Gojira
Pull a thread
Brazilian Metal Drummers: Why Gojira, Slipknot and the World Keep Calling São Paulo
When Gojira lost their drummer to a US immigration problem in July 2026, they called a 21-year-old Brazilian. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it keeps happening, and this piece is about the pattern.
The news, in sixty seconds
Mid-July 2026, Gojira had three American festival dates on the calendar and a serious problem: Mario Duplantier, the drummer, one half of the Duplantier brothers and arguably the most recognizable rhythmic voice in modern metal, couldn’t get into the country. The band’s statement kept it short: “Mario is dealing with an immigration issue that has made it impossible for him to travel to the US in time for our shows” (Loudwire, July 16, Lauryn Schaffner).