Gérard Manset

Gérard Manset (also known as Manset; born 21 August 1945 in Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine) is a French singer-songwriter, painter, photographer and writer. He is best known for his musical work. Since 1972, the covers of his albums state his name as simply "Manset".

Life Manset spent his childhood in the suburbs of Paris (Saint-Cloud) and then in the sixteenth arrondissement of Paris. He failed his baccalauréat due to a failing grade in French.

In 1964, Manset was the recipient of the Concours général, and enrolled in the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs. The Salon d'Automne welcomed Manset in its engraving section in 1966. Manset's work was also shown at the Paris Salon. At the same time, Manset approached various French advertising agencies with his drawings, without success.

Manset began to play the guitar, but was also interested in the drums. He borrowed his sister's piano book, and began learning to play the piano as well.

The mystery that was created around Manset was born from the rarity of his media appearances, his refusal to give concerts, and what has been presented as the ’uncompromising’ character of his work.

Discography Albums 1968: Gérard Manset 1970: La mort d'Orion 1972: Long long chemin 1975: Y'a une route 1976: Rien à raconter 1978: 2870 1979: Royaume de Siam 1981: L'atelier du crabe 1981: Le train du soir 1982: Comme un guerrier 1984: Lumières 1985: Prisonnier de l'inutile 1989: Matrice 1991: Revivre 1994: La vallée de la paix 1998: Jadis et naguère 2004: Le langage oublié 2006: Obok 2008: Manitoba ne répond plus 2014: Un oiseau s'est posé(remix) 2016: Opération Aphrodite 2018: A bord du Blossom 2022: Le crabe aux pinces d'homme 2024: l'Algue Bleue

Compilations 1971: Gérard Manset 1968 1976: Il voyage en solitaire 1982: Comme un guerrier 1988: Man Set 1990: Toutes choses 1992: Entrez dans le rêve 1999: Best Of 1999: Manset 2002: Capitaine courageux 2004: Best Of + 2007: Platinum Collection 2015: Classic 2015 Alternatif best Of 2016: Mansetlandia The Ultimate Artefact

Tribute albums 1996: Various artists: Route Manset 2015: Raphael: Solitude des latitudes

Writings and travel notes 1987 : Royaume de Siam – Éditions Aubier 1987 : Chambres d'Asie – Éditions Aubier 1994 : Wisut kasat – Éditions Les Belles Lettres 1994 : Aqui te espero – Éditions Les Belles Lettres 2000 : 72 heures à Angkor – Éditions Les Belles Lettres 2007 : Les Petites Bottes vertes – Éditions Gallimard 2008 : À la poursuite du Facteur Cheval – Éditions Gallimard 2011 : Visage d'un dieu inca – Éditions Gallimard 2011 : Journées ensoleillées – Éditions Favre 2012 : La terre endormie – Filigranes Editions 2012 : Abbaye de Fontevraud – Éditions Abbaye de Fontevraud 2012 : Bruxelles – Editions Zanpano 2015 : Ephémère-Francofolies 1987 et 2014 – Editions Filigranes 2018 : Cupidon de la nuit – Editions Albin Michel 2019 : Récits barbares – Editions Albin Michel

Joint collective works 2013 : Oh ce sera beau – éditions Zanpano (text and drawings)

Books about Gérard Manset 1995 : Gérard Manset – Celui qui marche devant – Daniel Lesueur, Editions Alternatives 2010 : Manset – Légende de l'Inini – Alexis Omble, Editions Les belles lettres