir noir |publisher=Flammarion |year=2023 |isbn=9782080283665 |publication-date=March 15, 2023 |language=French |trans-title=Black Desire}} She included these claims in her 2025 Netflix documentary mini-series From Rockstar to Killer - The Cantat Case.{{Cite web |last=Sekkaï |first=Kahina |date=2025-03-18 |title=«Il y a toujours une omerta autour de l'affaire Cantat» |url=https://www.vanityfair.fr/article/interview-il-y-a-toujours-une-omerta-autour-de-laffaire-cantat |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Vanity Fair |language=fr-FR}} Cantat has denied all claims from Jahn's book.

As lead artist

Featured in

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.

{{reflist}}

• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3569581.stm Profile: Bertrand Cantat]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090928084547/http://www.noirdez.com/ Noir Désir]

{{Noir Désir}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cantat, Bertrand}}

Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Category:French male singer-songwriters

Category:French singer-songwriters

Category:French rock singers

Category:People convicted of murder by Lithuania

Category:French people convicted of manslaughter

Category:French people imprisoned abroad

Category:French murderers