“The biggest mainstream moment in the history of heavy metal”: Spiritbox singer on Gojira’s Olympics performance
Heavy metal has had its share of pivotal, landmark moments which have seen it illuminated by the spotlight of the mainstream.
But none eclipse Gojira’s performance during the Olympics opening ceremony last year, according to Spiritbox frontwoman Courtney LaPlante.
Both Gojira and Spiritbox were nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2025 Grammys, Gojira for their performance of Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!) at the Olympics opening ceremony, and Spiritbox for Cellar Door, from their 2023 album, The Fear of Fear.
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Gojira ultimately won the award, and in a new interview with Audacy Music, LaPlante speaks about Spiritbox losing out.
“In my opinion, [Gojira’s Olympics performance] was the biggest mainstream moment in the history of metal,” she says [via Blabbermouth]. Most metal bands don’t hit mainstream in any capacity like that until they make more mainstream music.
“And I don’t mean ‘mainstream’ in a bad way. I just mean more accessible to lots of people. But Gojira, that’s why it was so shocking to me, and I think to the world, who’s kind of scared of that performance, is that they didn’t do anything – I don’t think they compromised anything.
“I think it might be the most metal thing to ever happen on TV – ever, ever – ‘cause a billion people watched it.” While billions of people certainly watched the Olympics throughout its duration, Forbes estimates only 28.6 million viewers watched the opening ceremony.
Speaking further on Gojira’s Grammy win, LaPlante continues: “It was funny ‘cause [the guys in Gojira] are very humble people and they are really nice and really supportive of us. And so we were all in the lineup to go do the Getty Images together…
“And we were like, ‘Guys, you opened the Olympics. You’re winning.’ I really think they thought they weren’t gonna win because they sat so far in the back, they almost didn’t get to do their speech. I’m like, ‘Guys, at least come to the 10th row!’ So I’m really happy for them.”
“Of course, I’d love to win a Grammy,” she concludes. “That sounds awesome. But when there’s only one metal award, all the other people in there are awesome, and I don’t think anyone is sad to lose to those other people, because there’s only five bands that get to be picked to be nominated for that every year. That’s the only award for metal.”
Spiritbox released their second album Tsunami Sea earlier this month, and are set to perform a string of dates this year in support of the record.
For a full list of dates, head to the band’s official website.
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