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Gojira brings in Paleface Swiss drummer after visa setback
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Gojira drummer Mario Duplantier withdrew from the French metal band's US festival tour due to unresolved visa issues, with Luigi Paraventi of Paleface Swiss stepping in as his temporary replacement for the remaining dates. The band announced the change on social media just before their appearance at Rock Fest in Wisconsin, explaining that Duplantier had fought to resolve the immigration problem but could not travel in time, and leaned into the coincidence of the substitute drummer sharing a name with Mario's video game "brother", joking that "player two has entered the game".
With Paraventi filling in, Gojira completed their US run, playing Wisconsin's Rock Fest before further sets at Upheaval Festival in Michigan and Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Ohio, following a European tour supporting Metallica that closed with two nights at London Stadium. The band becomes the latest act to have US shows disrupted by visa complications, joining Enter Shikari, who cancelled their entire North American tour in May 2026, and FKA Twigs, who scrapped her US dates in 2025 for the same reason.
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In short
- Gojira drummer Mario missed US shows over visa issues
- Luigi Paraventi of Paleface Swiss filled in as replacement
- Latest act hit by US visa problems, after Enter Shikari, FKA Twigs
How this story developed
- 4 months ago The story was confirmed to be an ongoing substitution rather than a one-off, with Paraventi now also covering the Upheaval and Inkcarceration festival dates and reporting noting Gojira's 2021 album "Fortitude" and their 2024 Paris Olympics performance as context for the tour.
- 4 months ago Gojira drummer Mario Duplantier withdrew from the band's US festival tour after failing to resolve a visa issue in time, with Luigi Paraventi of Paleface Swiss brought in as his stand-in, a switch announced on social media just before Wisconsin's Rock Fest.
Explained simply
Gojira are a French heavy metal band formed in the 1990s, known internationally for their intense live shows and songs that often address environmental themes. Mario Duplantier is the group’s long-serving drummer and the brother of its singer and guitarist, Joe Duplantier.
US tours require overseas musicians to obtain the correct work visas before travelling and performing, and delays can force acts to alter plans at short notice. Paleface Swiss are a Swiss metal band, and their drummer Luigi Paraventi was able to perform with Gojira temporarily while Mario Duplantier was unavailable.
Coverage · 2 sources
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by NME as “Gojira drummer Mario pulls out of US tour due to “visa issues” – replaced with man named Luigi”.