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 December 31, 1970) is a famous American DJ and music expert. He is known by his stage name Destructo. Gary helps organize big music events and festivals. He also works as a DJ, playing electronic music for over 20 years.

Gary Richards helped make electronic music popular in North America. He brought artists like Deadmau5 and Justice to a wider audience. Magazines like Rolling Stone and Billboard have recognized him as a very important person in electronic dance music (EDM). As Destructo, he has released several music collections called EPs. These include Technology, Higher, West Coast, and RENEGADE.

Growing Up with Music

Gary Richards grew up in Washington, D.C.. His dad, Barry "Reazar" Richards, worked in radio and helped put on concerts. This meant Gary was around music a lot from a young age. He started going to concerts with his dad when he was about 10 years old. He saw famous bands like Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper perform live.

His family moved a few times, first to New Orleans, Louisiana. Then they moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There, Gary even worked on the radio himself! Later, his family moved to Los Angeles, California. This is where he began his journey as a DJ.

Building a Music Career

Early Events and A&R Work

In the early 1990s, Gary Richards loved the underground music scene. He started his own weekly event called "The Sermon." He also helped make many cool nightlife spots in Los Angeles popular. In 1991, he put on his first big music event. It was called "Magical Mickey's Holy Water Adventure" at Wild Rivers (water park) in Irvine, California.

For the next two years, Gary organized monthly events. This included the very first two "Electric Daisy Carnivals" in 1991 and 1992. In 1997, he allowed another promoter to use the "Electric Daisy Carnival" name. This festival, known as "EDC," is now one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the USA. Gary also presented "RaveAmerica" at Knott's Berry Farm on New Year's Eve, 1993.

Because of his growing reputation, famous music producer Rick Rubin chose Gary. Gary worked in the electronic music part of Def American Recordings. He helped sign and develop many artists there. Later, he started his own record labels, Nitrus Records and 1500 Records. These labels released music from artists like Kill The Noise and Dub Pistols. They also released a tribute album for Depeche Mode.

Destructo: The DJ

In the mid-1990s, Gary Richards started performing as a DJ. He chose the name Destructo. He said he wanted to play the "hardest and most gnarly techno." He even joked about "blowing up the sound system" with his music! He was inspired by electronic artists like Kraftwerk and Daft Punk. He also liked metal bands such as Metallica and Black Sabbath.

Destructo has created remixes for many artists. These include Warren G, Depeche Mode, and Major Lazer. In 2012, he released his first EP, Technology. His second EP, Higher, came out in 2013. It featured remixes by Tommy Trash.

In 2014, Destructo released the West Coast EP. This collection featured many hip-hop artists like YG and Ty Dolla Sign. This EP helped him create his unique "G-House" style. His fourth EP, RENEGADE, was released in 2017. It included collaborations with artists like E-40 and Pusha T. In 2018, Destructo went on his "Let's Be Friends" Tour across North America.

Creating HARD Events

As the music world changed, Gary Richards went back to organizing concerts. In 2007, he launched the very first HARD Events festival. This festival was a huge success. Soon, HARD Events became a major name in electronic dance music (EDM) concerts. By 2010, the company was hosting three big music festivals. They also put on many club and theater shows across the United States.

In 2012, a big entertainment company called Live Nation Entertainment bought HARD Events. They wanted to expand these music events to new countries. HARD Events now attracts over 100,000 people to its events each year. In 2016, one two-day festival drew as many as 150,000 attendees. Many famous artists have performed at HARD Events festivals. These include Deadmau5, Skrillex, Diplo, and Steve Aoki.

Leading LiveStyle

On September 5, 2017, Gary Richards joined LiveStyle, Inc. He became the President of LiveStyle North America. In this new role, Gary works with all of LiveStyle's festival operations in the U.S. He also develops new music brands and activities on the West Coast. LiveStyle owns many popular festivals and brands. These include Electric Zoo, Spring Awakening, and Life in Color.

Family Life

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

Music Releases

Gary Richards, as Destructo, has released many songs and EPs. Here are some of his notable works:

EPs

Select Remixes

Destructo has also created remixes for many popular songs, giving them his unique electronic sound.

Images for kids

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  Destructo performing at HARD Summer 2013