700,000 watch free Hallyday concert

A FREE Johnny Hallyday concert attracted 700,000 spectators in the Champ de Mars, next to the Eiffel Tower last night.

The numbers beat a previous record turnout of 600,000 in 2007 at the same spot for a concert by French singer Michel Polnareff.

The veteran rocker, who is making what is billed as his last tour this year – Tour 66 (in reference to his age) – came onstage around 20.30, with the concert finishing at 22.45 just as the first fireworks of the night began.

A spectacular show, with 15,000 fireworks, was paid for by the Paris mairie, marking not just Bastille Day, but also the 120th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower. Those who could not be there could watch the fireworks over the internet at a site set up for the event.

The event was a arousing finale to the capital’s celebrations for the Fête Nationale which also saw 210,000 turn out to watch parades in the Champs-Elysées earlier in the day.

Photo: Frédéric Loridant