Carol Langevin, the brother of VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 60, and a fundraiser has been launched to help cover treatment and related costs.
The GoFundMe campaign, organized by Gilles Bezeau, is intended to offset lost income, travel expenses and medical bills tied to Carol's treatment. "Every donation, large or small, will make a real difference," Bezeau wrote in the campaign description. "If you cannot contribute financially, simply sharing this campaign is already a valuable gesture."
The news lands in the middle of what the band has described as a genuinely difficult stretch for the VOIVOD family. Bassist Eric Forrest is currently fighting his own battle with prostate cancer, while singer Denis Bélanger's partner Christine is facing colorectal cancer — meaning three separate cancer diagnoses now touch the band's inner circle within a short span of time.
VOIVOD, formed in Jonquière, Québec in 1982, are widely regarded as one of Canada's "big four" thrash metal bands, known for an era-defining, genre-warping run through the 1980s and '90s. Their 1989 album "Nothingface" remains the band's commercial high point, reaching No. 114 on the Billboard 200 — a rare feat at the time for a band pushing thrash into such overtly progressive, experimental territory.
Away has anchored VOIVOD's drum stool since the band's formation and remains one of its longest-serving members, having also long served as the band's primary visual artist, designing much of its iconic album art.
No further details about Carol Langevin's prognosis or treatment timeline have been shared publicly. Fans looking to support the family can do so through the GoFundMe campaign linked in VOIVOD's official channels.