Gary Richards News

The LA-based artist (né Gary Richards) made a name for himself in the 90s for his hard-techno sets. He then continued his claim to fame in the 2000s by founding influential dance music festival brand HARD, using his boundary-pushing curatorial talents to help push dance music events into the mainstream.

Over the last several months, American electronic music producer, DJ and tastemaker DESTRUCTO (Gary Richards) has been entertaining listeners with a varied but unique body of new work ranging from a remix of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene” to dancefloor cut “Distorted Reality” with Brazil’s DJ Glen. Today, March 4 DESTRUCTO releases a fresh future funk bop, “F with Me (feat. Chromeo & Tima Dee).”

The Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival returns to the historic French Quarter for its 36th annual celebration of contemporary literature, culture, theatre, and to honor the 75th anniversary of the iconic play, 'A Streetcar Named Desire.' March 23-27, 2022, attendees will be back in person to enjoy award-winning speakers alongside fresh new voices on the literary scene.

For his remix of the Dolly Parton classic “Jolene”--out now on RCA/SONY Music Entertainment, electronic music producer, DJ and tastemaker DESTRUCTO (Gary Richards) leans into an emotional, sublime and melodic style of deep house bolstering Dolly Parton’s unforgettable vocal while holding its country charm. Watch the new music video now!

Recently heralded at #63 of the 100 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone, music legend Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” is one of country music’s most beloved tracks.  Today, November 12, RCA/Sony Music Entertainment has released the “Jolene (DESTRUCTO Remix)” as a rare official remix, crossing the song into new musical territory.

As the world-class music cruise experience known as FRIENDSHIP gets closer to its January 6-10, 2020 sailing, event organizer Gary Richards, aka DESTRUCTO and AMFAMFAMF founder has announced details of its daily schedule.  

Group 9 Productions will present an industry reading of 'DeliKateSSen,' a play by Richard Atkins, directed by Matthew Penn with dramaturgy by Mark Medoff, September 23 at 4:30 PM in the Mary Rodgers Room of The Dramatists Guild, 1501 Broadway, 7 fl.

ALL MY FRIENDS—downtown Los Angeles premier 21+ music event happening at Skylight ROW DTLA October 19 & 20-- has announced it's line-up.  Curated by founder Gary Richards aka producer and DJ DESTRUCTO, the two-day event will feature a variety of some of the most respected and engaging house music artists from around the world.  Tickets are available now at: www.amfdtla.com  

AMFAMFAMF presents FRIENDSHIP cemented itself as a world-class music cruise experience last year upon its inaugural sailing.   Today (July 23), event organizers have announced the talent line-up for the event returning January 6-10, 2020 with GRiZ, TroyBoi, Bob Moses (Live), Boys Noize, Ty Dolla $ign (Live), DESTRUCTO, Billy Kenny, AC Slater and more.  Dita Von Teese also returns to perform her burlesque show.   

Hot on the heels of his track “Rubberband” with Gerry Gonza, AMFAMFAMF boss DESTRUCTO is back today (May 17) with a new single. This turn he teams with French bass house duo Loge21 for “No Retreat,” a dirty bass track ready to take over dance floors everywhere.

Following the recent release of their remix 'Ready For Love' by Mahkenna, mysterious producer collective DARKO have released 'Hustler' with Destructo and Ice-T dropping Wednesday, March 27th. Stream / Buy here

AMFAMFAMF presents FRIENDSHIP is setting sail again in 2020. For its second turn happening January 6-10, 2020, shippers will board Royal Caribbean's Navigator of The Seas for a unique music cruise experience.  Following the first offer to cruisers from the maiden voyage this past December, a limited number of cabins remain for the next sailing which will go on sale next Wednesday, March 13 at noon PT.  Anyone with a Friendship profile on Rezmagic (found at www.thefriendship.com) can log-in and make a $250 deposit.  Cabin selection will be made sometime later this month.

The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival returns to the historic French Quarter for its 33rd annual celebration of contemporary literature, culture, theater, and the works of Tennessee Williams. From March 27-31, 2019, attendees will enjoy celebrated award-winning speakers alongside fresh new voices on the literary scene.

On Saturday, December 15, AMFAMFAMF presents FRIENDSHIP returned from its wildly successful maiden voyage which took place aboard the glamorousCelebrity Equinox and sailed from Miami to two private island beach parties inCocoCay, Bahamas. The four-day/four-night electronic music cruise, curated byGary Richards aka musical artist DESTRUCTO, was attended by 3000 revelers and sold out in less than 24 hours.

AMFAMFAMF today announced a show to cure L.A.'s house fans of that lingering overstuffed-with-turkey (or Tofurky) lethargy – FRIENDSGIVING featuring BONTAN, LUPE FUENTES and MATT OSSENTJUK. Dance off that pumpkin pie and forget arguing about politics with your annoying uncle on Saturday, November 24th at Sound in Hollywood. Tickets are on sale now at bit.ly/AMFAMFAMF_Friendsgiving. Sound is located at 1642 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, Calif. 90028. Doors open at 10 p.m. The show is ages 21+.

AMFAMFAMF presents FRIENDSHIP-the new music cruise experience that will take place aboard the Celebrity Equinox December 11-15 from Miami to the Bahamas-has announced its maiden voyage line-up.  Curated by Gary Richards aka musical artist DESTRUCTO, the inaugural sailing will be rung in with live performances and DJ sets from RÜFÜS DU SOL, BOYS NOIZE, DIXON, 2MANYDJS, PEGGY GOU, CLAPTONE, JACKMASTER and many more.  Legendary burlesque artist DITA VON TEESE will perform and electronic music pioneer GIORGIO MORODER will come aboard as guest of honor.  The full line-up is:

ALL MY FRIENDS-the new major music festival coming to downtown Los Angeles this summer-has today announced its full line-up for the two-day event: Joining the fest's previously announced 'Big Six' headliners RL GRIME, GUCCI MANE and JHENE AIKO (Saturday, August 18) and M.I.A., JAMIE XX and ARMAND VAN HELDEN (Sunday, August 19) are: ABRA, ANNA LUNOE, BARCLAY CRENSHAW, CHRIS LAKE, CHRIS LORENZO, CLAPTONE, CUT CHEMIST, DESTRUCTO, DEUX TWINS , GODDOLLARS, GOLF CLAP, GRANDSON, JASON BENTLEY, JUBILEE, JUSTIN MARTIN, LA LEAKERS, LITTLE BOOTS, MIKE B, MONTE BOOKER, MOON BOOTS, DJ NU-MARK, PETE TONG, PHLEGMATIC DOGS, RAVYN LENAE, SHECK WES, SMOKEPURPP, SOUL CLAP, SPLIT SECS, THEM JEANS, WAX MOTIF and YO GOTTI.   

Once again expanding his ever-growing sphere of influence, Los Angeles producer, artist, DJ, and dance music renegade DESTRUCTO joins the new SiriusXM Channel 'Diplo's Revolution.' Handpicked by longtime friend Diplo, DESTRUCTO will host 'AMFAMFAMF RADIO,' his very own radio show on the station representing his new All My Friends brand.

Particularly in light of the 2016 documentary I Am Not Your Negro, author and civil rights activist James Baldwin is garnering new attention and appreciation for his astute analyses of race, class, and sexuality in U.S. culture. Our reading group will take up his groundbreaking semi-autobiographical first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953). Attendees are invited to read this seminal text that brought mid-20th Century African-American literature out of the shadow of Richard Wright while deftly exploring the post-Civil War Great Migration, its southern roots, its religious inflections, and its generational tensions. The suggested edition is the most recent paperback (ISBN 978-0345806543). Traditional New Orleans fare of coffee and beignets at Muriel's Jackson Square with lively discussion to follow led by Festival favorite and Southern literary scholar Gary Richards. Seating is limited to 50 persons; pre-registration is required.

AMFAMFAMF presents FRIENDSHIP-the new music cruise experience that will take place aboard the Celebrity Equinox December 11-15 from Miami to the Bahamas-has announced today (March 12) cabins are no longer available for its inaugural sailing. 3,000 shippers who signed up at www.thefriendship.com were given first access to cabins for FRIENDSHIP's maiden voyage of which sold-out within less than 48 hours.