With 40 years and over a dozen albums under their belts, it's safe to say that Canadian prog metal lifers Voivod have cemented themselves as legends. Now, their legacy is to be immortalized in aluminum: a Kickstarter campaign has been launched to erect a statue of late guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour in the band's hometown of Saguenay, QC.
Created by project leader Hugo Lachance, the campaign is trying to raise $100,000 CAD — which doesn't even cover the full monument budget of $131,773, accounting for costs like creation, taxation and fulfillment — by July 13.
Artist Fred Laforge is the brains behind the eight-foot aluminum monument to D'Amour, which will be established in the Jonquière borough of the city. As you can see from the mock-up previews of the sculpture, one of the design features is the inclusion of many layers in the aluminum — and backers who donate $200 or more will each get to have their names listed on one of these strata.
"[D'Amour's] posture represents a kind of inner well-being that emanates from his music and that's exactly what I see," bandleader Denis "Snake" Bélanger said of the statue in the promotional video on the Kickstarter page.
D'Amour died on August 26, 2005, from complications of advanced colon cancer. Funeral proceedings included a symbolic guitar-burning, after which the instrument's remnants were placed in the Sable River.
In addition to his bandmates, the Piggy Monument project has ambassadors in Andreas Kisser of Sepultura, Bill Kelliher of Mastodon, Shane Embury of Napalm Death, Michael Amott of Arch Enemy, Luc Lemay of Gorguts, Mille Petrozza of Kreator, Matt McGachy of Cryptopsy, Grutle Kjellson of Enslaved, Vincent Peake of Groovy Aardvark, Fenriz of Darkthrone, Mirai Kawashima of Sigh and more.
See the band's Instagram post announcing the campaign, which you can pledge here, below.
Voivod are hitting the North American road next month in support of their new album Synchro Anarchy.
Created by project leader Hugo Lachance, the campaign is trying to raise $100,000 CAD — which doesn't even cover the full monument budget of $131,773, accounting for costs like creation, taxation and fulfillment — by July 13.
Artist Fred Laforge is the brains behind the eight-foot aluminum monument to D'Amour, which will be established in the Jonquière borough of the city. As you can see from the mock-up previews of the sculpture, one of the design features is the inclusion of many layers in the aluminum — and backers who donate $200 or more will each get to have their names listed on one of these strata.
"[D'Amour's] posture represents a kind of inner well-being that emanates from his music and that's exactly what I see," bandleader Denis "Snake" Bélanger said of the statue in the promotional video on the Kickstarter page.
D'Amour died on August 26, 2005, from complications of advanced colon cancer. Funeral proceedings included a symbolic guitar-burning, after which the instrument's remnants were placed in the Sable River.
In addition to his bandmates, the Piggy Monument project has ambassadors in Andreas Kisser of Sepultura, Bill Kelliher of Mastodon, Shane Embury of Napalm Death, Michael Amott of Arch Enemy, Luc Lemay of Gorguts, Mille Petrozza of Kreator, Matt McGachy of Cryptopsy, Grutle Kjellson of Enslaved, Vincent Peake of Groovy Aardvark, Fenriz of Darkthrone, Mirai Kawashima of Sigh and more.
See the band's Instagram post announcing the campaign, which you can pledge here, below.
Voivod are hitting the North American road next month in support of their new album Synchro Anarchy.
