Michel Polnareff

France has been thrilling to the sounds of a long-lost native son, who fled to Los Angeles 34 years ago after establishing himself as one of the most original and talented singer-songwriters of his generation. I speak of the marvellously eccentric Michel Polnareff -- he of the white sun-specs and mop of frizzy blonde hair (a la Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople, for those who remember such things). Polnareff exiled himself to the US in 1973 after being swindled by his manager and finding himself unable to pay his tax bill. Since then he several times hinted at an imminent return to performing in France, but it never happened. Till now. At the age of 62 he has just come back home for a concert tour that is being hailed as the pop music event of 2007. So who is Polnareff? Back in the 60s he was a prodigy who stood out from the regular ye-ye crowd because he was actually rather good. He had a run of melodious hits such as "La poupee qui fait non". He also had a talent to shock -- typified by the famous concert poster (see above) that led to a conviction and fine -- and some saw him as France's answer to Elton John. By all accounts Friday's opening night was a huge success, enjoyed -- among others of the great and the good -- by one Dominique de Villepin. Not the first person who would spring to mind as a Polnareff fan, but there you go.