A versatile artist who lived life like there was no tomorrow

This itinerant life prevented Brel from residing with his wife Miche and their three daughters. He had many brief amours and some lasting mistresses, but Miche always remained a precious friend and a helpful supporter of his career. He wrote to her incessantly and some letters are full of beautiful poetry.In 1966, eager to explore other performing arts, Brel announced his retirement from concert work, giving a final sold-out series of Shows in Paris at the Olympia and around the world. In 1968, he very successfully took the leading role in the American musical Man of la Mancha, which he had translated in French. He starred in several feature films, including the black comedy L'Emmerdeur (released in the U.S. with the title A Pain in the A) with legendary actor Lino Ventura.

In 1974, the accomplished pilot and sailor, addicted to travel, set off on what was intended to be a sailing circumnavigation of the globe. But, after a few months, he was diagnosed with a lung cancer, consecutive to his incessant smoking. He went back to Brussels for an operation and then continued on his journey. In 1975, he reached the Marquesas Islands, where he decided to stay.

Brel returned to France in 1977 to record a new album. It sold 650 000 copies on its first day of release and eventually toped two million copies. A few months later, in 1978, Brel died at the age of 49 from a recurrence of cancer. He was buried in the Marquesas Islands, next to the painter Paul Gauguin.

In 2005, he was elected The Greatest Belgian of all times by the audience of the national Belgian Television. 2008 will mark the 30th anniversary of his death.

He would have been 79 this year.