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Among the guitars of Robin Le Mesurier having accompanied several years of stage with Johnny Hallyday, it is one which is quite particular. This metallic green Fender Stratocaster nicknamed "Norman" is, with its twin "Earnest" (also at Matt's Guitar Shop), part of the musician's favorite instruments.
Robin Le Mesurier quickly developed a particular love for Fender guitars. His collection is a privileged glimpse into his lasting admiration for Eric Clapton. This metallic green Fender Stratocaster, along with its twin "Norman", was played on many performances with Johnny Hallyday.
This is a 1996 Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster in a gray green gold custom finish. The headstock features Eric Clapton's facsimile signature next to the Fender logo, and features Robin Le Mesurier's nickname for this guitar, "Norman". The guitar is housed in a hard case with many travel tags from years on the road. This case is labeled "Earnest" - named after its sister instrument also available at Matt's Guitar Shop.
Robin Le Mesurier was particularly fond of giving nicknames to his instruments. "Norman" is one of the guitars he used the most on stage, and which has been immortalized in performances that have gone down in history. This Stratocaster shows marks of its exceptional heritage: some scratches can be seen on the back, while the edge of the neck is nicely used by years of intensive playing on the biggest stages. A true piece of French music history!
With his legendary English discretion and elegance, Robin Le Mesurier firmly established himself as the rhythmic pillar of Johnny Hallyday and Rod Stewart. Talented musician in the shadow of illustrious names, he built unifying anthems and he sporadically took the spotlight when he was presented on stage by his companions.
In 2000, he was the one who started the unleashed notes of Allumez le feu at the Champ de Mars in front of more than 500,000 people. All over these years, he was also the one who initiated the first notes of the ballads during the Taulier's concerts on his acoustic guitar - like a welcome break between a few riffs of pure rock and roll.
Robin Le Mesurier was Johnny Hallyday's most faithful sidekick. He became the right-hand man and the sincere friend of the singer in 1994. During all these years, it is more than 20 years of passionate collaboration which let millions of people enjoy the touch of the guitarist all over Europe.
Recognized and solicited for his British phlegm and for his precise and applied touch, Robin Le Mesurier was appreciated by his peers. Friend of the greatest, he had played with Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones and with Rod Stewart with whom he worked for a long time in the mid-1980s. It is not less than four albums they created together. Through this collaboration, his compositions made him known throughout the world and made him a guitarist in great demand.
In 1994, his fruitful partnership with Johnny Hallyday began on the album Rough Town, for which he composed two tracks. From then on, Le Mesurier became the official musician of the famous singer. For twenty-three years, he was on all his tours and shows. He accompanied him until his death, playing in the Madeleine Church in Paris in December 2017 for his funeral. Their complicity and unfailing friendship was palpable every night on stage, especially when the time was come for Johnny Hallyday to introduce his musicians, including his "fidèle ami" Robin loyally placed at his right.
Robin Le Mesurier shared the same dreams of America Johnny Hallyday had. A few weeks before his death, he was still promoting the documentary on the last American tour of the Taulier at his home, in Los Angeles, where he died peacefully in December 2021.