What you hear coming from those guitar lines is hard to believe it was created by a human. Dan has proven that humans can replicate it, but how in any world do you create it? People often say that their music stays listenable and relevant through time. Snce nothing else really sounds like Voivod, there’s really no music era to tie it to.

Voivod’s motto has always been, “To The Death…”. Now we know that it stretches well beyond even that boundary.

I managed to find the flyer:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=26375475&albumID=2881580&imageID=50234921

Nice one!

I can assure you that when Piggy passed away the Voivod fans I know around the world were calling/emailing one another, it was definitely ‘front page news’!

As for the metal community (not) picking up the story, perhaps it’s not a matter of news travelling fast or slow, but a matter of tons of news travelling at all speeds; that is, a respected guitarist succumbing to cancer is but one of a million relevant and less relevant items being reported over the place.

For those interested in learning more about Voivod beyond listening to their incredible discography, I encourage you to order the new book ‘Worlds Away” by drummer Michel Langevin.

No! No!! No!!! You’ve got it all wrong!

God is merely LETTING them make awful music. That’s because he has a very special – a very warm place reserved for people who make bad music, and the temperature is always like 666 Billion Degrees.

Just let their sins tally up, I’m sure we’ll all be pleased with the result…In the end.

Question is: Do you like Fall-Out-Brats roasted, sauteed in Brokencyde, or charred to perfection in nu-metal hell along with KoRnyLinkinBizkits and all the other easy targets?

***

By the way that was just a joke…Even the very thought of hell (now that I’m older) scares the fuck outta me! I’d much rather wish it just not exist (maybe we’ll find out it was all a big joke, but I’ve had some dreams…damn!) but to be on the safe-side I’d rather NOBODY ends up in barbecue city (Even FOB and BC whoever the hell they are).

“I was so shocked to learn of Piggy’s death. He was a visionary.”

Actually, for me personally, I didn’t really know who Denis D’Amour was, but I did know of VoiVod (never being a real big fan of the band, but always keeping the name in mind) – the fact that he died – WAY BACK IN 2005 (not 2009) scares me a bit because you’ve probably heard the saying “False news travels fast”. Well, the sub-textual implication being “True news travels at a much slower – almost snails pace”.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure VoiVod fans were aware of his death (I feel awful, since I wasn’t even aware of his ‘life’ until now anyway) but in the general metal (or even the fragmented sub-general metal) community I don’t recall there being a ‘Dimebag’ caliber commemoration. Well, that’s not a fair comparison, Dimebag was murdered – and I even think there was video of the shooting – but I never actually saw it myself so I can’t say for sure.

But yeah, I’m finding out about this individual now – in 2009 so maybe the saying I mentioned applies.

Still, a tragedy (I mean Metal’s all about ‘living fast and dying young’ but Metal isn’t always serious either, or at least probably shouldn’t be).

(1) Thanks for clearing up the nonsense speculation on my part. Google was not a very good friend yesterday (for some reason various ‘online wish-lists’ kept popping up for ‘Denis D’Amour’). I know about Manson’s ZimZum, but I thought there was another…Plus there’s a fountain in Saudi Arabia called ZumZum – so I presumed there’d be more than one Z_MZ_Z (fill in vowel of choice).

(2) “Dimension Hatross” and “Nothingface” you say? Thanks for the suggestion, will do!

By the way isn’t James LaBrie (lead singer of ‘Dream Theater’) French Canadian? Or of similar descent? (Last name’s tend to make me think in that direction).

I was lucky enough to see Voivod at Download earlier this year, and Dan Mongrain did a hell of a job on guitar. But it wasn’t Piggy, who was without question the true creative, driving force behind Voivod. And as a result, I kind of pine to have been another 10-15 years older, so I could’ve experienced the original wave of thrash metal and experienced Voivod around the days of Dimension Hatross, Nothingface, etc.

You can hear Piggy’s influence in their music. There’s nothing else that sounds like Voivod, and its hard to compare Voivod to any other band. There’s an undeniably unique quality about their music. And while its pleasing to know that bands count Voivod as an influence, there will never be another band like them. However, its a tribute to Piggy’s legacy that Voivod are still going today, and their show at Download was excellent, showcasing the older material that put Voivod on the map. Truly an experience I will never forget.

R.I.P. Piggy – a true legend

I was so shocked to learn of Piggy’s death. He was a visionary.

Your tribute was mentioned on voivodfan.com, which I recently discovered. Like you, I was a total Voivod fanatic from day one and dropped off around Angel Rat–momentarily distracted by death metal. More spikes, fewer puffy shirts.

You’ll appreciate this: in 1986 I failed to construct the perfect teen alibi in order to sneak off to cross several state borders to catch their NY show, and I missed the Complex (DC) show in ’88 because I was *grounded*! Bitter. But–the 1990 show at the Bayou (DC) was brilliant insofar as I can remember.

If I could build a time machine I would go back for those 86 and 88 shows, and also do the 90 one over (minus the chemicals –you don’t need them when your brain is on ‘vod).

Despite the tragedy of losing Piggy way too soon, there is a happy ending of sorts: in a way I made up for lost shows this summer, catching them at Waldrock (NL) and Trix (BE); very different shows, one a medium-sized festival, the other a small club. Dan did a fine job, and it didn’t feel like a forced ‘let’s milk this for what it’s worth’ charade.

Yesterday I paid tribute to Piggy by hauling out all my old Die Kreuzen cassettes (yes, I not only remember tapes & LPs, but I also refuse to throw them out no matter how deteriorated the quality might be); a metal buddy gave me October File after one listen, sneering at its overly arty qualities. I liked it instantly, and could see why Voivod were big fans, too. Innovative, risk taking, spacy and rocky.

Voivod is one of the few bands from ‘the old days’ that I still play a lot–it’s timeless.
I am now hoping that we get Voivod over here next year for Roadburn 2010.

Either way, Piggy’s legacy lives on.

To the death…and beyond!

-Piggy was very well known in underground metal circles and greatly respected by fans and fellow musicians alike.

-Paul D’Amour was born in Spokane, WA and lived in LA, CA. Piggy was full-blown French Canadian. I do not believe they were related.

-Do yourself a favor and buy Dimension Hatross and Nothingface. If you dig ‘em (which I’m sure you will) go back for their earlier material. Voivod was one of a kind and bad ass to boot.

That being said, while I was never really a VoiVod fan, the name sounded cool (as did ZimZum) and it stuck in my mind for a while (plus I remembered seeing their CD’s being sold/produced by MetalBlade and CenturyMedia from time to time – I buy stuff from them – a lot!)

As a side note, as bad as this is, it kind of goes to show that artists often times are more famous dead than they are alive. Not saying this’ll reach Michael Jackson level, but a few hundred to a thousand new fans for Voivod, maybe? At least their older material with D’amour?

Also, anyone know if this guy is related to Paul D’amour formerly of tool? Not exactly the most common last name, and David Botrill who produced two of Tools biggest records (Aenima and LaTeRaLus) was also from Canada, so maybe they know each other or are related?

Pure speculation on my part, correct me if you know please.