Voivod-live presentations

[Wyvern]

The band has issued an update regarding their upcoming live appearances.

"A lot has happened since the band's last live appearance. The band had taken time off to begin writing what would become the album Katorz. In April 2005 while the new album was in progress, guitarist Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour became ill before recording began and sadly died of colon cancer. It took awhile to recover from the sudden passing of Denis before Michel 'Away' Langevin, Denis 'Snake' Belanger and Jason 'Jasonic' Newsted could begin to assemble the songs from the demos and create Katorz.

Discussions of a tribute show and possible guitar players for it followed, yet it just did not seem right to perform without Denis, but time does help heal wounds and this summer Voivod feel it is time to perform the music Denis helped create once more.

On June 22nd, Voivod will perform in Montreal as part of the Heavy MTL festival and July 26th, 2008 in Calgary for the Monsters Of Rock festival (Click here to open link) with original bass player Jean-Yves Theriault ('Blacky') for the first time in 17 years.

Dan Mongrain from the Quebec band MARTYR, a good friend of the band, will play guitar. Songs from the early catalogue will be the focus for these short festival sets. Jason Newsted is still very much part of the Voivod family and is working with the band on the new record (also constructed from the 2004 demos) along with Jean-Yves Theriault and Eric Forrest. However, Newsted is unable to perform live at this point.

Denis and Michel are determined to play more shows in the future to celebrate Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour's legacy.

I know some fans here will dig this.

[TENTH DREAMER DECEIVER]

Looking forward to Monsters of Rock!

[ramses]

Thanks! I was wondering, in another thread I asked who was going to play guitar for those shows. Katorz is the only album I don't have. They are definitely one of the most unique bands that have always done it their way.

[Marco Spain]

I saw Voivod once in Madrid during Eric Forrest years. It wasn´t the same but, IMO, "Phobos" and "Negatron" are very good stuff.

Voivod is a special band ahead of their time. However, Snake´s return, "Voivod" album, was absolutely disappointed for me.

In any case I hope to see them one day with Snake on vocals playing "Tornado", "Ravenous medicine", "Iron gang" or "Technocratic manipulators".

[ramses]

Yeah, it was ok, but not as good as their era from Dimension Hatross to The Outer Limits. It's not to say I don't love the first 3 albums, though! I saw them with Eric as well. Great show, it was in support of Negatron. Away has some of the best artwork. He has a eerie, but unique quality in his art. Which album is your favorite? Mine in order...
The Outer Limits
Nothingface
Dimension Hatross
Angel Rat
War And Pain
Negatron
Killing Technology
Roooaaarrr!
Phobos
Voivod

[Marco Spain]

I didn´t listen "Katorz" but ranking the rest I´d pick:

Dimension Hatross
War and pain
Killing Technologhy
Nothingface
Negatron
The outer limits
Rrroooaaarrr!!!
Angel Rat
Phobos
Voivod

[delize]

Not too many fans liked Katorz, but I don't think they bothered to find out what the album is all about.

I don't have all their albums, but I like "Dimension Hatross" the best of the ones I do have!

[ramses]

I remember Piggy at that show holding a toy ray-gun up against his guitar pick-ups. Nice guys as well. I had to tell a friend that their english was so-so, that's why they weren't real talkative.