"Joe Duplantier, Gojira frontman, recounts his past connection with ESP guitars, courtesy of Metallica's Kirk Hammett, and discusses his ongoing preference for playing Charvel instruments."
Joe Duplantier Switches to ESP for Gojira's Historic Olympic Games Performance
Renowned musician Joe Duplantier, the frontman for the metal band Gojira, made a surprising move during their history-making show at last year's Olympic Games. Duplantier chose to play an ESP electric guitar, marking a departure from his long-time loyalty to Charvel.
In an interview with Guitar World, Duplantier explained his decision, stating that he wanted to "try new things" and have fun with his gear. He clarified that his relationship with Charvel remains positive and loyal, but his choice to play ESP was about exploration rather than any issues with Charvel.
For the Olympic performance, Duplantier played a custom ESP XJ-1, featuring an all-chrome aesthetic, an EverTune bridge, and a DiMarzio Fortitude bridge humbucker. The striking guitar made a strong impression on the global stage.
Duplantier's history with Charvel is well-documented. He has been using their Tele-style San Dimas models for over 10 years and even has a signature model, the Joe Duplantier Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 2 HH Mahogany. Despite his brief flirtation with ESP, Duplantier confirmed that he still uses his signature Charvel and will continue to do so.
The ESP announcement regarding Duplantier's signature artist status coincided with Gojira's appearance at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony. Duplantier has been in discussions with ESP's Head Of Artist Relations, Tony Rauser, about creating something new and different.
Duplantier also plans to make changes to his stage appearance, aiming to shine more on stage. He is accepting his role as more of a frontman, and his new partnership with ESP could be a sign of even more changes to come.
Meanwhile, fellow metal musician Bill from Mastodon has also expressed his love for ESP guitars, adding to the growing list of artists associated with the brand. The future of Gojira and Duplantier's musical journey with ESP is an exciting prospect for fans of the genre.
Stay tuned for the full interview with Joe Duplantier, which will be published on our website in the coming weeks.
[1] Source: Guitar World interview with Joe Duplantier.
- Joe Duplantier, known for his role as the frontman for Gojira, switched to ESP electric guitars for their historic performance at the Olympic Games, signaling a new era in his musical journey.
- Duplantier's decision to play ESP guitars, as detailed in his interview with Guitar World, was motivated by his desire to explore new gear and have fun.
- During the Olympic performance, Duplantier played a custom ESP XJ-1, characterized by its all-chrome aesthetic, EverTune bridge, and DiMarzio Fortitude bridge humbucker.
- Despite this brief flirtation with ESP, Duplantier affirmed that he will continue to use his signature Charvel guitar, which he has been using for over ten years.
- ESP's Head Of Artist Relations, Tony Rauser, and Duplantier have been in discussions about creating something unique, hinting at potential collaborations and further developments in their partnership.
