Who is Bertrand Cantat? All about French singer who faces legal investigation over ex-wife’s death

It’s been more than two decades since Bertrand Cantat’s name first sparked shockwaves across France’s music scene, and now, the former frontman of iconic rock band Noir Désir finds himself back in the headlines. Once celebrated as a poetic rock god, Cantat’s legacy has soured into controversy, tragedy, and renewed legal scrutiny.

Today, he’s facing a fresh legal investigation in his hometown of Bordeaux over the death of his ex-wife. Just when we thought the French singer had put his past behind him, a Netflix-beat resurgence and with it, a torrent of new testimony has reignited the debate. So, who exactly is Bertrand Cantat? How did this story spiral from chart-topper to courtroom drama? Let’s dive into the heart of the matter.

Bertrand Cantat: The French singer now under investigation

Bertrand Cantat rose to fame in the '90s as the charismatic frontman of Noir Désir, a band hailed for its raw energy and lyrical depth. But in 2003, everything changed. While on tour in Lithuania with actress Marie Trintignant, Cantat fatally beat her during a domestic dispute. She died days later from brain injuries, and Cantat was convicted of manslaughter with indirect intent (“murder with indirect intent”) and sentenced to eight years in prison, serving four before parole in 2007. Despite public outcry and feminist backlash, he returned to music, joining Noir Désir briefly, then later forming the duo Détroit.

Fast-forward to March 2025, Netflix’s three-part documentary From Rock Star to Killer: The Cantat Case shone new light on Cantat’s history, including troubling episodes beyond the Trintignant case. One bombshell: it alleged domestic violence against his ex-wife, Krisztina Rády. Her 2010 death, initially ruled a suicide, is now under renewed investigation by Bordeaux prosecutors, looking into “potential acts of intentional violence” and evidence not previously examined.

Among the fresh revelations: a nurse’s claim that Rády was treated for scalp detachment and bruises after an altercation with Cantat is shown in the Netflix series. A voicemail in which Rády sounded terrified before her death also emerged, raising uncomfortable questions. Prosecutors say these details were not included in earlier probes, “several claims and testimonies not included” previously, prompting the investigation to be reopened.

Cantat’s defense counsel, Antonin Levy, stated they were unaware of the reopening, but the legal wheels are turning; Buenos Aires judges have now added another layer of scrutiny to an already scandalous history.

Cantat’s attempt to resurrect his career has always been met with resistance. His solo album Amor Fati (2017) faced cancellations and public backlash in the wake of #MeToo, while in 2018 he publicly railed against critics at a Paris concert. 

Krisztina Rády: His ex-wife and the tragic link

Krisztina Rády, a Hungarian-born interpreter and Cantat’s ex-wife (they have two children), died in January 2010, officially ruled a suicide. But her story was largely overshadowed by the Trintignant case until recently. According to Netflix and press reporting, Rády endured physical and psychological abuse from Cantat, including visible scalp trauma and distressing voicemail messages.

At the 2004 Vilnius trial, she even testified in defense of Cantat, testimony some now say was made under pressure. Now, her death is being revisited as more than a tragic footnote.