{{multiple issues| {{COI|date=June 2014}} {{cite check|date=June 2014}} {{promotional|date=June 2014}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Gary Richards | image = DestructoHardSummer2013.JPG | alt = | caption = Destructo at HARD Summer 2013 in Los Angeles, CA | birth_name = | alias = Destructo | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|31}} | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | instrument = | genre = Electronic, ghetto house, tech house, electro house | occupation = Music executive, dj | years_active = 1991–Present | label = Interscope Records, Boysnoize Records, Owsla, HITS HARD | website = {{URL|http://djdestructo.com}} }} '''Gary Richards''' (born December 31, 1970), known by his stage name '''Destructo''', is an American music executive, concert promoter, and DJ. As of September 1, 2017, he is the president of LiveStyle, North America.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Richards appointed president of LiveStyle North America |url=https://www.musicweek.com/live/read/gary-richards-appointed-president-of-livestyle-north-america/069705 |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=www.musicweek.com |language=en}}</ref> Prior to joining LiveStyle, he was the founder and CEO of HARD Events,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-jun-27-la-et-0628-livenation-20120628-story.html|title=Live Nation adds Los Angeles' Hard Events to its playlist|last=Roberts |first=Randall | date=June 27, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 15, 2013}}</ref> a brand which has put on popular music festivals since 2007 and was subsequently purchased by Live Nation Entertainment in 2012. He has performed professionally as a DJ under the name Destructo<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2011/10/destructo_aka_gary_richards_ha.php|title=Destructo aka Gary Richards: 'Steve Aoki Was Like, Why Don't You Call it Hard On? Like, I Got a Hard On for LA'|last=Salamat |first=Neda | date=October 24, 2011|publisher=Voice Media Group|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref> for over 20 years, touring across the world. He is credited with being a leader in the electronic music genre in North America, helping to bring artists like Deadmau5 and Justice into the mainstream.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allaccess.com/power-player/archive/13860/gary-richards|title=Gary Richards, Power Player|date=July 10, 2010|publisher=Allaccess.com|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2013/04/gary_richards_interview_hard_summer.php|title=Gary Richards Was an EDM Hustler Long Before He Started HARD [UPDATED W/ Info About HARD Stage at EDC]|date=April 29, 2013|publisher=OC Weekly|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}</ref> Richards is included on Rolling Stone's "50 Most Important People in EDM"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-most-important-people-in-edm-20140317|title=50 Most Important People in EDM |last=Castillo |first=Arielle | date=March 17, 2014|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|accessdate=April 10, 2014}}</ref> list, Billboard's "EDM Power Players" lists from 2014 to 2017,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/edm-power-players-the-executives-6141129/|title=EDM Power Players: The Executives|last=Billboard Staff | date=July 1, 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/6597674/billboard-edm-power-players-list-dance-2015|title=Billboard's Top 30 EDM Power Players List Revealed: Who Rules Dance Music?|last=Billboard Staff | date=June 12, 2015|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}</ref> and inthemix's list of the "50 Most Powerful People in EDM IN 2013<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inthemix.com/features/54908/The_50_Most_Powerful_People_In_EDM_2013?page=4|title=The 50 Most Powerful People In EDM 2013|last=ITM HQ | date=March 25, 2013|publisher=Sound Alliance|accessdate=March 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616140502/http://www.inthemix.com/features/54908/The_50_Most_Powerful_People_In_EDM_2013?page=4|archive-date=June 16, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> As Destructo, he has released four EP's titled ''Technology'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/destructo-talks-la-funky-featuring-oliver-in-exclusive-video-interview/10202485|title=Destructo Talks "LA Funky" Featuring Oliver in Exclusive Video Interview|last=Florino |first=Rick | date=July 31, 2012|publisher=Artistdirect|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}</ref> ''Higher'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/higher-tommy-trash-remix-by-destructo-free-mp3-20130530|title=Higher (Tommy Trash Remix)' by Destructo |last=Rolling Stone | date=May 30, 2013|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}</ref> ''West Coast'',<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/11/destructo-west-coast-ep-stream|title=Stream Destructo's "West Coast" EP|last=Ortiz |first=Edwin | date=November 24, 2014|magazine=Complex|accessdate=August 23, 2015}}</ref> and ''RENEGADE'' respectively.
==Early life== Richards<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Gabrielle |last=Pharms |title=Destructo Works Hard, Plays Harder: DJ Mag USA Feature |magazine=DJ Magazine|date=March 10, 2017 |url=https://djmag.com/news/work-hard-play-harder-dj-mag-usa-talks-dj-destructo |quote=“Somehow the Jewish kid ended up with three Christian branded events,” he shakes his head.}}</ref> grew up in Washington, D.C. He received significant exposure to the music industry as a child as his father, Barry "Reazar" Richards worked on the radio and in concert promotion.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://buzzbands.la/2012/07/25/interview-gary-richards-on-his-not-so-hard-luck-ignoring-his-dads-advice-about-techno-music-and-whom-he-want-a-photo-with-at-hard-summer/|title=Interview: Gary Richards, on his not-so-'Hard' luck, ignoring his dad's advice about techno music and whom he wants a photo with at Hard Summer|author=Jonathan |date=July 25, 2012|publisher=Buzzbands.la|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref> He began to attend concerts with his father around the age of 10. The artists he saw live include Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper. His family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, and then to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he worked as an on-air radio personality. The family then moved to Los Angeles, California, where he started performing as a DJ.
==Career== ===Concert promotion and A&R=== Entranced by the early 1990s warehouse scene, Richards hosted a weekly event of his own called "The Sermon"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dropthebeatsd.com/2012/08/25/artist-interview-destructo/|title=Artist Interview: Destructo|author=Josh |date=August 25, 2012|publisher=Dropthebeatsd.com|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref> and helped bring attention to many L.A. nightlife hotspots including the Standard Hotel – Downtown. He organized his first major music event titled "Magical Mickey's Holy Water Adventure" at Wild Rivers (water park) in Irvine, CAlifornia, in 1991.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gottadancedirty.com/tag/dj-destructo/|title=DJ Destructo Archives|date=February 24, 2012|publisher=Gottadancedirty.com|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref> For the next two years, Richards produced monthly events including the first two "Electric Daisy Carnivals" in 1991 and 1992.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6473028/corner-office-hard-events-ceo-gary-richards-edm|title=Corner Office: Hard Events CEO Gary Richards on Life as an EDM Titan and Why TV 'Doesn't Matter' to Dance Music |last=Buerger |first=Megan | date=February 17, 2015|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=August 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/06/live-nation-acquires-la-edm-promoter-hard-will-mainstream-get-more-ravey/|title=Live Nation Acquires L.A. EDM Promoter HARD: Will the Mainstream Get More Ravey? |last=Sherburne |first=Philip | date=June 27, 2012|publisher=Spin Media|accessdate=August 24, 2015}}</ref> In 1997, Richards allowed promoter Pasquale Rotella to use the "Electric Daisy Carnival" name for a series of music festivals he was producing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nesthq.com/gary-richards-and-the-history-of-hard/|title=Gary Richards and the History of HARD|last=Joseph | date=August 2, 2013|publisher=nesthq.com|accessdate=August 16, 2013}}</ref> The festival, commonly referred to as the "EDC" is one of the most popular electronic music festivals in the USA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.beatport.com/the-20-most-anticipated-dance-music-festivals-of-2013/|title=The 20 most-anticipated dance-music festivals of 2013|last=Taylor|first=Ken|date=February 20, 2013|publisher=Beatport|accessdate=August 24, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926063702/https://news.beatport.com/the-20-most-anticipated-dance-music-festivals-of-2013/|archivedate=September 26, 2015}}</ref> He followed "Electric Daisy Carnival" with presenting "RaveAmerica" at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, on New Year's Eve, 1993.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2009/07/orange_county_rave_scene_histo.php|title=Orange County Rave Scene History Lesson|last=Ching |first=Albert | date=July 15, 2009|publisher=Voice Media Group|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref> Gaining reputation in the music industry Richards was chosen by Rick Rubin to handle A&R duties for the Electronic music division at Def American Recordings,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-16-ca-22870-story.html|title=They're Ready and Raving to Put Techno Label on the Map|last=Hochman |first=Steve | date=August 16, 1997|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 15, 2013}}</ref> where he signed and developed Lords of Acid, XL Recordings, Messiah, Digital Orgasm, Harthouse Records and God Lives Underwater.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2012-01-05/music/hard-s-gary-richards-on-holy-ship-electronic-music-cruise-january-6-to-9/|title=Hard's Gary Richards on Holy Ship! Electronic Music Cruise January 6 to 9|last=Pratt |first=Mark | date=January 5, 2012|publisher=Voice Media Group|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> Before establishing his own record labels Nitrus Records and 1500 Records<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2009/10/interview_promo.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412025750/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2009/10/interview_promo.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2013|title=Interview: Promoter Gary Richards, Organizer of This Weekend's Hard Party at Terminal 5|last=Romero |first=Dennis | date=October 9, 2009|publisher=Voice Media Group|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2000/digital/news/riffage-com-collects-1500-records-1117783472/|title=Riffage.com collects 1500 Records|last=Donahue |first=Ann | date=July 10, 2000|magazine=Variety|accessdate=August 24, 2015}}</ref> which released music from Kill The Noise, Whitey, David Holmes, Überzone, Dub Pistols, Ugly Duckling, Depeche Mode tribute album ''For the Masses'', and the original motion picture soundtrack for ''15 Minutes''.
===Destructo=== In the mid-1990s, Gary Richards began performing as a DJ under the name Destructo.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/gary-richards-dj-destructo-joins-vibe-social-media-week-la|title=Gary Richards (DJ Destructo) Joins Vibe Social Media Week LA! |last=Polonsky |first=Sarah | date=September 12, 2012|magazine=Vibe|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref> He is quoted as saying that the Destructo name derives from his "goal to play the hardest and most gnarly techno out there" stating that he would "blow up the sound system and the mixer at clubs if I could".He listed electronic artists Kraftwerk and Daft Punk as inspirations along with metal bands Metallica and Black Sabbath. He has released remixes for Warren G, Depeche Mode, Major Lazer, YG, White Zombie, Digitalism, and others. In 2012 he released his debut EP titled ''Technology''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.earmilk.com/2012/05/08/destructo-hard-fest-founder-talks-business-and-technology-ep-interview/|title=Destructo HARD Fest founder talks Business and Technology|last=Switlicki |first=Lukas | date=May 8, 2012|publisher=Earmilk|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}</ref>
Destructo's second EP titled ''Higher'' was released on June 10, 2013, via Owsla/Boysnoize Records and featured remixes by Tommy Trash and Brodinski. The music video for the EP's title track was directed by Agata Alexander.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/destructo-higher-exclusive-thump-video/|title=Destructo – "Higher" [THUMP Exclusive]|last=Thump Staff |date=June 25, 2013|magazine=Vice/Thump|access-date=August 24, 2015}}</ref>
On November 24, 2014, Destructo released the ''West Coast EP'' on Interscope Records which featured appearances by YG, Problem, Ty Dolla Sign, Kurupt, Too Short, and Warren G. This release took the producer towards in the realm of G-House and introduced his singular solo style.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/gary-richards-ceo-of-hard-also-rules-the-decks-as-destructo-5380385/|title=Gary Richards, CEO of HARD, Also Rules the Decks as Destructo|last=Weiss |first=Jeff | date=February 11, 2015|publisher=Voice Media Group|accessdate=August 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/DESTRUCTO-Debuts-Music-Video-for-Dare-You-2-Move-Featuring-Problem-20141029|title=DESTRUCTO Debuts Music Video for 'Dare You 2 Move' Featuring Problem|last=Music News Desk |date=October 29, 2014|publisher=Broadway World.com|accessdate=August 24, 2015}}</ref> His fourth EP ''RENEGADE'' was released on March 31, 2017, on his label HITS HARD. It featured collaborations with E-40 and Too $hort, Ty Dolla $ign & iLoveMakonnen Pusha T & Starrah, Problem and Freddie Gibbs. In 2018, Destructo hit the road on his "Let’s Be Friends" Tour, kicking off his tour on Friday, January 19 at the Output in Brooklyn, NY. Continuing his tour with 15 more dates in cities across North America.
===HARD Events=== As the music industry continued to change at the turn of the century, Richards returned to his roots as a concert promoter, launching the very first HARD Events festival in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://festival-outlook.consequence.net/fests/view/813/hard-summer-music-festival|title=HARD SUMMER Music Festival 2012|date=August 3, 2012|publisher=Consequence.net|accessdate=February 15, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130413172302/http://festival-outlook.consequence.net/fests/view/813/hard-summer-music-festival|archivedate=April 13, 2013}}</ref> The festival's success soon lead Gary Richards and HARD Events to become a major player in EDM concert promotion,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1099056/dance-musics-most-influential-executives|title=Dance Music's Most Influential Executives|last=Mason |first=Kerri | date=February 3, 2012|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and by 2010, the company was hosting 3 major music festivals, as well as numerous club and theater shows across the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.papermag.com/2012/11/gary_richards_hard.php|title=Gary Richards of HARD Events on the Future of EDM and Coachella's copycat cruise|last=Buerger |first=Megan | date=November 2, 2012|magazine=Paper|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/trent-reznor-taps-hard-promoter-for-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-events-20111214|title=Trent Reznor Taps HARD Promoter For 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Events |last=Baltin |first=Steve | date=December 14, 2011|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, HARD Events was acquired by Live Nation Entertainment with the intent of expanding its music events into new international markets.
It is estimated that HARD Events draw a cumulative audience of more than 100,000 people per year to its events, drawing as many as 150,000 to its two-day festival in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2009/11/gatecrashers_hit_halloween_dan.php|title=Gatecrashers Hit Halloween Dance Parties: Nearly 100,000 Attend, About 50 Arrests Made|last=Romero |first=Dennis | date=November 2, 2009|publisher=Voice Media Group|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> Past performers at HARD Events festivals include Deadmau5, Skrillex, Underworld, Diplo, M.I.A., Justice, A-Trak, Steve Aoki, Busy P, Boys Noize, N.E.R.D., Crystal Castles, Digitalism, and many more.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/09/hard_fest_on_mi.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213190747/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/09/hard_fest_on_mi.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2010|title=HARD Fest on M.I.A.'s Free New York Show: "We Don't Really Want to Be Involved"|last=Baron |first=Zach | date=September 13, 2010|publisher=Voice Media Group|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref>
===LiveStyle=== On September 5, 2017, Randy Phillips, President/CEO of LiveStyle, Inc. announced that Gary Richards had joined the company as President of LiveStyle North America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-gary-richards-livestyle-20170904-story.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170905062432/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-gary-richards-livestyle-20170904-story.html|archive-date = September 5, 2017|title = Hard Events founder Gary Richards finds a new home with LiveStyle|website = Los Angeles Times|date = September 5, 2017}}</ref> In this newly created position at LiveStyle, Richards became responsible for working with all of LiveStyle's current U.S. festival operations, developing and launching new brands and activities on the West Coast. North American key operating entities for the company include Made Event, React Presents, Disco Donnie Presents, Life in Color, and MMG, along with festivals and brands such as Electric Zoo, Spring Awakening, TomorrowWorld, Sensation, and Life in Color.
==Personal life== In 2003, he married Anne Varnishung, a model.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andy |last=Hermann |title= How Gary Richards Built His HARD Music Festival Empire One Party at a Time |newspaper=LA Weekly|date=July 25, 2017 |url= https://www.laweekly.com/music/how-gary-richards-built-the-hard-music-festival-empire-one-rave-at-a-time-8461303 }}</ref> They have two children.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Megan|last=Buerger |title= Corner Office: Hard Events CEO Gary Richards on Life as an EDM Titan and Why TV 'Doesn't Matter' to Dance Music |magazine=Billboard|date=February 17, 2015 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6473028/corner-office-hard-events-ceo-gary-richards-edm }}</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:8em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:18em;"| Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''F**king S**t Up'' | *Released: 2018 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: Destructo & Busta Rhymes |- ! scope="row" | ''Shots to the Dome'' | *Released: 2018 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: Destructo & Gerry Gonza |- ! scope="row" | ''Loaded'' | *Released: 2017 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: Destructo – feat. Yo Gotti |- ! scope="row" | ''Bassface'' | *Released: 2017 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: Destructo |- ! scope="row" | ''All Nite Remixes'' | *Released: 2017 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: Destructo – feat. E40 & Too $hort |- ! scope="row" | ''Renegade EP'' | *Released: 2017 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: Destructo |- ! scope="row" | ''Catching Plays'' | *Released: 2016 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: DDestructo x Wax Motif – feat. Pusha T & Starch |- ! scope="row" | ''Techno'' | *Released: 2016 *Label: Bunny Tiger *Artist: Destructo |- ! scope="row" | ''Beat Down'' | *Released: 2016 *Label: Night Bass *Artist: Destructo x Wax Motif – feat. Vanilla Ace |- ! scope="row" | ''4Real'' | *Released: 2016 *Label: Hits HARD *Artist: Destructo feat. Ty Dolla $ign and ILoveMakonnen |- ! scope="row" | ''Bodyback'' | *Released: 2015 *Label: Night Bass *Artist: Destructo |- ! scope="row" | ''West Coast EP'' | *Released: November 24, 2014 *Label: Interscope Records |- ! scope="row" | ''Higher'' | *Released: June 10, 2013 *Label: Owsla/Boysnoize Records |- ! scope="row" | ''Technology'' | *Released: April 9, 2012 *Label: Boysnoize Records |- |}
===Select remixes=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! style="width:400px;"| Artist ! style="width:400px;"| Album ! Details |- | 2021 | Dolly Parton | "Jolene" (Destructo remix) | Producer, Remixer |- |rowspan=3|2015 |Carmada |On Fire (Destructo & Bot remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |Sharam Jey, Sammy W & Alex E |SWAG! (Destructo & Bot remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |Warren G feat. Nate Dogg |Regulate (Destructo & Wax Motif remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |rowspan=2|2014 |YG |"My N***A" (Destructo & Wax Motif remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |Henry Fong |"Stand Up" (Destructo remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |rowspan=2|2013 |Giorgio Moroder |"Chase" (Destructo re-edit) |Producer, Remixer |- |Depeche Mode |''Soothe My Soul (Destructo remix)'' |Producer, Remixer |- |rowspan=2|2012 |Rob Zombie |''Thunder Kiss '65 (Destructo remix)'' |Producer, Remixer |- |Strip Steve |''Astral'' (Destructo remix – Boys Noize edit) |Producer, Remixer |- |rowspan=1|2011 |Digitalism |''Reeperbahn'' (Destructo remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |rowspan=1|2010 |Major Lazer |''Bruk Out'' (Destructo/Uberzone remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |rowspan=1|2009 |Rick James |''Super Freak'' (Destructo remix) |Producer, Remixer |- |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{URL|http://djdestructo.com}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Gary}} Category:American music industry executives Category:20th-century American Jews Category:Living people Category:1970 births Category:Owsla artists Category:21st-century American Jews