The renowned recording studio, Honky Château - an insight into its identity.
Dive into the storied past of Château d'Hérouville, popularly known as the Honky Château, the palatial recording studio that birthed an array of '70s and '80s hits.
Situated on the Parisian outskirts, this three-century-old mansion began its life as a post office and served as a courier stop between Versailles and Beauvais. With its 30 rooms, sprawling four-acre land, tennis court, and pool, the grand old Cha Cha closed the deal as the ultimate destination for both music lovers and the music industry alike.
The Cha Cha, rescued from a 1969 fire by composer Michel Magne, was turned into a residential studio in 1969. The moniker "Honky Château" was actually bestowed upon it by American musician Rex Foster, the first artist to record there late in 1969. The name stuck, and from then on, a tradition was born for visiting artists to call it The Honky Château.
Rex Foster's story about the origin of the nickname isn't as well-known as the name itself. But, what we do know is that the legacy left by this enigmatic musician marked the Cha Cha as a hotbed for iconic artists like Fleetwood Mac, T. Rex, the Bee Gees, Pink Floyd, and none other than Elton John.
In fact, Elton was so captivated by the Cha Cha that he even named his fifth album, and tracks such as "Honky Cat," after the studio. His fascination with the building led to an impressive string of seven consecutive number-one albums.
The Grateful Dead also had their share of fun at the Cha Cha. In 1971, they found themselves without a place to stay during a local French music festival due to unfortunate flooding. With plenty of space, equipment, and a top-notch studio, the Dead transformed the Cha Cha into their own personal playground and ended up recording their masterpiece, "Europe '72" in part at Honky Château.
The storied history of the Cha Cha took a brief hiatus in the mid-80s when it closed due to legal issues stemming from Magne's sale of the property. But, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the studio reopened in 2020 after a thorough renovation, now under the care of a band of sound engineers from France.
Did you know? Vincent van Gogh, the famed Dutch painter, spent time at the Honky Château before his untimely passing in 1890. The Château d'Hérouville is less than five miles away from his final resting place in Auvers-sur-Oise.
The grand old Cha Cha, renowned as The Honky Château, was not only a sought-after music studio for iconic artists but also a hub for entertainment, serving as a backdrop for albums like Elton John's "Honky Cat" and the Grateful Dead's "Europe '72". Furthermore, the Château d'Hérouville, with its connections to musicians and artists like van Gogh, offers a unique blend of music, books about the industry, and historical entertainment.
