French progressive metal titans GOJIRA will play three U.S. festival dates this week without drummer Mario Duplantier, after an immigration issue prevented him from traveling to the United States in time for the shows. Luigi Paraventi of PALEFACE SWISS has stepped in as his temporary replacement.
The band confirmed the news in a statement addressing fans directly. "Mario is dealing with an immigration issue that has made it impossible for him to travel to the US in time for our shows," the statement read. "Mario is heartbroken not to be here with us and has fought hard every step of the way to find a solution."
The affected dates span three major U.S. festivals over three consecutive days: Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin, on July 16; Upheaval in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 17; and Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio, on July 18. All three shows will proceed as scheduled with Paraventi behind the kit.
GOJIRA expressed gratitude toward Paraventi for the short-notice save, framing the substitution in unusually playful terms for a band known for its ecologically charged, technically demanding output. "We're so grateful for the incredible Luigi Paraventi of PALEFACE SWISS, who has stepped in on short notice," the band said, adding: "Player 2 has entered the game — RESPECT."
Duplantier, who co-founded GOJIRA in 1996 with guitarist and vocalist Joe Duplantier, has been a defining presence behind the band's polyrhythmic, technically intricate drumming since its earliest releases. His absence marks a rare interruption for a band that has built its reputation partly on the tightness and physicality of its live show.
The lineup change lands during a high point for GOJIRA's profile. The band won a Grammy Award in February 2025 for Best Metal Performance for its rendition of "Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira!)," the piece it performed at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games — a performance that made GOJIRA the first metal act to play an Olympic ceremony and significantly widened the band's audience beyond metal's usual circles.
With no timeline given for Duplantier's return, GOJIRA's festival run continues this week as planned, with Paraventi filling in across all three remaining dates.