Catherine Ringer, Trailblazing Co-Founder of Les Rita Mitsouko, Dies at 68

A voice, a style, an energy, and a sense of freedom that left an indelible mark on generations. Catherine Ringer, singer and co-founder of Les Rita Mitsouko, has died at the age of 68. Her children confirmed her passing to Agence France-Presse, revealing that she had been struck by “a sudden, aggressive cancer” during the night of 14 September 2026.

Born in Suresnes in 1957, her father, Sam Ringer — an Ashkenazi Jew born in Poland — had been deported to several concentration camps. Catherine Ringer honoured his story in “C’était un homme,” from the album Cool Frénésie.

In 1979, she met Fred Chichin, and from their artistic and personal partnership emerged one of the most original duos in French music. Les Rita Mitsouko quickly carved out a world of their own, fusing rock, pop, funk, electro, and chanson into something entirely new.

Real success arrived in the mid-1980s with “Marcia Baïla,” a track that became emblematic of the French music scene. The band went on to deliver a string of hits, including “Andy,” “C’est comme ça,” and “Les Histoires d’A.” Their music, videos, and offbeat aesthetic made Les Rita Mitsouko a phenomenon that transcended the boundaries of rock.

In November 2007, the death of Fred Chichin — who also lost his life to cancer at just 53 — could have brought the story to an end. Catherine Ringer chose instead to keep their repertoire alive. She embarked on a solo career and regularly returned to the stage performing the songs of Les Rita Mitsouko.

Still active in 2026, she had notably performed in Paris the previous February, with plans to continue championing on stage the body of work born from her collaboration with Fred Chichin.

With her passing, French music loses a singular figure. Catherine Ringer remains inseparable from Les Rita Mitsouko, but equally from her own distinctive approach to the stage: free, provocative, original, and deeply cherished by audiences.

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