Jean-Marie Périer had recently come back from his obligatory military service in Algeria. He was just starting-out as a professional photographer when Daniel Filipacchi asked him to be a collaborator on a monthly music magazine that would compliment his radio show. The magazine would be aimed at the growing population of young people, the first wave of what we now call the baby boom. Filipacchi had only one demand of the photographer who was otherwise free to do what he wanted: make sure that the adults hate the pictures. It was a fortuitous, insightful and lucrative idea - the premiere issue of Salut les copains! sold over 100,000 copies and in a year it sold a million.

Without a doubt the lasting magic of the magazine are the unforgettable images of Jean-Marie Périer. He photographed every French pop star of the time and also visiting emissaries like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry.

In addition to being the lead photographer, he became a bit of a celebrity himself with Filipacchi broadcasting that Jean-Marie was traveling for a photo shoot with some singer or another. He also was the boyfriend of Françoise Hardy for several years and pictures of him frequently showed-up in Salut les copains!. Périer was a witness to a time that we will never see again and his photographs are his testimony. He is currently working on a book about his experience during this time called Le Visiteur which should be out early 2004.



Old copies of Salut les copains! are ellusive and squeeze the pocketbook. But there is hope. Several years ago Périer released a book with his photographs called Mes années 60 published by Filipacchi. It can be ordered from France.


Order this book.