Patrick Bruel will indeed return to the stage this fall. After canceling his concerts scheduled between June and September, the 67-year-old singer is maintaining the dates planned for October and November. His " Alors regarde 35" tour is set to begin on October 2nd in Chartres, before traveling to several major French cities. The concert on October 8th at the Zénith Paris-La Villette is already sold out. This comeback comes as Patrick Bruel faces charges of rape , attempted rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment in several cases, and the accusations against him have sparked a strong mobilization of feminist groups. The singer denies the allegations against him and remains presumed innocent.
Musicians who are difficult to convince
However, the tour preparation proved significantly more complicated than anticipated. Patrick Bruel reportedly encountered difficulties assembling the band of musicians who would accompany him on stage. Several instrumentalists initially considered declined to participate in the tour. Some were hesitant to work with the singer while legal proceedings were underway, while others feared the professional repercussions of performing in his concerts. Patrick Bruel has finally managed to assemble his band, and rehearsals are scheduled to begin soon.
A financial guarantee to secure the entire tour
However, a special provision has reportedly been made for the musicians who agreed to travel with him. They would benefit from a financial guarantee covering all scheduled concerts. In practical terms, if the tour were to be interrupted after only a few performances due to major demonstrations or further cancellations, the musicians would still be paid for all the dates for which they were booked. They could therefore be paid for their entire commitment even if only three or four concerts ultimately took place. This guarantee provides financial security for the musicians at a time when no one can guarantee that the entire tour will proceed as planned.
The kick-off is scheduled for October 2nd in Chartres
For now, the schedule remains unchanged. Patrick Bruel is set to give his first concert on October 2nd in Chartres, followed by performances in Laval, Brussels, Paris, Orléans, Reims, Amiens, Lille, Chambéry, Dijon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Geneva, Lyon, and Strasbourg. In Paris, the October 8th show at the Zénith Paris-La Villette is sold out. The venue has confirmed that the concert, scheduled for 8:00 PM, will go ahead. The continuation of these performances contrasts sharply with the decision made in the spring regarding the summer concerts. At the end of May, the singer's production company announced the cancellation of the dates planned between June and September. They cited a "concern for calm and responsibility" following pressure and protests against several festivals that were slated to host Patrick Bruel. The October and November concerts, however, were maintained.
A tour under intense pressure
These autumn dates remain contested by several feminist associations and activists. Since the beginning of the affair, rallies and calls for cancellation have accompanied several of the singer's announced concerts. Local political figures have also spoken out. Elected officials from several major cities, including Paris and Marseille, called in the spring for Patrick Bruel to suspend his concerts during the judicial investigations. However, municipalities do not necessarily have the power to cancel a performance when it is organized in a venue whose programming they do not control.
Patrick Bruel formally charged and placed under judicial supervision
The singer's legal situation worsened considerably in June. After 48 hours in police custody, Patrick Bruel was brought before several investigating judges. He was formally charged in four cases with rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. In four other cases examined at that time, he was placed under the status of assisted witness. A ninth case was not examined due to the statute of limitations. The prosecution had requested his pretrial detention, but this request was not granted. Patrick Bruel was released under judicial supervision, with several obligations and prohibitions. Since the beginning of the revelations, dozens of women have given testimonies implicating the singer. The number of complaints filed has also continued to increase over the months.
The singer denies the accusations
Patrick Bruel denies forcing women to have sex and contests the accusations against him. His defense also points out that being formally charged does not constitute a guilty verdict. No court order currently prohibits him from continuing his professional activities or performing on stage. He therefore remains presumed innocent of the charges against him until a final conviction is handed down. The question now is whether the concerts will actually be able to proceed to the end of the tour. At this stage, the first concert is still scheduled for October 2nd in Chartres, and the show at the Zénith in Paris on October 8th is sold out.
