The Olympic Games in Paris have come to an end after 17 days of action, and the US have ended at the top of the medal table with 126 medals in total: 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze. Now, it’s time to say goodbye and celebrate with the Closing Ceremony, which will pass the torch to Los Angeles 2028.
In that sense, it has been confirmed that Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Snoop Dogg will all be part of the LA segment of the Closing Ceremony. However, before them, two French artists will also appear in the event: the electronic band Air and the indie rock band Phoenix.
According to what executive director Thierry Reboul told Variety ahead of the event, the idea is to showcase French talent and influence in music. “Today, where we look at the history of music, it’s certainly the French music style and the artists behind it, who have had the biggest resonance in the world. So it was important for us to acknowledge it,” he said to the publication. Here’s what to know about Phoenix.
Why will Phoenix and Air play at the Olympics?
The two bands are representative of the “French Touch” music that came out in the mid-1990s and became a global sensation, as these artists mixed electro, dance, jazz and rock beats. The movement lost its influence in the late 2000s, but the two bands have remained popular since then.
When was Phoenix formed?
Phoenix, meanwhile, is an alternative rock band formed in 1995 and led by frontman Thomas Mars. The band’s seventh album, Alpha Zulu, came out in 2022.
Who are Phoenix’s members?
As we said, Thomas Mars is the lead vocalist of the band, as well as playing drums and percussion. Mars is also married to Sofia Coppola and has collaborated with the filmmaker on various projects, including for the soundtrack of her Apple movie “On the Rocks.”
The rest of the band consists of Deck d’Arcy (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), Laurent Brancowitz (lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) and Christian Mazzalai (rhythm guitar, backing vocals).
