Michel Langevin
| Michel Langevin | |
|---|---|
 Michel "Away" Langevin- Masters of Rock 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michel Langevin |
| Also known as | Away |
| Born | May 30, 1963 |
| Genres | Heavy metal, progressive metal, thrash metal, progressive rock, speed metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Metal Blade, Noise, MCA, Mausoleum, Hypnotic, Chophouse, The End |
| Associated acts | Voivod, Tau Cross, Necro, Kosmos, Les Ékorchés, Men Without Hats |
Michel "Away" Langevin (born May 30, 1963[1]) is a founding member and drummer for the Canadian heavy metal band Voivod. He has been a constant member of the band since its formation in 1982. Langevin is credited with the creation of the mythology of the post-apocalyptic vampire lord Voivod, about which the band originally coalesced, and is largely responsible for its continuing science fiction themes.
Langevin is also a graphic design artist. He has created all of Voivod's artwork, as well as the artwork for the Probot album. He is also credited with the design for Non Phixion's album cover artwork. He published an artbook called "Worlds Away: Voivod and The Art of Michel Langevin".[2]
Langevin has also cowritten songs for J. G. Thirlwell's Steroid Maximus and drummed on Men Without Hats' Sideways (1991).
In 2005, less than six months before the death of Denis"Piggy" D'Amour (Voivod's guitarist), Away and Piggy recorded an album with legendary artist Lucien Francoeur.[3] Vincent Peake of Groovy Aardvark and Joe Evil of Grimskunk being part of the project as well, it's a who's who of Quebec's finest rockers. The songs are a selection of "classic" Aut'Chose songs a band fronted by Francoeur, the modern poet, since 1974. Needless to say, this new production gave the songs a schock treatment.
In 2007, Michel Langevin and fellow Canadian musicians Pat Gordon (Ghoulunatics), Marc Vaillancourt (B.A.R.F.) and Philippe Mius D'Entremont (Maruka) founded Les Ékorchés, an acoustic hardcore/thrash metal band. On February 27, 2007 their first album entitled Les Ékorchés was released. All of the tracks are in French.