Éric Lapointe

Born: 1969, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec
Debut: 1994
Genre: Rock

Achievements

• 2 Juno Nominations
• Won the Felix for Album Artist in 2000
• 6 songs nominated for the Felix Song of the Year award
• 3 platinum and 2 multi-platinum albums in Canada
• 30 major hits on various charts in Quebec
• Worked on soundtracks for four motion pictures including the Genie Best Picture winner Bon Cop, Bad Cop

Albums and Singles

1994: Obsession

• Juno-nominated album
• 2x Platinum
• Singles: “Danger” (#15 QC), “Terre promise” (#5 QC), “N’importe quoi” (#3 QC), “Marie-Stone” (#13 QC), “Misère” (#17 QC), “L’Exquise” (#8 QC)

1996: Invitez les vautours

• Platinum
• Singles: “Priez!” (#10 QC), “Bobépine” (#11 QC), “Je rêve encore” (#8 QC), “Deux fois la même histoire” (#8 QC), “Loadé comme un gun” (#8 QC), “D’l’amour, j’en veux pus” (#14 QC)

1998: “Les Boys” (Non-album single)

• #9 QC
• From the soundtrack of the film Les Boys II

1999: À l’ombre de l’ange

• 2x Platinum
• Singles: “Rien à regretter” (Felix Song of the Year Nominee), “Mon ange” (Felix Song of the Year Nominee), “Ma gueule” (Felix Song of the Year Nominee)

2002: Adrénaline (Double Live Album)

• Platinum
• Singles: “Qu’est-ce que ça peut ben faire” (Felix Song of the Year Nominee), “Un beau grand slow” (Felix Song of the Year Nominee)

2004: Lapointe coupable

• Platinum
• Singles: “La Bartendresse”

2008: Ma peau

• Singles: “1500 Miles” (Felix Song of the Year Nominee)

2013: Jour de nuit

• Singles: “Ca me manque”, “Désaccordé”

Eric Lapointe was born in the Montreal suburb of Pointe-aux-Trembles (annexed into the city in 2002). While most Francophone stars were performing folk and pop songs, Eric distinguished himself with a harder-edged rock sound, decking himself with ample jewellery, dressing mostly in black, and revealing arms covered in tattoos; he became exceptionally popular. With such a rebellious (i.e. “cool”) look, it took the industry in Quebec to warm up to him, but after scoring a slew of hits and attaining multi-platinum album sales, he finally saw his songs being nominated for Felix awards five years after his debut.

Born into a family of three brothers (he being the oldest), he started out musically by asking, at age 9, his father, a manager at Zellers, for a toy guitar. He received a real guitar instead. His uncle taught him how to play. By the time he was 15, he was touring the province. A year later, he became a technician for his brother’s band. Growing up was difficult as his family moved 13 times by the time he was 16. Having to be the new kid at school several times, he had difficulty making friends.

Eric was discovered by none other than the president of the Quebec Record Industry Association, ADISQ, Yves-François Blanchet who oversaw his early career. He began gigs in the bar circuit and at colleges, supplementing his income with various blue collar jobs. After writing some original songs, he organized a showcase for record industry scouts at the Club Soda bar. Patrice Duchesne of Disques Gamma offered him a deal. His debut album, Obsession, came out in 1994. The album was produced by Aldo Nova.

In the beginning, radio stations refused to air Lapointe’s songs, saying that his harder rock style was not radio-friendly. He responded by making a music video for “Terre Promise” the airing of which on television triggered a surge of album sales. He became so popular that on day a crowd of 45,000 people gathered on the streets to see him. Obsession went on to sell a quarter-million copies in Canada.

Two years later, his sophomore release, Invitez les vautours, sold 180,000 copies. With his third studio album, À l’ombre de l’ange, a double-platinum seller, Lapointe’s songs began receiving Felix nominations. He followed with a double live album, and the platinum Lapointe coupable in 2006. During his first dozen years as a recording artist, Eric managed to sell 900,000 French-language records in Canada. A greatest hits package came out that year, entitled N’importe Qui. Ma peau came out in 2008.

The Rolling Stones became acquainted with his work and invited him to open their concerts in Paris along with Bon Jovi. Beginning in 1997, Lapointe was asked to provide songs for motion picture soundtracks, Les Boys, and its two sequels. In 2006, Patrick Huard, one of the writers of Bon Cop, Bad Cop, asked him to contribute a song to the film (“Tatoo”).