Gojira’s Mario Duplantier On Taylor Hawkins: “It’s Not the First Time a Fragile Soul Is Sacrificed On the Altar of Entertainment”
Last month, the rock world was shocked to learn that Taylor Hawkins, drummer for unbeatable rock act Foo Fighters, had died at the age of 50. Since then, countless musicians have paid tribute to Hawkins via their social media. Now, in footage from the red carpet of this year’s Grammy Awards, Gojira drummer Mario Duplantier has confronted Hawkins’ death in a pretty straightforward manner.
Speaking to the Associated Press in an interview you can see below, Duplantier said the following, as transcribed by Blabbermouth:
“Yeah, obviously, it affects everybody, the whole music community and all the fans. It’s not the first time that a beautiful soul, a fragile soul is sacrificed on the altar of entertainment and rock and roll. And we are all about going out on the road and giving everything for that, but there’s a price to pay. It’s really, really, really hard on the mental and the soul and the families. We leave kids behind. It’s hard on everybody. And I think that he’s simply another victim of this thing. It’s a bit more complicated than people can think. The life of a rock star is not always easy. It’s a lot of nights on buses and being away from home for a long time. So, yes, it touched all of us.”
Check out the full interview below, and catch Gojira at one of their many tour dates listed below:
North American Tour with Deftones:
04/18 San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium [tickets]
04/20 Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre [tickets]
04/22 Las Vegas, NV – The Cosmopolitan (new show) [tickets]
04/23 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre [tickets]
04/25 Denver, CO – Ball Arena [tickets]
04/28 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheatre [tickets]
04/30 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall [tickets]
05/02 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory [tickets]
05/03 San Antonio, TX – AT & T Center [tickets]
05/06 Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park [tickets]
05/07 Nashville, TN – Municipal Auditorium (new show) [tickets]
05/08 Cincinnati, OH – ICON Music Center (new show) [tickets]
05/10 Indianapolis, IN -TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park [tickets]
05/11 Pittsburgh, PA – Petersen Events Center [tickets]
05/13 Boston, MA – Agganis Arena [tickets]
05/14 Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage [tickets]
05/15 New York City, NY – Pier 17 [tickets]
05/17 Washington DC – The Anthem [tickets]
05/18 Philadelphia, PA – The Met [tickets]
05/19 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena [tickets]
05/21 Laval, QC – Place Bell [tickets]
05/22 Toronto, ON – Echo Beach [tickets]
05/24 Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill [tickets]
05/26 Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom [tickets]
05/27 Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island [tickets]
05/28 Minneapolis, MN – The Armory [tickets]
European Tour
7/5 – BEL, Brussels @ Forest National
7/6 – GER, Oberhausen @ Turbinhalle 2
7/8 – SWI, Zurich @ Komplex
7/9 – GER, Munich @ Tonhalle
7/11 – GER, Wiesbaden @ Schlachthof
7/13 – NLD, Tilburg @ 013
7/14 – NLD, Tilburg @ 013 SOLD OUT
7/16 – DEN, Copenhagen @ KB Hallen * VENUE CHANGE
7/17 – NOR, Oslo @ Spektrum
7/19 – FIN, Helsinki @ Black Box at Ice Hall SOLD OUT
7/21 – SWE, Stockholm @ The Annex
7/23 – GER, Berlin @ Huxleys
7/25 – CZE, Prague @ Forum Karlin
7/26 – POL, Wroclaw @ A2
7/27 – HUN, Budapest @ Barba Negra Music Club
7/29 – AUT, Vienna @ Gasometer * VENUE UPGRADE
7/30 – CRO, Zagreb @ Dom Sportova
7/31 – ITA, Milan @ Carroponte * VENUE CHANGE
Rescheduled Dates – 2023
2//11 – IRE, Dublin @ National Stadium SOLD OUT
2/12 – N. IRE, Belfast @ Ulster Hall
2/14 – ENG, Newcastle @ City Hall
2/15 – SCO, Glasgow @ O2 Academy
2/17 – WAL, Cardiff @ Motorpoint Arena
2/19 – ENG, Manchester @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
2/21 – ENG, Nottingham @ Motorpoint Arena
2/22 – ENG, London @ Alexandra Palace
2/24 – FRA, Bordeaux @ Arkea Arena
2/25 – FRA, Paris @ Accor Arena
2/26 – LUX, Luxembourg @ Rockhal
2/28 – FRA, Lyon @ Halle Tony Garnier
