VOIVOD STARS STRUGGLE TO WATCH BANDMATE DIE

Last updated: Wednesday, July 26, 2006

VOIVOD STARS STRUGGLE TO WATCH BANDMATE DIE

VOIVOD frontman DENIS BELANGER struggled to come to terms with bandmate DENIS 'PIGGY' D'AMOUR's 2005 cancer battle - because he couldn't bear to see his pal looking so ill.

D'Amour was diagnosed with colon cancer last year and lost his battle in August (05) - just after completing work on his final Voivod album KATORZ, which has just been released.

And bandmate Belanger admits his final months were tough on everyone.

The singer says, "At one point I didn't see him for 10 days and when I saw him again he was so skinny. I realised he was not gonna make it. When I was going home, I was crying in the car and I had to pull over because I couldn't drive anymore.

"I can't think of anything that's worse than seeing your best friend going down day by day. It's horrible."

Meanwhile, bandmate MICHEL LANGEVIN reveals D'Amour was so determined to complete his final Voivod album he competed in a race against time to record his last guitar parts.

The drummer couldn't bring himself to listen to his pal's last recordings until weeks after he died, but he admits the effort the guitarist made, while staring death in the face, gave him the will to complete the album.

He adds, "Piggy had done double rhythm guitar, solos, and fills on every track. It gave me the boost to pursue it and finish it up, even though it's probably the most challenging thing I've done in my life."

Making of Voivod's new album 'Katorz'

| Wednesday, July 26, 2006

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