A farmer fan of Johnny and Elvis takes out his own clip

Elvis Presley tattooed on the arm, long beard legs on the cheeks, cowboy hat at hand… Rik Van Houtte seems straight out of a concert of Johnny Hallyday (The “Taulier”, he says), but it is his everyday style. Her rocker follows it everywhere: during Motorcycle outings between friends, at the tattoo From time to time, and on his hectares of orchard, with the bourgthéroulde picking, which he created in 1992. Rocker or arboriculturist? Rik does not choose.

Growing between orchards and Rod Stewart

At 56, this son and grandson of arboriculturers has always lived in Grand Bourgheroulde, “finally, in Infreville”, he specifies. His family fled Belgium during the First World War, when the farms were destroyed by the Germans, and landed in Normandy.

Little one, it is with his neighbors and friends from the village that he Discover rock. The father of one of them is “the boss of black jackets »From the area. Leather jacket, noisy bikes, jeans… Rik discovers rock’n’roll with Rod Stewart, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley.

“The profession of arboriculturer, I thought nothing: it was our life”

A resident in Évreux, he helps his parents in the orchards, on weekends and during the holidays. “The profession of arboriculturer, I thought nothing about it: it was our life. Rik dreams of opening his own restaurant. “A rock’n’roll place with a Harley outside, skai, blue, white, red seats and good food! »»

At 18, he left for Chambéry to follow hotel studies, but quickly returned to the fold when his father has a serious accident at work. “I did not ask myself a question. The most important thing in life is the family, and the box had to turn. Another event will definitively bury his restaurant project: the meeting with Coco, the pretty brunette who held a hair salon in front of the Rouenwhere Rik cooked for some time, once his father has awarded to rework. “When you have a woman, you can’t go back every night at 2 a.m.,” he says. He then joined his father for six months, and it is he who told him to settle. “We are independent, in the family. »»

Bourgthéroulde picking

In 1992, at 23, He creates the bourgthéroulde picking. With the innovative concept of power pick one’s own In the orchard, and a sale that is done live only. “I saw my father to have the rope on the neck with the development of purchasing power plants,” explains Rik. His wife Corinne the aid for sale, Rik does not have his hours and plants various species of apple trees and pear trees on three hectares, and a hectare of strawberries. “We were lucky that it works right away,” says the couple.

His job is very addictive, but Rik has never forgotten was passion, the rock. “There is always music at home. When he has free time, he makes mechanics, outings on his Harley Davidson, goes to concerts … “Johnny, I saw him play 80 times!” He says.

“Johnny, I saw him play 80 times!” »»

And, five years ago, it was by chatting with friends who have music groups that Rik launches. He buys a guitaran amp and we recommend a teacher to learn to play: it’s Phil ament. “He is not at all a rocker!” His thing is reggae, ”smiles Rik. However, the feeling immediately passes between the two musicians, and Rik learns quickly. Week after week, they play together. “I was rhythm, and the solo. The pupil and his teacher create a group: the rock’n’roll farmers (Les Fermiers Rock), and give their premier concert During a rally of vintage cars in a garage. “It was great! I came out saying to myself: ‘When is the next one?’ ‘A CUEILLTTE CUSTOM, Claude, joined the group, on the battery. “We take covers. Inevitably, there is Johnny, because everyone is waiting for him, but I don’t want to be his double. However, every June 15, we celebrate the anniversary of the ‘French Elvis’ in music, “whether it be picking or at home”.

Once upon a time in Bourgtheroulde

Recently, a meeting with another rocker in the soul, nicknamed Weal Dubois, gave birth to the second group of Rik: James Westin reference to the soap opera Western mysteries. “With Weal, we met in a bistro in Cabourg two months ago. He was talking about music with his wife, Laure, it matched right away between us. »»

Weal is a music professional: sound engineer, composer, producer and director, he has his own studio in Cabourg. “We discussed well, and we thought that we had to do something together. The group is born and, in the process, Rik writes the First piece: 69 Truck. Weal, accustomed to clips, brings all his professional equipment to Bourgtheroulde and the two rockers image this rock song. “Once Upon a Time in Bourgtheroulde” (Once upon a time in Bourgtheroulde), can we read at the start of the clip. We plunge into the Rock’n’Roll atmosphere… Pick-up, electric guitarsVintage battery and microphone by hand, Rik and the three appearing clips (among which we of course find Coco), vibrate the barn, loaned by neighbors for the occasion. A neat aesthetic, friends who dance … and the clip is in the box. Released on July 25, 2025 on Youtube, it already has nearly 3,000 views. “It likes well, it’s pure rock!” “Reads Rik.

Sweetness and Cigar

With Weal, Rik has no shortage of projects. They work on their next songs, and create an account on social networks “whistling and cigar”, a program in which Rik will meet their rocker friends: musicians, tattoo artists or bikers will be in the spotlight. “We said to ourselves: ‘Why not do something influencer for old people?'” A shame for the one that is not interested in social networks and does not even have the internet on his laptop. “I’m going to have to get started!” »»

For the arborist, rock is like picking: “When you make strawberries, it’s better if people tell you it’s good. As with music, you don’t do it for yourself. »»

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