French chanson is in mourning this Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Catherine Ringer has died at the age of 68 after a cancer battle, her children announced to AFP. A singer, songwriter, musician and actress, the artist born in Suresnes in 1957 will remain inseparable from the Rita Mitsouko, the band she founded with Fred Chichin in the early 1980s. Together, they left a lasting imprint on French songs and rock with their quirky world and hits such as Marcia Baïla, C’est comme ça, Andy and Les Histoires d’A.
Born on October 18, 1957, in Suresnes, in the Hauts-de-Seine region, Catherine Ringer grew up in an artistic milieu. Long before she became one of the most recognizable voices in French music, she explored several disciplines and gravitated toward theatre, dance, and music.
The turning point in her career arrives in 1979, when she meets guitarist Fred Chichin at a performance. From their artistic and personal chemistry will emerge the Rita Mitsouko, a name now inseparable from the French rock scene of the 1980s.
After their first single, Don't Forget The Nite, in 1981, the duo released their debut album, Rita Mitsouko, in 1984. The real breakout came a few months later with Marcia Baïla.
Released as a single in 1985, Marcia Baïla pays tribute to Argentine dancer and choreographer Marcia Moretto, who died of cancer. With its blend of rock, pop and Latin-influenced rhythms, the track immediately established the duo’s distinctive universe.
The group’s success is substantial, helping to firmly embed the Rita Mitsouko in the French music landscape. Their meticulously crafted video also contributes to shaping the band’s colorful, offbeat aesthetic. But Catherine Ringer and Fred Chichin aren’t stopping at this first hit.
In 1986, The No Comprendo was released, produced by Tony Visconti, famed for his work with David Bowie. The album features several tracks that will stand the test of time: Andy, Les Histoires d'A and above all C'est comme ça.
With a instantly recognizable voice, expressive facial expressions, distinctive gestures and often extravagant outfits, Catherine Ringer has become one of the most idiosyncratic figures on the French music scene.
The albums come in quick succession and confirm the duo’s ability to navigate rock, pop, funk, and electronic music. Marc et Robert, released in 1988, notably features a collaboration with the American group Sparks on Singing in the Shower. It also includes Le Petit Train, a song with a deliberately catchy melody that nonetheless tackles deportation.
In 1993, Système D gave birth to Y'a d'la haine. They would go on to release Cool Frénésie in 2000, La Femme Trombone in 2002, and then Variéty, the duo’s final studio album. Catherine Ringer also pursues other collaborations. She notably duets with Marc Lavoine on Qu'est-ce que t'es belle, another memorable track in her discography.
Rita Mitsouko's story was jolted by a major upheaval in November 2007, with the death of Fred Chichin from cancer. Catherine Ringer nevertheless continues on her artistic path. She builds a solo career and releases in 2011 her first solo album, Ring n' Roll. This new chapter notably earns her the title of Female Artist of the Year at the 2012 Victoires de la Musique.
She subsequently publishes Chroniques et Fantaisies in 2017 and, in the meantime, keeps the Rita Mitsouko repertoire alive on stage.
Yes. Even after Fred Chichin's passing, Catherine Ringer never abandoned the songs of Rita Mitsouko.
She’s back on the road with the show Catherine Ringer sings the Rita Mitsouko, notably joined by her son Raoul Chichin on guitar. It’s a way to stage the body of work she created with Fred Chichin and to introduce it to a new generation.
Her career has spanned more than four decades, and Catherine Ringer has never lost what makes her unique: a theatrical voice that can move from tenderness to a scream, a visibly physical stage presence, and a musical universe that refuses to be confined to a single genre.
With the death of Catherine Ringer at 68 after battling cancer, one of the most distinctive figures in French music has passed away. From the early days of the Parisian alternative scene to the enormous success of the Rita Mitsouko, and then to her solo career, Catherine Ringer helped bring a decidedly different aesthetic into French popular culture.
Decades after their release, Marcia Baïla, C'est comme ça, Andy, Les Histoires d'A, Le Petit Train or Y'a d'la haine continue to keep this heritage alive.
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