Swiss Review 3/2020

Swiss Review / June 2020 / No.3 10 Culture STÉPHANE HERZOG It is 8 p.m. in the famous Lucerne Cul- ture and Convention Centre concert hall, and the audience are waiting for their hero. Stephan Eicher’s fans have an average age of at least 50. Even rockers age, as the Swiss singer read- ily jokes. The evening sees Eicher en- ter the stage leaning on his signature walking stick, the cruel legacy of a car accident. Eicher talks to his audi- ence in Swiss German, habitually flicking back his salt-and-pepper Stephan Eicher – the Swiss troubadour The Bernese singer and composer received a prize for his life’s work at the Swiss Music Awards in March. Eicher has come through a major dispute with his record company – and distilled these tensions into a heartfelt album. of French hits to his name – includ- ing “Déjeûner en paix” – will cele- brate another red-letter day on 17 Au- gust, when he turns 60. Eicher – Bernese-born of Yenish and Alsatian stock – is a sensitive and rebellious soul. This complex make-up has helped him to stay on the scene despite a very bitter conflict with his record label Barclay. Hostil- ities began in 2012 between big player Universal and the free-spir- ited artist, casting a six-year long mane. Rolling back the years, he has invited a raft of young artists to his gala performance, including KT Gori- que, a female rapper from Valais, as well as young and trendy Jeans for Je- sus and Dabu Fantastic from Ger- man-speaking Switzerland. Eicher also pokes fun at this filmed appearance ahead of the 13 th Swiss Music Awards on 28 February, the following day, when he is due to receive the Outstanding Achieve- ment Award. The rocker with a string Stephan Eicher at the Lucerne concert on 27 February 2020, accompanied by the Homeless Songs Band. Photo: Marco Masiello