Gojira: There was pressure to represent “the whole metal community” at the Olympics

Gojira’s Joe Duplantier has admitted that the band felt pressure to represent “the whole metal community on the world stage” with their epic and history-making Paris performance on Friday evening.

The French heroes became the first metal band ever to play at an Olympics opening ceremony, joining forces with opera singer Marina Viotti at the Conciergerie on July 26 for a suitably heavy version of the song Ah! Ça Ira.

Speaking to The New York Times about why that track – which is translated to ‘It’ll be fine’ in English, and is considered emblematic of the French Revolution – was chosen for the performance, Joe said simply that, “It was a very bloody era of French history, so it was very metal.”

He also teased in advance – and then later very much delivered on that promise – that Gojira and Marina’s take would be “in your face”, with the band in particular wanting to do metal proud (which, of course, they absolutely did).

After the show, Gojira posted on Instagram and called it a “once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Paris you looked good from up there!”

Machine Head’s Robb Flynn commented and called the whole thing “absolutely jaw-dropping”, while Lacuna Coil’s Cristina Scabbia wrote: “To say I am proud of you is the absolute bare minimum. Love you guys so much and all this is SO deserved.” Elsewhere, Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God enthusiastically said: “SO PROUD OF YOU, MY BROTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

We concur!

Read this: Inside Gojira’s metal masterpiece… and their fight for our future