VOIVOD Guitarist Denis “Piggy” D’Amour Dies Aged 45 (August 26th, 2005)

VOIVOD Guitarist Denis “Piggy” D’Amour Dies Aged 45
August 26th, 2005

Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, guitarist for Jonquière, Québec, Canada-based metal outfit Voivod, died on August 26th, 2005 at the age of 45 following a battle with colon cancer.

Former Voivod bassist Jean-Yves “Blacky” Thériault issued the following statement: “Life does not always turn out the way you expect. Mine and the lives of many of my friends from Jonquière were certainly influenced by one specific person, Denis D’Amour. He was a mentor and a hero for many of us. He was my best friend.

“I have dreaded the arrival of this day for a while now. My old bandmate is gone. He passed away last night at peace with himself and without pain. Until the very end he was both a sweetheart and a real rocker, without compromise.

“I am so grateful that I had the chance to let him know how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. Denis did not live to see his last artistic effort released but the rest of us will appreciate it all the more. Long live Denis D’Amour. Long live Piggy.”

D’Amour, Thériault, vocalist Denis “Snake” Bélanger, and drummer Michel “Away” Langevin formed Voivod during the early 1980s.

Recorded in an eight-track Montréal studio, inaugural full-length War And Pain was issued in 1984 through Metal Blade Records. Second outing Rrröööaaarrr arrived in 1986 through Combat / Noise Records, as well as four-track EP Thrashing Rage. That year, Voivod toured the United States with Celtic Frost. Third studio affair proper Killing Technology surfaced in 1987, having been recorded in Berlin, Germany with producer Harris Johns. A year later, Voivod released Dimension Hatröss.

Signing a three-album contract with MCA Records, the assortment released Nothingface during 1989. A Pink Floyd cover version, inaugural single ‘Astronomy Domine’ was shown on MTV’s Headbangers Ball. Voivod supported Rush during the album’s touring cycle, and also underwent a Stateside club tour with Faith No More and Soundgarden.

MCA wished for Voivod to become more palatable with 1991’s Angel Rat, Rush producer Terry Brown helming sessions. Tensions flared as a result, bassist Jean-Yves “Blacky” Thériault exiting the group. 1993’s The Outer Limits and corresponding tours were occupied by session bassists. Denis “Snake” Belanger also exited the fold following touring commitments for that album, The Outer Limits marking the last Voivod album to be released through MCA Records.

Eric Forrest entered as vocalist and bassist during 1994, his tenure lasting until 2001. During that period, Voivod issued the albums Negatron (1995) and Phobos (1997). This led to the return of Bélanger, and the addition of former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted. 2003 self-titled effort Voivod was the last opus to be released during D’Amour’s lifetime.

D’Amour had been diagnosed with colon cancer during the summer of 2005, the disease having spread to his liver, rendering the disease inoperable. In the palliative care unit of a Montréal hospital, D’Amour slipped into a coma on the evening of August 26th and never regained consciousness. The next day, the man passed away, surrounded by family and friends. D’Amour’s funeral took place on September 1st.

2006 effort Katorz and 2009 effort Infini – Voivod’s 11th and 12th full-length studio albums – feature posthumous recording contributions from the axeman.

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