The celebrity cult can go far… even to the doorsteps of our favorite stars! A look at a fascinating phenomenon and a highlight of 5 homes of deceased stars to visit.
We’ve seen fans leaving flowers, letters or gifts in front of deceased stars’ homes… But imagine strolling through your favorite artist’s home and discovering their furnishings, notes lying around, maybe even a few valuable items.. . Far from an impossible dream, this experience becomes possible in some publicly accessible houses of deceased stars, which attract many curious people.
Guillaume Sirois, associate professor at the Department of Sociology at the University of Montreal, is not surprised by this interest, which he says is part of a cult of personality. “The phenomenon of celebrity as we know it today began specifically in the 19th century. Everything the stars wore, where they lived… They almost become relics. We can also make a connection with religion. We almost turn stars into demigods. Elvis Presley’s house, for example, has become a real tourist machine.”
What is so fascinating about these places that have hosted stars? “Fans often want to have a close relationship with their favorite star,” the sociologist continues. And that, even if it is one-sided. Some collect objects with her image, follow her closely on social networks and even become specialists. Visiting your residence gives you access to a certain glamour. These places also open a door to the mystery of creation. It can even be inspiring,” comments Guillaume Sirois.
These visits not only serve to satisfy one’s own curiosity, but sometimes take the form, for lack of a better term, of a kind of meeting with the beloved artist or even a homage. “The phenomenon undoubtedly also suggests the idea of a trace, the transition of these brilliant people on Earth.” When loved ones leave, we often look for places that represent them. And it also allows us to take a look at the ordinary and the flaws. These stars weren’t great every day! » says Guillaume Sirois.
Would you like to live the experience? We show you the five most important houses of deceased stars that you should visit.
The Gainsbourg House
AFP
At 5 Rue de Verneuil in Paris, it is the voice of Charlotte Gainsbourg on an audio guide that leads visitors from room to room in the final resting place of her father, who died in 1991. It traces an everyday life lost to more than 32 years ago, the emotional tour of the life and work of Serge Gainsbourg would have given the impression of a journey back in time… right down to the smell of the cigarette butts smoked by the star! After opening in mid-September, the “House & Museum” route is already fully booked.
All details here.
Jimi Hendrix’s apartment
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At 23 Brook Street in London’s Mayfair, the public is invited to view the charming apartment of famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who died in 1970. In addition to several personal items and facts about the rock star’s life, discover his reconstructed bedroom, which he shared with his lover Kathy Etchingham in 1968 and 1969, in what he described as his “first real home.” Interesting fact: 200 years ago, the composer George Frideric Handel lived at 25 Brook Street, which can also be visited.
All details here.
Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home
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Fans of the king can discover his impressive residence in Memphis: the very popular Graceland, which has become a place of pilgrimage. The last house in which Elvis lived with his family from 1957 to 1977 attracts around 650,000 visitors every year and presents us with excerpts from his luxurious everyday life with its legendary costumes, its jungle room, its TV room and its famous meditation garden. He is also buried here, not far from his stillborn twin brother.
All details here.
Paisley Park, the Prince’s home
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Prince had long dreamed of showing people this magnificent and eccentric house, which he moved into in 1987. The perfect place for the artist’s large, spontaneous parties! After his death in 2016, the house in Minnesota in the United States was quickly converted into a museum about Prince’s incredible career, sometimes hosting shows. In addition to some of the star’s personal belongings, visitors can also tour the famous studios there.
All details here.
The Sinatra House
Decency
A completely different experience awaits visitors at the Sinatra House, also known as Twin Palms, in Palm Springs, California. The villa was built in 1947 according to the wishes of the famous Frank Sinatra and has four bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a piano-shaped swimming pool. Since the house has become a tourist attraction, it can be rented for holidays, weddings, filming, etc. There is also the opportunity to enjoy a private tour of the luxurious residence, which, among other things, tells of Frank Sinatra’s years in residence.
All details here.
And in Quebec?
Can we visit the residences of deceased stars in Quebec? Quite!
JOEL LEMAY/AGENCE QMI
Let’s think, for example, of Gilles Vigneault’s childhood home in Natashquan, the Maison Félix-Leclerc in Vaudreuil-Dorion and the suite in the Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth from 1742, which John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived in in 1969 in their famous bed -Into the.
QMI AGENCY
However, the phenomenon appears to be less widespread than it is worldwide. Impression or reality? “We have a special “star system” in Quebec that is usually described as rather local,” explains Guillaume Sirois. We know the stars from Quebec, they look like us. They may live less in this fantasy world of American or French stars. However, I wouldn’t be willing to say that we respect stars’ privacy more. It wouldn’t surprise me to see more celebrity homes popping up soon. »