Ben Harper is well and truly decided to leave the United States to live in France. The guitarist confided in this subject in the columns of Liberation and evokes the reason for which he leaves his country.
This Friday, July 22, Ben Harper returns with a 17th opus entitled Bloodline Maintenance. In this new album, the musician tackles difficult subjects, such as the impact of systemic racism on American society, climate change or the threat of nuclear war. On this occasion, the artist indulged in a few secrets for our colleagues from Release. Now installed in France, Ben Harper no longer wishes to set foot in the United States. And for good reason: the artist deplores the current atmosphere across the Atlantic.
With his wife, the guitarist will seek “a house in Toulouse, Bordeaux or here in Paris”, he confides, before continuing: “I can’t go back to the United States anymore. This country is going backwards, it’s not possible anymore. It’s very depressing, a monumental sadness. I don’t really like to talk about it,” he admits. But the last law allowing American states to ban abortion was the final straw for Ben Harper. “The decision to go back on the right to abortion is a step back. There is that, there is racism, there are weapons… All of this has become too toxic for me”.
Ben Harper: “There’s still the family store, there’s my mother, friends, but it’s time to leave”
This decision to leave the United States to settle in France was difficult for Ben Harper: “It’s hard for me because I have deep roots. There is still the family store, there is my mother, friends but it’s time to leave”. The artist is already learning French and his children too, from the start of the next school year. Determined to leave everything behind, the guitarist does not want his children to live this American life. They will thus discover the French life, for the good of all, according to Ben Harper.
© Agency
3/12 –
Ben Harper
On this occasion, the artist indulged in some confidences for our colleagues from Liberation.
© SGP
4/12 –
Ben Harper
Now settled in France, Ben Harper no longer wishes to set foot in the United States. And for good reason: the artist deplores the current atmosphere across the Atlantic.
© Gwendoline Le Goff
5/12 –
Ben Harper
With his wife, the guitarist will look for “a house in Toulouse, Bordeaux or here in Paris”, he confides, before continuing: “I can no longer return to the United States. ”
© Gwendoline Le Goff
6/12 –
Ben Harper
“This country is going backwards, it’s not possible anymore. It’s very depressing, a monumental sadness. I don’t really like talking about it,” he admits.
© VANSTEENKISTE STEPHANE
7/12 –
Ben Harper
But the last law allowing American states to ban abortion was the last straw for Ben Harper.
© LIONEL URMAN
8/12 –
Ben Harper
“The decision to go back on the right to abortion is a step back. There is that, there is racism, there are weapons… All of this has become too toxic for me”.
© SGP
9/12 –
Ben Harper
This decision to leave the United States to settle in France was difficult for Ben Harper:
© Gwendoline Le Goff
10/12 –
Ben Harper
“It’s hard for me because I have deep roots. There is still the family store, there is my mother, friends but it’s time to leave”. The artist is already learning French and his children too, from the start of the next school year.
© Gwendoline Le Goff
11/12 –
Ben Harper
Determined to leave everything behind, the guitarist does not want his children to live this American life.
© LIONEL URMAN
12/12 –
Ben Harper
They will thus discover the French life, for the good of all, according to Ben Harper.