by Amanda » Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:06 pm
Hi elcaito,
Thanks for the insight about your backstage visit several years ago. It must have been 2010, the year of what I call the mysterious misunderstanding between the rest of the group and Canut. For Canut's side of the story, here is the English version of his blog post of March 25, 2010 (blog is francoiscanutreyes.blogspot.com):
“Until the last moment, I hoped. They didn't change their opinion. They are gone…. without me.
Since 1989, I was always present, faithful to the group and the public.
Am I different? yes. I however think of having brought something moreover by my difference.
Each day that made God, I sing, play the guitar, I paint, I laugh, I joke, I live my life... I like that. It's my expression. I like to share it. Which trouble, is there with that.
Often, producers were interested in my work and I however refused not to disturb my brothers; then I gave up showing what I do but one does not stop a river running and my desires, my projects continued to pursue me.
After several years, I decided to do something apart my brothers. It was for my father: the place Jose Reyes. Many people helped me in this project but for me, the troubles started. Reproaches, jealousy. Nothing was saved to me. The year spent, I was not wished on the round of June in the United States. And today, it's the same. I'm alone. They leave for Australia. Is this the will of the manager, Michel ? that of my brothers? What should I do? Abandon my projects, not to paint, not to expose, not to leave CD which I am finishing? Not to exist to occupy only the place which one wants to leave me? I agreed too long to say nothing but my heart and my reason bleed.
Before the last straight line, I wish to show what I have in me. Is this an problem? I don't know if I will be present on round the USA of the next month, it's not me who decides. But no matter what it costs me, the group is my family, my history, my life but I will realize what I always wanted to do. To them to accept it or to refuse it. I regret only reactions that I really don't understand. Let us wait to know for the USA. According to, I will continue my way with the grace of God.”
By October 2010, Canut was back with the group; he was with them in a concert at a resort on Cyprus (someone had uploaded a short video on YouTube). I think he was on the tour in 2011. He wasn't at the concert I attended in 2012, but I didn't think that was unusual, because he was still working on his solo album GITANO. I didn't see him last year either. I knew something was wrong, because in April, in a reply to comments on his blog, he said, “Je ne sais pas encore si j'irais aux Etats-Unis en Août, la décision ne dépend pas de moi et pourtant je serais tellement heureux de revoir mon public américain. C'est comme ça. Mais je saurai m'occuper, en musique.” (There was no English translation, but what he said was basically "I will not be in the U.S. in August, the decision doesn't depend on me...it's like that. But I will be occupied with music.")
Misunderstandings and jealousies can arise within families. This is not a case of one family member "betraying" another. It looks like the others may be envious of Canut because of all that he's done on his own (promoting the monument to their father, his amazing solo album, his painting). I feel terrible about the situation, but we can't judge or blame any of them, because we don't know them personally, and we don't know all sides of the story. We can only hope and pray that things will change for the better.
Amanda
