A few days after Marie-Annick Lépine and Jean-François Pauzé, the bassist of the Cowboys Fringants, Jérôme Dupras, once again wrote a touching homage to his friend Karl Tremblay. “27 years together in a band don’t develop friendship, they forge eternity,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
Jérôme Dupras, like his two companions, gave a sincere testimony to the singer who, at the age of 47, had gone far too quickly.
“You were a giant inhabited by a quiet strength: the greatest singer I have ever heard, the clown of the locker rooms, the entrepreneur of play and friendship, the power forward of the beer leagues, the loving father, the loyal friend, the warrior in the face of illness, the stalwart player. You had a life between your family and your friends, between your couch and the stage. A real non-conformist, a rebel, a punk, but always respectful, without ever stepping on anyone’s toes.”
The bassist further mentioned that the list of people who can change the life of an entire nation is very short. “It is only the matter of a few politicians, great artists or other activists for the common good. You achieved this through your incomparable charisma, but also because you never sought or demanded anything. The audience clearly sensed your authenticity, your embarrassment, your sweet extravagance. You can’t hide a personality from an audience for decades. People recognized each other because, like you, they know how hard and sometimes beautiful life is, but that it has meaning if you share it.
Jérôme Dupras ended his message in the most beautiful way. “A few minutes after you left, I came out of the hospital to get some fresh air. In the sky the flag of Quebec flew in an impressive colorful sky, one of the most powerful images of my life. A few days later, I see again that you have unintentionally carried us all on your shoulders.”