Gary Richards (music executive) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gary Richards
Destructo at HARD Summer 2013 in Los Angeles, CA
Background information
Also known as	Destructo
Born	(1970-12-31) December 31, 1970 (age 54) Washington, D.C., United States
Genres	Electronic, ghetto house, tech house, electro house
Occupation(s)	Music executive, DJ
Years active	1991–Present
Labels	Interscope Records, Boysnoize Records, Owsla, HITS HARD

Gary Richards (born on December 31, 1970), known by his stage name Destructo, is an American music executive, concert promoter, and DJ. He is known for his work in the electronic music world.

Since September 1, 2017, he has been the President of LiveStyle, a big entertainment company in North America. Before that, he started and led HARD Events. This company has put on popular music festivals since 2007. Live Nation Entertainment bought HARD Events in 2012.

Gary Richards has performed as a DJ under the name Destructo for over 20 years, traveling all over the world. He is seen as a leader in the electronic music style in North America. He helped make artists like Deadmau5 and Justice very popular. Rolling Stone magazine, Billboard, and inthemix have all listed him as one of the most important people in electronic dance music (EDM). As Destructo, he has released four music collections called Extended play|EP's: Technology, Higher, West Coast, and RENEGADE.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Gary Richards grew up in Washington, D.C.. He was around the music industry a lot because his father worked in radio and helped promote concerts. By age 10, he was already going to concerts with his father, Barry "Reazar" Richards. He saw famous bands like Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper.

His family later moved to New Orleans and then to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There, Gary worked as a radio host. The family then moved to Los Angeles. By the time he was 18, he was already organizing his first shows and performing as a DJ.

Career in Music and Events

Organizing Concerts and Finding Talent

In the early 1990s, Gary Richards was very interested in the "warehouse scene," where music events were held in large, open spaces. He started his own weekly event called "The Sermon." He also helped make many L.A. nightlife spots popular.

In 1991, he put on his first big music event called "Magical Mickey's Holy Water Adventure" at Wild Rivers (water park) in Irvine, California. For the next two years, Richards organized monthly events. These included the first two "Electric Daisy Carnivals" in 1991 and 1992. In 1997, Richards allowed another promoter, Pasquale Rotella, to use the "Electric Daisy Carnival" name. This festival, often called "EDC," is now one of the most popular electronic music festivals in the USA.

After "Electric Daisy Carnival," he presented "RaveAmerica" at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California on New Year's Eve, 1993. Before starting his own record labels, Nitrus Records and 1500 Records, he helped release music from artists like Kill The Noise, Whitey, and Dub Pistols. He also worked on a tribute album for Depeche Mode called For the Masses.

Destructo: The DJ

In the mid-1990s, Gary Richards started performing as a DJ under the name Destructo. He said the name Destructo came from his goal to play the "hardest and most gnarly techno out there." He wanted to "blow up the sound system and the mixer at clubs if I could." He was inspired by electronic artists like Kraftwerk and Daft Punk, as well as metal bands like Metallica and Black Sabbath.

He has created remixes for many artists, including Warren G, Depeche Mode, Major Lazer, and White Zombie. In 2012, he released his first EP called Technology.

His second EP, Higher, came out on June 10, 2013. It included remixes by Tommy Trash and Brodinski. The music video for the main song was directed by Agata Alexander.

On November 24, 2014, Destructo released the West Coast EP. This EP featured famous rappers like YG, Problem, Ty Dolla Sign, and Warren G. This release helped him create his unique "G-House" style. His fourth EP, RENEGADE, was released on March 31, 2017. It included songs with E-40, Too $hort, Ty Dolla $ign, and Pusha T. In 2018, Destructo went on his "Let's Be Friends" Tour, playing in many cities across North America.

HARD Events: A Major Festival Organizer

As the music industry changed in the early 2000s, Richards went back to organizing concerts. He launched the very first HARD Events festival in 2007. This festival was very successful. Soon, Gary Richards and HARD Events became a big name in EDM concert promotion. By 2010, the company was hosting three major music festivals, plus many club and theater shows across the United States. In 2012, Live Nation Entertainment bought HARD Events. They wanted to expand its music events to other countries.

It's thought that HARD Events brings in over 100,000 people each year to its events. In 2016, its two-day festival drew as many as 150,000 people. Many famous artists have performed at HARD Events festivals, including Deadmau5, Skrillex, Underworld, Diplo, M.I.A., and Steve Aoki.

Leading LiveStyle

On September 5, 2017, Randy Phillips, the President and CEO of LiveStyle, Inc., announced that Gary Richards had joined the company. In his new role as President of LiveStyle North America, Richards works with all of LiveStyle's current U.S. festival operations. He also helps create new brands and activities on the West Coast.

LiveStyle owns many important companies and festivals, such as Electric Zoo, Spring Awakening, and Life in Color. Randy Phillips said that bringing Gary Richards on board would help LiveStyle grow creatively and strategically in the future. He noted that Gary is not only a successful DJ but also a smart businessman who understands other artists.

Personal Life

In 2003, Gary Richards married Anne Varnishung, who is a model. They have two children together.

Discography

Select Remixes