Tears, pomp, extravagance as France mourns rocker Hallyday

France bid farewell to its biggest rock star Saturday, honoring Johnny Hallyday with an extravagant funeral procession down Paris' Champs-Elysees Avenue, a presidential speech and a televised church ceremony filled with the country's most famous faces.

Few figures in French history have earned a send-off with as much pomp as the man dubbed the "French Elvis," who notched more than 110 million in record sales since rising to fame in the 1960s.

Hallyday died Wednesday at 74 after fighting lung cancer.

A giant poster of late French rock star Johnny Hallyday hangs on the facade of the Madeleine church in Paris, Saturday, Dec.9, 2017. France is bidding farewell to its biggest rock star, honoring Johnny Hallyday with an exceptional funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a motorcycle parade, all under intense security. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

In an honor usually reserved for heads of state or literary giants like 19th-century novelist Victor Hugo, Hallyday's funeral cortege rode past Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe monument and down the Champs-Elysees to the Place de la Concorde plaza on the Seine River.

Adding a rock touch to the event, hundreds of motorcyclists accompanied the procession. It was a nod to the lifelong passion that Hallyday, born Jean-Philippe Smet, had for motorcycles. His biker image included signature leather jackets and myriad tattoos.

French President Emmanuel Macron — a Hallyday fan himself, like three generations of others across the French-speaking world — delivered an eulogy on the steps of Paris' Madeleine Church for the star known to the public affectionately by only one name.

"Johnny belonged to you. Johnny belonged to his public. Johnny belonged to his country," said Macron, whose voice was broadcast via speakers to the many thousands of often tearful mourners in central Paris.

People wait outside the Madeleine church to attend French rock star Johnny Hallyday's funeral ceremony, in Paris, France, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. France is bidding farewell to its biggest rock star, honoring Johnny Hallyday with an exceptional funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a motorcycle parade — all under intense security. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

"He should have fallen a hundred times, but what held him up and lifted him was your fervor, the love," said Macron of the star's health troubles and famously excessive lifestyle.

Hallyday's death unleashed a wave of emotion across France, where he had been a symbol of national identity and stability for more than half a century — even though his private life had been far from stable.

Aside from the drinking, smoking and partying chronicled in juicy detail by the French press, Hallyday had been linked to a string of glamorous women and had married five times.

Chants of "Johnny! Johnny!" and thunderous applause rose up Saturday as fans broke out singing Hallyday classics including "Que je t'aime" ("How I love you").

About 1,500 police officers secured the area in Paris, a police helicopter flew overhead and emergency vehicles filled nearby streets as tens of thousands of fans lined the procession route. Many dressed to emulate Hallyday's flashy, rebellious style. Some climbed on fences or stoplights or even the roof of a luxury hotel to get a better view.

The words "Thank you Johnny" is displayed on the Eiffel Tower referring to late French rock star Johnny Hallyday in Paris, France, Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. French President Emmanuel Macron and hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to pay tribute to the late French rock star Johnny Hallyday on Saturday as his funeral procession weaves through Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Catherine Frichot-Janin, 61, and her husband traveled from Switzerland to pay their respects — saying that the only thing older than their 39-year marriage was their mutual love for Hallyday.

"He's the companion who's always there when you have a worry. There will always be his music playing in a bistro," she said.

Dubbed by some "the biggest rock star you've never heard of" — Hallyday's position as one of the greatest-selling musical artists of all time is unusual as he remained largely unknown outside the Francophone world. But in France, he influenced styles, music and even children's names.

Laura Dublot, a 30-year-old Parisian, and her brother David are among many who were named after Hallyday's older children, Laura and David.

"He's a national icon. This scale of funeral is not surprising — he's united three generations of French," Dublot said.

Laurenne Coral, 25, from Lyon, explained that "for the French, he's like what Queen Elizabeth is for the English."

A motorcycle parade follows the hearse carrying the casket of French rock star Johnny Hallyday, down the Champs Elysees avenue, with the Arc de Triomphe in background, in Paris, Saturday, Dec.9, 2017. France is bidding farewell to its biggest rock star, honoring Johnny Hallyday with an exceptional funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a motorcycle parade, all under intense security. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A lineup of speakers paid homage inside the neo-classical Madeleine Church, including actors Marion Cotillard and Jean Reno and singer Patrick Bruel.

Bruel, an old friend, said when Hallyday died "it's like they took away the Eiffel Tower in the middle of the night."

Fittingly, the words "Thank you Johnny" are being displayed on the famed Paris monument over the weekend.

Hallyday likely would have approved of this send-off, having told French media he dreaded the idea of an isolated funeral like the one he attended for his father in 1989.

"That day, I was the only one there. Not a woman, not a friend. Absolute solitude in death. I wouldn't like to end like that," he said.

Other funeral guests included actor Jean Dujardin as well as former Presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, who officiated at Hallyday's last marriage.

The scale of the French adoration for him impressed even those who were not fans.

Motorcyclists ride down the Champs Elysees avenue as they follow the hearse carrying the casket of French rock star Johnny Hallyday during a funeral procession, in Paris, France, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. France is bidding farewell to its biggest rock star, honoring Johnny Hallyday with an exceptional funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a motorcycle parade — all under intense security. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu)

"I don't know Johnny. But today is a rare opportunity to walk down the Champs-Elysees with no cars," said Qiao Pin, a 27-year-old student from Beijing. "Now, I see he's a very famous star. There's no one that popular in China."

Hallyday is expected to be buried in the French Caribbean island of St. Barts where he owned a house. He is survived by his wife Laeticia, two of his former wives, four children and three grandchildren.

People wait outside the Madeleine church to attend Johnny Hallyday's funeral ceremony in Paris, France, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. France is bidding farewell to its biggest rock star, honoring Johnny Hallyday with an exceptional funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a motorcycle parade — all under intense security. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Johnny Hallyday's wife, Laetitia Hallyday, and their children, Jade, left, and Joy, stand behind the hearse carrying French rock legend Johnny Hallyday as the funeral procession arrives at the Madeleine church, in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. French music icon Johnny Hallyday died on December 6, 2017 aged 74 after a battle with lung cancer, plunging the country into mourning for a national treasure whose soft rock lit up the lives of three generations. (Yoan Vallat/Pool Photo via AP)

PARIS (AP) — At least 5 people have died while crossing the English Channel, according to French media, hours after the U.K. approved the migrant deportation bill.

The Voix du Nord newspaper said the bodies were discovered at the Wimereaux beach in northern France on Tuesday. The rescue operation is ongoing and helicopters and boats have been deployed, according to the regional newspaper.

About 100 migrants have been rescued and placed aboard a French navy ship. They will be taken to the port of Boulogne, the paper said.

This came only hours after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s latest effort to send some migrants on a one-way ticket to Rwanda finally won approval from Parliament. The U.K. government plans to deport some of those who enter the country illegally as a deterrent to migrants who risk their lives in leaky, inflatable boats in hopes that they will be able to claim asylum once they reach Britain.

Human rights groups have described the legislation as inhumane and cruel. Both the United Nations refugee agency and the Council of Europe called on the U.K. Tuesday to rethink its plans for fears they could damage international cooperation on tackling the global migrant crisis.

Migrants trying to cross the busy English Channel face drownings and sinking among other deadly incidents, often aboard crowded boats.

An estimated 30,000 people made the crossing in 2023, according to U.K. government figures.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference at Downing Street in London, Monday, April 22, 2024. Sunak pledged Monday that the country’s first deportation flights to Rwanda could leave in 10-12 weeks as he promised to end the Parliamentary deadlock over a key policy promise before an election expected later this year. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)