French fans of Gojira will have a slightly different, but equally intense, experience during the next leg of the band's tour in their homeland. Vocalist and guitarist Joe Duplantier suffered a hand injury that required surgery, preventing him from playing the instrument in upcoming performances.
The news was confirmed by the musician himself, who assured that, despite the setback, the shows are still on. To fill the void left by their rhythm guitarist, the band recruited Greg Kubacki , guitarist for the American mathcore group Car Bomb .
In a direct message to his followers, Duplantier calmly explained the situation, emphasizing that he will focus exclusively on vocals while he recovers.
“Hey! I hurt my hand a few weeks ago,” the frontman wrote. “After undergoing minor surgery, I’m recovering, but unfortunately I won’t be able to play all my guitar parts on the upcoming tour in France.”
He continued, presenting the solution the band found: “No worries, though, we hired our good friend Greg Kubacki, from the amazing Car Bomb, to ‘lend a hand’. Spirits are high in our camp, as we’re embarking on an exciting experience in our own backyard. The show must go on.”
Band recruits Greg Kubacki
Replacing the band members isn't a simple task. Gojira's compositions, especially tracks from acclaimed albums like The Way of All Flesh or the more recent Fortitude , demand technical precision and a strong "grip." However, the choice of Kubacki seems spot-on, given that Car Bomb is known precisely for its complex and heavy rhythms, an aesthetic that directly complements the sound of the French quartet.
Interestingly, this forced change can bring an interesting dynamic to the stage. Duplantier has mentioned in previous interviews the difficulty of performing certain complex tracks while singing. With the freedom to focus solely on the microphone and stage performance, it's possible that the audience will witness an even more visceral vocal delivery.
The series of concerts begins this Wednesday, November 27th, and continues until mid-December, taking place in the main arenas of France.
Check out the dates when the new temporary lineup can be seen:
- November 27: Reims (Reims Arena)
- November 28: Lille (Zénith de Lille)
- November 30th: Paris (Accor Arena)
- December 1st: Rouen (Zénith de Rouen)
- December 2: Saint-Herblain (Zénith Nantes Métropole)
- December 4th: Toulouse (Zénith de Toulouse)
- December 5th: Clermont-Ferrand (Zénith de Clermont-Ferrand)
- December 6: Marseille (Le Dôme de Marseille)
- December 8th: Nice (Nikaïa Palace)
- December 9th: Bordeaux (Arkéa Arena)
- December 10: Lyon (LDLC Arena)
- December 12: Strasbourg (Zénith de Strasbourg)
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