Trivia

Leader of French rock band Noir Désir (singer, guitarist and lyricist).

Strongly involved in anti-mondialization and anti-National Front movements.

At the "Victoires de la Musique" (a French music awards show) awards ceremony), he made a strong speech against the CEO of Vivendi Universal, Jean-Marie Messier, whose company bought their label Barclay. According to the band, Messier used Noir Désir's name and reputation as an alibi to show the "cultural diversity" of his label and to serve his business interest (9 May 2002).

Has two children with Kristina Rady : A son, Milo (born in 1997) and a daughter, Alice (born in September 2002).

In July 2003, during a row with his girlfriend Marie Trintignant, who was married at that time to Samuel Benchetrit, in a Lithuanian hotel, he punched her repeatedly, so she suffered a cerebral edema and died four days later. In March 2004, Cantat was sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter, which was initially appealed by Marie's family, who wished for a heavier sentence. The family later canceled their appeal.

His house in Landes, France was burned down two months after Marie Trintignant's death (11 September 2003).

After serving half of his sentence following Marie Trintignant's death, he was released on parole (16 October 2007).