Although Léo Ferré is most accurately described as an avant-garde chanson artist, his approach to his life's work was, essentially, punk. He started out as a traditional balladeer whose songs were made famous by Edith Piaf and Juliette Gréco, but his song “Les anarchistes” made him the musical figurehead of May '68, an event that spurred Ferré on to deconstruct rock with greater verve. He toured with the prog group Zoo and delivered Rimbaudian monologues on stage. The French government tried to bestow him with wreaths and honours, but, defiant to the last, he never acquiesced.