Corroborating Riopy’s backstory
March 23, 2023 12:48 PM Subscribe
I’m a music journalist. I got a press release about the French pianist Riopy, whose backstory involves being raised in a cult, being homeless in LA, having a store customer pay for his formal music training, and being gifted a piano by Chris Martin. He was then “discovered” with music in a lot of ads and popular meditative piano albums. I’m having trouble corroborating any of this or putting together a timeline. Can anyone help corroborate or disprove his story?
In one interview he says that the cult leader was a woman and that the French secret service had a big file on the cult. He’s said that the cult was in the Deux-Sevres region of France; when I google “deux sevres cult “ without quotes, only articles about Riopy come up. He’s said that he doesn’t remember much and doesn’t like to talk about it but does reference being beaten in front of 40 people when he was 9. (Also the linked interview.) Music was forbidden but he found an abandoned piano.
I can’t figure out the timeline either. He was born in 1983 and left the cult when he was either 17 or 18 (I’ve seen both), ending up raising $400 for an open ticket to LA cleaning toilets in a hostel by Graumman’s Chinese Theater, where he listened to Coldplay’s Parachutes (2000). He left for England (can’t find much info on this) and landed in Reading, where he worked in a music store. A customer named Michael Freeman, an Oxford teacher at a school for the deaf. Riopy blurted out that he was suicidal and Freeman offered to pay for his music education. I could not find anything about anyone matching that description.
Riopy started playing pubs (with his contemplative piano music) and other venues near London. He performed at an event attended by Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow. After speaking to them, Chris Martin sent a piano to Riopy as a gift.
Somewhere along the way, Riopy used yoga, meditation, and nutrition to pretty much cure his psyche. Yoga comes up in his music videos. He now often plays at a “healing frequency “ of 40 hz.
He is married with a wife and two kids, and he’s now 40.
This is quite the backstory. I’m not assuming any of it is fabricated, but I think it’s odd that I can’t find any information that corroborates or directly contradicts it. As a music journalist, that’s a problem for me. I’m hoping some of you have knowledge of French cults or can find evidence of Michael Freeman or offer any related info.
In one interview he says that the cult leader was a woman and that the French secret service had a big file on the cult. He’s said that the cult was in the Deux-Sevres region of France; when I google “deux sevres cult “ without quotes, only articles about Riopy come up. He’s said that he doesn’t remember much and doesn’t like to talk about it but does reference being beaten in front of 40 people when he was 9. (Also the linked interview.) Music was forbidden but he found an abandoned piano.
I can’t figure out the timeline either. He was born in 1983 and left the cult when he was either 17 or 18 (I’ve seen both), ending up raising $400 for an open ticket to LA cleaning toilets in a hostel by Graumman’s Chinese Theater, where he listened to Coldplay’s Parachutes (2000). He left for England (can’t find much info on this) and landed in Reading, where he worked in a music store. A customer named Michael Freeman, an Oxford teacher at a school for the deaf. Riopy blurted out that he was suicidal and Freeman offered to pay for his music education. I could not find anything about anyone matching that description.
Riopy started playing pubs (with his contemplative piano music) and other venues near London. He performed at an event attended by Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow. After speaking to them, Chris Martin sent a piano to Riopy as a gift.
Somewhere along the way, Riopy used yoga, meditation, and nutrition to pretty much cure his psyche. Yoga comes up in his music videos. He now often plays at a “healing frequency “ of 40 hz.
He is married with a wife and two kids, and he’s now 40.
This is quite the backstory. I’m not assuming any of it is fabricated, but I think it’s odd that I can’t find any information that corroborates or directly contradicts it. As a music journalist, that’s a problem for me. I’m hoping some of you have knowledge of French cults or can find evidence of Michael Freeman or offer any related info.
Just looking at his Wikipedia:
It's not Oxford, it's Oxford Brookes University , which features several majors.
He was apparently a Steinway and Sons featured artist at 17.
From the Steinway and Sons article in Wikipedia, he had a piano as early as age 2, and it was sold at age 15 because he played too much. He still references the cult thing.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:09 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's not Oxford, it's Oxford Brookes University , which features several majors.
He was apparently a Steinway and Sons featured artist at 17.
From the Steinway and Sons article in Wikipedia, he had a piano as early as age 2, and it was sold at age 15 because he played too much. He still references the cult thing.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:09 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
There are currently 3 hostels near Graunman's Chinese Theatre:
Orange Drive Hostel
Hollywood Highland Hotel and Hostel
Samesun Hollywood, now a hotel but formerly a hostel.
None are particularly cheap, since they are in the heart of Hollywood. Would they let someone stay there in exchange cleaning the bathroom? I don't know, but the minimum wage rate of a full time job would barely pay for the daily rate for the most bare accommodation.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:21 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Orange Drive Hostel
Hollywood Highland Hotel and Hostel
Samesun Hollywood, now a hotel but formerly a hostel.
None are particularly cheap, since they are in the heart of Hollywood. Would they let someone stay there in exchange cleaning the bathroom? I don't know, but the minimum wage rate of a full time job would barely pay for the daily rate for the most bare accommodation.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:21 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Here's a trail for you, I have a meeting coming up:
The New European goes into some details but also says the cult is dissolved, which doesn't bode too well for finding it.
A french language search comes up with this article, which locates it at Soudan.
This article says "près de Niort"
This article is about the arrest of a female guru who ran a cult in that area, Luce Berber. It tracks with what he's said but of course, cults, dime a dozen. Here's another female-led one that fits the timeline. That one has a picture of a castle, which he references, but it might just be a stock image.
If you keep narrowing down the french articles you might find one where it intersects with his story. Not sure that will be definitive.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:30 PM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
The New European goes into some details but also says the cult is dissolved, which doesn't bode too well for finding it.
A french language search comes up with this article, which locates it at Soudan.
This article says "près de Niort"
This article is about the arrest of a female guru who ran a cult in that area, Luce Berber. It tracks with what he's said but of course, cults, dime a dozen. Here's another female-led one that fits the timeline. That one has a picture of a castle, which he references, but it might just be a stock image.
If you keep narrowing down the french articles you might find one where it intersects with his story. Not sure that will be definitive.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:30 PM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: The New European article says, about the cult, "He wasn’t believed. 'When you have an experience like this, and everything is outside of, let’s say, normal life, people question.' Shortly after, French security officials confirmed his story." Maybe you could contact that journalist to get more background.
posted by pinochiette at 1:39 PM on March 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by pinochiette at 1:39 PM on March 23, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh good catch, I was rushing and missed that.
posted by warriorqueen at 2:08 PM on March 23, 2023
posted by warriorqueen at 2:08 PM on March 23, 2023
Response by poster: I hadn’t heard a lot of what’s in the New European article— Ibiza, yachts, s&m bar, prostitutes. None of that has come up at all.
posted by mermaidcafe at 2:41 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mermaidcafe at 2:41 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
ending up raising $400 for an open ticket to LA cleaning toilets in a hostel by Graumman’s Chinese Theater
It was called the Mann Chinese Theater at this point in time. Mann didn't change the name back to "Graumman’s" until the restoration that started in 2002, and people who went there a lot (and I assume people who worked there as well) called it the Mann Chinese, and sometimes still do.
Actually, wouldn't surprise me if people who work there are forced to call it the TCL Chinese, since that's the offical name as of 2007, although I've never heard anyone say it that wasn't paid to do so.
Hard to imagine now, but that area was extremely rough in 2000. The area was turning around after Disney re-did the El Captitan across the street, the subway stop opened up that summer, and the giant mall thing (Hollywood and Highland) was in the middle of getting built.
I'm sure there were hostels there, and they were definitely lots of homeless and semi-homeless young people around, but it wasn't the all "Times Square's Little Brother" tourist horseshit that's going on now. There was the redone El Capitan, the about to get redone Chinese, Mel's Diner, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, empty lots, a few hardest of the hardcore tourist shops, a 18 and over dance club called "Beat It" (ah, the memories), and a whole bunch of apartments where drunk people screamed at each other outside your window until 2:30am constantly.
I'm not saying it's impossible that happened, but "I traveled 5000 miles in the year 2000 to work next to a once-famous (but now run-down movie theater) that just happens to be the only one with name recognition outside the city (although with a different name) just to get hassled by gutter punks" sounds fishy to me, as someone who often went to movies there.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 4:54 PM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
It was called the Mann Chinese Theater at this point in time. Mann didn't change the name back to "Graumman’s" until the restoration that started in 2002, and people who went there a lot (and I assume people who worked there as well) called it the Mann Chinese, and sometimes still do.
Actually, wouldn't surprise me if people who work there are forced to call it the TCL Chinese, since that's the offical name as of 2007, although I've never heard anyone say it that wasn't paid to do so.
Hard to imagine now, but that area was extremely rough in 2000. The area was turning around after Disney re-did the El Captitan across the street, the subway stop opened up that summer, and the giant mall thing (Hollywood and Highland) was in the middle of getting built.
I'm sure there were hostels there, and they were definitely lots of homeless and semi-homeless young people around, but it wasn't the all "Times Square's Little Brother" tourist horseshit that's going on now. There was the redone El Capitan, the about to get redone Chinese, Mel's Diner, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, empty lots, a few hardest of the hardcore tourist shops, a 18 and over dance club called "Beat It" (ah, the memories), and a whole bunch of apartments where drunk people screamed at each other outside your window until 2:30am constantly.
I'm not saying it's impossible that happened, but "I traveled 5000 miles in the year 2000 to work next to a once-famous (but now run-down movie theater) that just happens to be the only one with name recognition outside the city (although with a different name) just to get hassled by gutter punks" sounds fishy to me, as someone who often went to movies there.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 4:54 PM on March 23, 2023 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: ^^ it was me who got the name wrong. He did say Mann’s. I too am curious—he said he moved there for the sun and to become famous for music, but he hasn’t said anything at all about what music related things he did there. The only other LA story I heard was that a priest tried to rape him. I’m also dubious because he said he raised $400 to get an open ended flight. But that won’t pay for a flight, of course, and buying an open ended ticket shows his plan to leave at some point. This would be around 2000, so I don’t know the state of open ended flights at that time.
posted by mermaidcafe at 5:01 PM on March 23, 2023
posted by mermaidcafe at 5:01 PM on March 23, 2023
Around 2000 I was able to get a student discounted plane ticket from the US to Europe, round-trip, for $400. I know he was going the other way, but it seems possible he was able to get a ticket for that price, especially if he was able to use any kind of online student deal. (And those were just starting to be available.)
If it was a deal, though, I'm dubious about it being open ended. Seems likelier to be partially true. Either that's the price, but it was one-way or a student deal. Or he paid more and it was open ended.
posted by blueberry monster at 6:10 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
If it was a deal, though, I'm dubious about it being open ended. Seems likelier to be partially true. Either that's the price, but it was one-way or a student deal. Or he paid more and it was open ended.
posted by blueberry monster at 6:10 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
BAIAAKK has it right on the nose - I worked in a building at Hollywood & Highland during this time period and it was peak Button Lady/Plant Man era. Not at all what it's like now.
I distinctly remember there being a pretty bad fire at the hostel around this time as well. I can't remember if it was '99, '00 or '01, but I remember seeing from my office window the firemen dealing with the whole thing. Not sure if this helps with any sort of lead? But maybe if you can determine when the fire was you can suss out a bit more of that part of the story.
posted by queensissy at 6:32 PM on March 23, 2023
I distinctly remember there being a pretty bad fire at the hostel around this time as well. I can't remember if it was '99, '00 or '01, but I remember seeing from my office window the firemen dealing with the whole thing. Not sure if this helps with any sort of lead? But maybe if you can determine when the fire was you can suss out a bit more of that part of the story.
posted by queensissy at 6:32 PM on March 23, 2023
Call the PR person on the press release and ask for sources. If you’ve not sold the story about this, why bother?
posted by Ideefixe at 9:38 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 9:38 PM on March 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
There's a description of the cult at the end of this article, which also says that he went to high school in Saint-Maixent-l’École.
posted by pendrift at 1:59 AM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by pendrift at 1:59 AM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: ^^^Idefixxe
There is no story yet. We don’t sell stories; we send pitches. I find information that disproves his story, that’s it’s own (very interesting) story. I quite simply don’t have an angle yet and don’t want to pitch or print anything untrue.
Also, researching musicians like this is fun to me. It’s not like I’m spending hours a day on this.
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:15 AM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
There is no story yet. We don’t sell stories; we send pitches. I find information that disproves his story, that’s it’s own (very interesting) story. I quite simply don’t have an angle yet and don’t want to pitch or print anything untrue.
Also, researching musicians like this is fun to me. It’s not like I’m spending hours a day on this.
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:15 AM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Cults and cult-like groups do tend to be pretty local and unless something like this happens they rarely become news; I think one way you might confirm that one exists (or existed) is to try to post about it in a local forum or subreddit for the region. People love gossiping about that stuff.
posted by Polycarp at 1:08 PM on March 23, 2023 [4 favorites]