Destructo: A Brief History

It would be nearly impossible to tell you everything about Destructo because his impact on the EDM industry has been enormous. Gary Richards, more commonly known as Destructo, grew up surrounded by music. His father was a concert promoter in the LA area and at just 18 Richards started booking his own shows in the city of angels.

Destructo chose his name because he wanted to create music that literally destroyed speakers in the venues he was playing at. Growing up he attended numerous concerts from the likes of Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath. These rock and roll legends instilled a love of rowdy bass and epic parties in Richards that would stick with him the rest of his life. It’s because of these influences, Destructo has become the powerhouse DJ he is.

In the early 90s, Richards began putting on raves around LA, one of them being the first ever Electric Daisy Carnival. That’s right, along with creator Pasquale Rotella, Destructo helped created EDC, now one of the biggest electronic festivals in the U.S. for the past 20 years. The two entrepreneurs and music lovers eventually split ways, but that wasn’t the end for Gary. If you thought Destructo’s impact stopped there, think again. Richards is also the Founder and, as of this past year, former CEO of HARD events. He created HARD Fest in 2007 and has since created HARD Summer, Holy Ship!, and other HARD events across the globe from Miami to Australia.

In addition to that, he is the President of LiveStyle which produces events such as Spring Awakening, Life in Color, and Electric Zoo. He’s brought some of the best talents in the world to his events and the decade-long history speaks for itself.

Odds are, if you’ve been listening to EDM for a while, you’ve heard countless Destructo songs, even one you may not have known he had a hand in. Destructo is one of the most impactful faces in electronic music and his legacy on the EDM industry will go on forever. Do not miss the chance to see him play at Decadence AZ this year! Grab tickets here.

Connect with Destructo: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud