Québécois rock provocateur Jean Leloup was the premier exponent of the Francophone pop renaissance of the 1990s, earning comparison to Lou Reed for his seedy imagery and aloof vocals. Born Jean Leclerc in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, on May 14, 1961, he spent the better part of his childhood in Togo, and its indigenous African rhythms would prove a seminal influence on his later musical efforts. After a brief return to Quebec, his family settled in Algeria in 1969, where he later formed his first band, the Blue Faces. Leclerc returned to Quebec for good in 1975, and after quitting school he cut his first demo session, christening himself Jean Leloup (i.e., "John the Wolf"). He attracted marginal attention from record executives until 1983, when he delivered a breakthrough performance at the annual Festival de la Chanson Francophone. Two years later Leloup was tapped to star as Ziggy in the David Bowie-inspired rock opera Starmania. Labels still had no idea what to make of him, however, and his acclaimed debut LP, Menteur, did not hit retail until 1989, generating the smash "Printemps-Eté."