EPINAL, France: In one of the more surreal cases to come before the French courts, an impersonator of the late Serge Gainsbourg went on trial yesterday for attacking a rival who specializes in mimicking veteran rocker Johnny Hallyday. Denis Colnot, a 48-year-old fan of iconic singer-songwriter Gainsbourg, faces a lengthy prison term after being charged with the attack on his Johnny-loving neighbor that was allegedly triggered by a long-running feud over the quality of their respective acts.
Artistic differences came to a head in July 2011 when ‘Gainsbourg’ decided he could no longer tolerate his rival’s mockery and attacked ‘Johnny’. Johnny, identified as Michel P. in court, survived and made a full recovery.
French impersonators in double trouble
