Claude François

Claude François was one of the biggest stars of French rock & roll, his early success coming mostly from French adaptations of English-language hits. However, his immaculately coifed hair and glitzy sequined suits played just as big a role in his popularity and made him a major teen idol in his heyday. François lived the outsized life of a star, cycling through high-profile affairs and acquiring a reputation for being extremely difficult to work with. Despite continued popularity, he endured a run of bad personal luck in the '70s that culminated in an early death when he electrocuted himself in the bathtub while changing a light bulb. ~ Steve Huey