The French electronic music scene gathered in Paris on Wednesday to pay a final tribute to Kavinsky. The DJ, whose real name was Vincent Belorgey, died on July 28 at the age of 50. His funeral was held at 10:30 a.m. at the Saint-Pierre-de-Montmartre church in the 18th arrondissement, attended by his family, friends, and numerous figures from the music and film industries. Among those who came to say goodbye were several iconic names of the French Touch, including Thomas Bangalter, former member of Daft Punk, Pedro Winter, Sébastien Tellier, and Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, the two members of Justice. Kavinsky's partner, fashion designer Gaëlle Constantini, was also present.
Thomas Bangalter, Justice and Pedro Winter reunited in Montmartre
The ceremony brought together a large part of Kavinsky's artistic circle. Thomas Bangalter, whose presence was particularly noted, had crossed paths with Vincent Belorgey on numerous occasions. Kavinsky had notably opened for Daft Punk's world tour with SebastiAn. Pedro Winter, a historical figure in French electronic music and former manager of Daft Punk, was also present. Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, members of Justice, as well as Sébastien Tellier, also attended the funeral.
Several film personalities were in attendance, including directors Quentin Dupieux, Romain Gavras, and Gaspar Noé. Actor Nicolas Duvauchelle, a close friend of Kavinsky, was also present, as were rapper Oxmo Puccino and photographer Mathieu Cesar.
A final tribute to the sound of "Jaws"
The ceremony included a particularly personal detail. Kavinsky's coffin entered the church to the sound of the famous theme from Jaws . The priest indicated that it was the DJ's favorite music. After the religious service, Vincent Belorgey was buried in the Saint-Vincent de Montmartre cemetery, located a few hundred meters from the church. The musician thus rests in the Parisian neighborhood where he lived and where he had been found dead two weeks earlier.
Kavinsky found dead at his home on July 28
Vincent Belorgey was found dead at his Paris home on Tuesday, July 28. He was 50 years old. An investigation was opened to determine the precise cause of his death. No suspicious elements were discovered at the scene during the initial examination. While a stroke was considered a possibility, the cause of death has not been officially established. His family announced a few days later that his funeral would be held in Saint-Pierre-de-Montmartre. Kavinsky's sudden passing prompted numerous tributes. Angèle, The Weeknd, Nicolas Duvauchelle, and Philippe Katerine, among others, paid their respects.
"Nightcall," the song that made him famous worldwide
Born Vincent Belorgey in 1975, Kavinsky rose to prominence in the 2000s with a sound inspired by cars, 1980s American films, and retro electronic music. His persona, associated with a nocturnal and automotive aesthetic, became instantly recognizable. His biggest hit remains " Nightcall ," released in 2010 and featured in Nicolas Winding Refn's 2011 film " Drive ." The track significantly contributed to Kavinsky's international recognition. In 2024, the DJ regained global exposure at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games. " Nightcall" was performed at the Stade de France by Kavinsky, Angèle, and Phoenix. Less than two years after this appearance before hundreds of millions of television viewers, several of the artists who had been part of his career gathered in Montmartre to bid him farewell.
