"AT THE TIME 'OXYGENE' WAS CONCIDERED A TOTALLY 'FAR OUT' CONCEPT...
WHAT WAS 'IN' AT THE TIME WAS DISCO, HARD-ROCK, AND THE EARLY DAYS OF PUNK... AND MOREOVER, 'OXYGENE' WAS INSTRUMENTAL.
AND I WAS FRENCH!"
- JEAN MICHEL JARRE
Most people I know are familiar with Jean-Michel Jarre, perhaps because I've been playing his music on speakers for the past 35 years. Those who don't know him quickly recognize him when they hear Oxygene IV.
As a 12-year-old music enthusiast in 1985, I was introduced to Jean-Michel Jarre's incredible soundscape through his Concerts in China album. The track Arpegiator immediately captivated me. The following year, when his Houston concert was broadcast on television, my fascination was complete. Initially, I tried to collect his entire catalog, preferably on vinyl, which was the preferred format in 1986. My collection grew steadily over the years, and my interest in his music has only increased with new records and concerts. See my collection here.
I have been a long-standing member of the Norwegian fan club (JMJFKN), which is the longest-running fan club to date. I have attended nine concerts, mostly in Norway, but also in Denmark and Sweden.
A dream came true in spring 2008 during Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxygene tour when he visited the Oslo Concert Hall. My brother and I arrived early at the artist entrance, hoping to meet my decades-long idol. When he arrived, surrounded by security, Jarre took the time to interact with us. I shook his hand, and he signed my Oxygene and AERO CDs. We exchanged a few words, and I welcomed him to Norway. He was as kind as everyone says, taking genuine time to engage with fans. After the concert, we waited again outside the artist entrance, now joined by many more fans. Jarre emerged with Francis Rimbert, who seemed to be overshadowed by the main artist. This time, I waited in line to take a picture with Jarre and have him sign my newly purchased Oxygene poster. This experience only deepened my admiration. This page is dedicated to Jean-Michel Jarre, his remarkable work, and my journey as an amateur collector.
BIOGRAPHY
DISCOGRAPHY
LIVE
SHORT BIO
Jean-Michel André Jarre, born on August 24, 1948, is a French composer, performer, and record producer. He is recognized as a pioneer in the electronic, ambient, and new-age genres and is famous for organizing outdoor spectacles that feature his music alongside vast laser displays, large projections, and fireworks.
Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and grandparents and received piano training from a young age. He was exposed to various art forms early on, including street performers, jazz musicians, and the artist Pierre Soulages. Although he played guitar in a band, his musical style was significantly influenced by Pierre Schaeffer, a pioneer of musique concrète at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales.
His first mainstream success came with the 1976 album Oxygène, which was recorded in a makeshift studio at his home and sold an estimated 12 million copies. This success was followed by the release of Équinoxe in 1978. In 1979, Jarre performed to a record-breaking audience of over one million people at the Place de la Concorde in Paris—a record he has since surpassed three times. Although many albums followed, his 1979 concert set a blueprint for his future performances worldwide. He was the first Western musician officially invited to perform in the People's Republic of China and holds the world record for the largest-ever audience at an outdoor event. His concert in Moscow on September 6, 1997, attracted an astonishing 3.5 million attendees.
Several of Jarre's albums have been released to coincide with large-scale outdoor events, making him as well known as a performer as he is as a musician. He was also the main artist at the end of the Paralympics in Paris in autumn 2024.
Jarre has collaborated with artists including Moby, Armin van Buuren, Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja, Edgar Froese, Laurie Anderson, Yello, Gesaffelstein, the Pet Shop Boys, Gary Numan and Hans Zimmer.
As of July 2022, Jarre had sold approximately 85 million albums, according to BMG, who has acquired Jean-Michel Jarre's entire music publish catalog.
Photo©François Rousseau
LATEST ALBUM
VERSAILLES 400 is recorded at the Château de Versailles on December 25, 2023 both live and in virtual reality.
2x180g Vinyl offers the user a truly unique digital experience to be entered via phone through a custom NFC sticker inside the Vinyl sleeve.
Digital bonus content includes:
- a special greeting by Jean-Michel Jarres Avartar
- exclusive Making Of photos of the events visuals, created by Jean-Michel Jarre and his team
- bespoke AI animations of the Hall of Mirror
- an in-depth interview with Jean-Michel Jarre about the event and it’s unique set up
- a lossless audio streaming version featuring an electro version of JB Lully's "Walk to the Turcs Ceremony" the new single "Epica Oxygene," and fresh renditions of existing tracks
The product is available numbered to 2000 copies only. The digital experience is unique to its owner and cannot be shared.
Tracklist
01. Le Château (Live)
02. Epica Oxygene (Live)
03. The Opening (Live)
04. Oxygene 2 (Live)
05. Equinoxe 4 (Live)
06. Equinoxe 7 (Live)
07. Industrial Revolution Part 2 (Live)
08. Chronology (Live)
09. The Architect (Live)
10. Oxygene 19 (Live)
11. Zero Gravity (Live)
12. Falling Down (Live)
13. Stardust (Live)
SEE MY COMPLETE COLLECTION