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GOJIRA Plays First Show With PALEFACE SWISS Drummer LUIGI PARAVENTI (Video)
GOJIRA played its first live show with stand-in drummer Luigi Paraventi of Paleface Swiss on Thursday 16 July at Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin. Paraventi is deputising for the French progressive metal band's regular drummer, Mario Duplantier, who is unable to travel to the United States for the group's July festival dates because of an unspecified immigration issue.
Gojira confirmed the change in a social media statement, saying Duplantier was "heartbroken" to miss the shows despite having "fought hard every step of the way to find a solution", and thanked Paraventi for stepping in at short notice. Duplantier is also set to miss upcoming appearances in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 17 July and at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio on 18 July. The article also recaps Gojira's recent achievements, including their 2025 Grammy win for "Best Metal Performance" and their landmark 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony performance in Paris.
In short
- Gojira drummer Mario Duplantier misses US shows over immigration issue
- Paleface Swiss's Luigi Paraventi filled in at Rock Fest, Wisconsin
- More US dates in Michigan and Ohio also affected
Explained simply
Gojira is a French progressive metal band known for their complex, heavy music and energetic live performances. The group has achieved significant international acclaim, including performing at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony in 2024 and winning a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2025.
The band's regular drummer, Mario Duplantier, is unable to travel to the United States for their scheduled festival performances in July due to an unspecified immigration issue. This is particularly notable as Gojira had committed to playing several major American festivals during this period, including events in Wisconsin and Ohio.
To ensure the shows could go ahead, the band brought in Luigi Paraventi, drummer of Swiss band Paleface Swiss, as a stand-in replacement at short notice. Gojira confirmed the arrangement publicly, expressing gratitude to Paraventi for stepping in while acknowledging that Duplantier was disappointed to miss the performances.