Keep up with JF here:
JF plays in Ion Dissonance and has kept busy most of 2004 by relentlessly touring all over the U.S. and Canada in support of their debut record Breathing Is Irrelevant. With a productive year behind them, all signs point to 2005 as being even bigger and better for the Montreal-based quintet. The band’s future plans are to tour and play as much as possible, so expect to see them soon in a town near you with their sophomore release set to destroy audiences shortly thereafter. They will be hitting the road in April, touring all over Canada with Premonitions of War and Despised Icon, followed by several dates in the U.S., including The New England Metal and Hardcore Fest and the Maryland Death Fest, after which they will be touring the states again in June with From a Second Story Window, Reflux and On Broken Wings. ION DISSONANCE will be recording their upcoming debut album on Abacus Recordings, entitled Solace, during the entire month of May with producer Pierre Rémillard (Cryptopsy, Krisiun, The End). Breathing is Irrelevant was just a prelude of the destruction to come… with Solace, prepare yourself for the next logical step in brutal music.
JF Richard Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
JF: I started when I was 12, I saved all my money and went to a local music store and got a 300$ used kit, I quickly realized that the kit was pretty bad, so I saved more money and got a better one!
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
JF: I was in a special course in High School, I had 1 hour of music everyday for 3 years, so instead of having computer science or art, I chose that. However, I had to pass tests to qualify for this course. It helped me a lot. I learned theory, technique and how to read music. I played drums, snare drum, and sometimes a xylophone.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
JF: Yeah, but I started learning by myself at first, and then after those 3 years of music in high school, I started to take some private lessons in a local music store. I took a few lessons with a teacher there. He taught me some good tips but one of my friends introduced me to his personal teacher and he was really incredible. I’m actually thinking of calling him back! He had a really good way of explaining everything and keeping track of my progress. He was a rock/jazz drummer but really fusiony. I took lessons for about 1 ½ years with him, and then I took a few lessons with Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy because his band was practicing in the same building as me. However, I didn’t take many lessons with him because I was busy with college and my job, and he was really busy with touring.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
JF: 5 is not enough, but I would say :
1 Dave Lombardo
2 Gene Hoglan
3 Tomas Haake
4 Mike Portnoy
5 Carter Beauford
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
JF: Bobby Jarzombek, Tomas Haake. Derek Roddy, Marco Minneman, Tomas Lang, Danny Carey, Terry Bozzio, Virgil Donati, Gene Hoglan, Sean Reinert, Flo Mounier, Carter Beauford, Tim Alexander, John Longstreth, Chris Pennie…and the list could be a way longer.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
JF: Right now I would say
1. Misery Signal – Mirrors
2. Tool – 10 000 days
3. Meshuggah – Catch 33
4. Gojira – From Mars to Sirius
5. Decapitated – Organic Halucinosis
SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
JF: The first that comes to mind was in Montreal about 3 years ago. We had drum kit for the entire tour. The last show of the tour was in our hometown (Montreal) and I actually had my kit for that show. It was so nice to play on my kit, and the sound was so good and so heavy that I wanted to kill my drum set!!
SD.com: Do you have a favourite brand of drums or cymbals?
JF: I really like Tama Star classics. I’m thinking about getting that as my new drum kit. I really like my kit though, I play on a Yamaha rock tour
Custom. They don’t make that specific model anymore. I bought it about 8-9 years ago, and I still really like it because it sounds loud and heavy. I just don’t really like the size. I bought it used for an amazing price, so I had to take it like that. The toms are really deep, 10×10, 12×12, 13×13…I have 2 bass drums that are 24″, but I only use 1 live because it’s too big to move around. I like the sound, but I don’t really like the rebound
because, it’s really floppy when you play fast and especially with a double kick pedal. As for cymbals, I use Sabian Cymbals HHX series.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
JF: I stretch a lot. I do some warm ups on a practice pad, and with my kick pedals. I think it’s really important to stretch before playing, especially when playing heavy music because you can injure yourself if you don’t. I make sure my drum kit is properly set up. The next part is pretty weird…but I brush my teeth before I play haha. It helps my breathing while playing. You should try it, it works for me!
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
JF: I would say, be patient. It takes a lot of perseverance to achieve what you would like to sometimes, but it’s worth it. Also, don’t be afraid to
keep an open mind on different styles of music. I think you can find some really interesting ideas in all styles of music to add to the style you’re
playing or mainly listening to… and of course, practice and have fun.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
JF: For best performance, I will say Derek Roddy. I had the chance to tour with him and Hate Eternal when I was the session drummer for Kataklysm for a tour. I saw him every night. He’s just so tight, relaxed, perfect and an all around good dude! The best band I’ve seen live is Meshuggah with their performance at the New England metal fest in 2003. They were just so intense and tight. I’m sure their last tour was even better but I missed them unfortunately. Suffocation were also awesome every time I saw them too.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
JF: If I had to stop drumming, it would be because of an injury or a surgery or something like that but, I guess I would concentrate on having a “real life” with a good job, house, dog….!!
Thanks for the interview.
J-F
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