As if Quebec-based death metal outfit Kataklysm already have a hard enough go of it in their homeland - they're not exactly adored here despite forging ahead for almost 20 years - now the band have other, more legally sensitive issues to contend with. Apparently, after pummelling Russia with some live action, the band's guitarist J-F Dagenais was singled out at U.S. customs by federal agents and detained.
Over to vocalist Maurizio Iacono [via The Gauntlet]: "We arrived in Washington D.C. with a lay over to Chicago... We grabbed our bags and went through immigration with no problems as expected. As we're waiting in line for the customs exit some uniformed guy grabs J-F and takes him away with his bags.
"We assumed it was just a random check so we make our way to our next gate for our plane and realise it's been over an hour and there's still no sign of J-F. This was 4 p.m. I go back to the customs area and the place is deserted. At this point we started worrying and asking questions but we received no answers. We decide to board our plane at 4:30 p.m. with still no sign of him. Someone from United Airlines tells me finally he won't be joining our flight but still no reason is given. At this point I'm like 'What the fuck is happening?'
"Apparently Washington customs official grabbed J-F and threw him in a room with only one chair and a table. He was there for five hours until they finally talked to him and they told him that he was wanted internationally and by the U.S. government... People that know J-F know he couldn't hurt an ant." "After a few hours of denying everything, Interpol sent in a picture and that picture didn't match his. What happened was that there was another Jean-Francois Dagenais that is listed in the FBI's most wanted list and they thought they'd caught him. I mean, what the fuck!? He was given a tap on the shoulder and apology and rebooked to Chicago! Even though we were really worried all of us laughed it off at the end. It's just ironic that we expected this to maybe happen in Russia but in the end it ended up happening right here at home!"
Can you really blame customs? I mean, you know how dangerous those unassuming Quebecois metal dudes are, right? I mean, Voivod just have "beware" written all over them.
Over to vocalist Maurizio Iacono [via The Gauntlet]: "We arrived in Washington D.C. with a lay over to Chicago... We grabbed our bags and went through immigration with no problems as expected. As we're waiting in line for the customs exit some uniformed guy grabs J-F and takes him away with his bags.
"We assumed it was just a random check so we make our way to our next gate for our plane and realise it's been over an hour and there's still no sign of J-F. This was 4 p.m. I go back to the customs area and the place is deserted. At this point we started worrying and asking questions but we received no answers. We decide to board our plane at 4:30 p.m. with still no sign of him. Someone from United Airlines tells me finally he won't be joining our flight but still no reason is given. At this point I'm like 'What the fuck is happening?'
"Apparently Washington customs official grabbed J-F and threw him in a room with only one chair and a table. He was there for five hours until they finally talked to him and they told him that he was wanted internationally and by the U.S. government... People that know J-F know he couldn't hurt an ant." "After a few hours of denying everything, Interpol sent in a picture and that picture didn't match his. What happened was that there was another Jean-Francois Dagenais that is listed in the FBI's most wanted list and they thought they'd caught him. I mean, what the fuck!? He was given a tap on the shoulder and apology and rebooked to Chicago! Even though we were really worried all of us laughed it off at the end. It's just ironic that we expected this to maybe happen in Russia but in the end it ended up happening right here at home!"
Can you really blame customs? I mean, you know how dangerous those unassuming Quebecois metal dudes are, right? I mean, Voivod just have "beware" written all over them.
