Rock icon Hallyday leaves hospital for Christmas

French singer Johnny Hallyday left the Cedars Sinai hospital on Wednesday to spend Christmas with his family in his Los Angeles home. He will continue to undergo intensive medical treatment.

AFP - Veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday Wednesday left the hospital in the United States where he had undergone emergency surgery, to spend Christmas with his family, a spokesman said.

The 66-year-old known as the French Elvis was admitted to hospital in Los Angeles on December 7 after complications from a back operation performed in Paris last month.

He spent several days in a drug-induced coma to recover from the surgery.

On Wednesday doctors decided his condition had improved and gave him permission to leave Cedars Sinai hospital, his press service said in a statement.

The rocker would continue to follow a course of "essential medical treatment" and would receive suitable medical assistance while at home, the statement said.

He would spend Christmas with his wife Laeticia and his two daughters at his LA house, the statement added.

Hallyday's admission to hospital caused the cancellation of his farewell tour, which was due to start next month.

Though little known abroad, Hallyday has sold more than 100 million albums and played 45 major tours in a career that began in the 1960s, selling out at French stadiums.

Date created : 2009-12-23