by Jusquin » Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:41 pm
I’m having a hard time understanding why people think American fans are “speculating” about the Gipsy Kings and their lives when so much of what has been going on with them has been revealed by European fans, known friends of the band, and no lesser authorities than Canut and Patchaï themselves.
In May 2009 Canut blogs that his personal projects seem to be issues for some people, and he’s not on the 2009 tour “for some obscure reasons that have nothing to do” with him. In March 2010 he says the same thing: “Until the last minute I hoped … . They are gone. Without me.” And in June he tells readers not to believe those who say he’s ill or too busy with other things to tour. (He does tour in 2011 but misses the 2012 tour, finalizing Gitano, which is released that fall.)
In April 2013, Canut hosts an exposition of his work in Arles. This is the last time he will blog about anything new, although he posts on his Facebook page and official web sites news of the upcoming GK concerts in France and excerpts from the new GK album Savor Flamenco. Those are his final Facebook/web site posts.
“Reunion” concerts in France in July 2013 feature all eight Gipsy Kings, but neither Canut nor Patchaï is on the US tour in August. Patchaï launches Gipsy Nouveau, and French fans begin to hint at a GK break-up. Savor Flamenco drops in September and although all eight GK members are credited on the liner notes, Canut is missing from publicity photos, and in October, a source close to Patchaï discloses that Canut has been “put out” of the band. Patchaï starts to publicize Gipsy Nouveau as a concert and recording band. Canut pulls content off his Facebook and web sites.
In November Patchaï comments on a fan’s Facebook posting of a video of "No Hablas Mas," “Now my father is gone and we are disunited; better at times to be strangers or friends each with his own family." A longtime French fan posts, “Even if the Gipsy Kings are disunited they will remain dear to my heart. But the absence of Patchaï and Canut is too strong … . I will not be returning to see them in concert, these GK whom I love so much.”
In January the GKs win a Grammy for Savor Flamenco, and to questions about why Canut and Patchaï are not in the photo, Patchaï posts, “Patchaï and Canut in the group, they threw us out of the group." To a comment expressing hope that he and Canut will be included in the award, since they were credited on the album, Patchaï responds, “Me, too!” and a close friend says that ordinarily that would be the case but that’s “not 100% sure this time.”
Canut withdraws; Patchaï speaks out; each expressing hurt in his own way. Unless Canut has been completely disingenuous, he seems bewildered by the reactions of those around him to his various projects. Patchaï’s comments speak for themselves, as do those of his friend and the French fans. None of this is “speculation.” It’s there in plain words. Désunis. Mis dehors. À jeté du groupe. Mieux vaut defois les etranger. Mon coeur et ma raison saignent. L’absence de Canut et Patchai est trop forte.
I think it’s safe to say that we all like the music, and that is important. But these men are the music-makers – and they are human beings. We care about them; we’ve felt their joy and, now, their pain. In the absence of any official statements from the band or their management, all we have to go on is what they’ve shared with us. What they’ve shared with us lately has been ruefulness, in what should be a year of togetherness and triumph. I think it’s only human nature to discuss what has happened and some of the possible reasons why.