Jean-Michel Labadie Explained

Jean-Michel Labadie
Birth Date:14 July 1974
Origin:French
Instrument:Bass
Occupation:Musician
Years Active:1998–present
Associated Acts:Gojira
Birth Place:Cambo-les-Bains, French Basque Country

Jean-Michel Labadie (born 14 July 1974 in Cambo-les-Bains, Basque Country) is a French musician best known as the bassist of heavy metal band Gojira.[1]

Career

Labadie grew up in the Basque Country,[2] and played bass in regional underground bands.[3]

Since 1998, Labadie has been the bassist of the metal band Gojira,[4] which was formed in Ondres (Landes), near Bayonne (Basque Country).[3] The whole band grew up in the south-west of France.[2] [3]

Labadie is known for his energetic live presence during shows, with much jumping around the stage and heavy headbanging.[2] Of the concerts made with Gojira, Labadie said, "I don't feel like a rock star but just human. I'm looking for my place and I want to give the best of myself, and while I can be useful, I just try to do good to people".[2]

Music

When he was eleven years old, Labadie discovered Metallica.[5] He started playing bass at the age of fifteen; "Fade to Black" was the first song he learned to play.[5] He was also influenced by death metal bands such as Death,[5] Morbid Angel,[6] and Sepultura.[5] He also cited Rage Against the Machine,[5] [2] Slayer[5] and Pantera as influences.[3]

Personal life

Labadie likes landscapes, solitude, nature and adrenaline.[2] He started practicing boardsports such as skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding.[2] In 1996, he became passionate about mountain biking, and found these sensations again, "but more brutal".[2] When he's not touring across the world with Gojira, he practices mountain biking at a high level in his Savoyard mountains, the place where he resides.[2] [7] Labadie said, "Playing sports helps keep up the pace. For the drummer, too, you have to train. I like to push my body and the adrenaline it gives me".[2]

Equipment

Labadie is known to use a pick to play bass in Gojira. He uses Darkglass electronics when playing live with the band.

Effects

Bass guitars
Amplifiers and Cabinets

Discography

Gojira

See main article: Gojira discography.

Demos
EPs
Studio albums

Notes and References

  1. News: Lecaudey. Martine. 16 July 2004. Rock tellurique avec les Landais de Gojira. Telluric rock with the Landais of Gojira. live. fr. La Dépêche du Midi. Toulouse. https://archive.today/20210303180910/https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2004/07/16/259032-rock-tellurique-avec-les-landais-de-gojira.html. 3 March 2021. 7 April 2021.
  2. Humbert. Paul. 3 February 2019. De la scène à l'Etna avec Jean-Michel Labadie (Gojira) et Jérôme Clementz. From the stage to the Etna with Jean-Michel Labadie (Gojira) and Jérôme Clementz (Interview). live. fr. Vogo Magazine. Savoy. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811181306/https://www.vojomag.com/de-la-scene-a-letna-avec-jean-michel-labadie-gojira-et-jerome-clementz/. 11 August 2020. 9 March 2021. Paul Humbert is a French photographer and journalist.
  3. News: Soenen. Marie-Hélène. 24 June 2016. Gojira, du zen dans le metal. Gojira, some zen in the metal. live. fr. Télérama. Paris. https://archive.today/20201212141419/https://www.telerama.fr/musique/gojira-du-zen-dans-le-metal,144063.php. 12 December 2020. 12 December 2020.
  4. . Gojira: Tout Savoir sur le Groupe. Gojira: Know Everything About the Group 1996−present. live. fr. Hard Force Magazine. Paris. n.d.. https://archive.today/20201226115257/https://hardforce.com/artist/9963/gojira. 26 December 2020. 9 March 2021. 32640105.
  5. News: Soenen. Marie-Hélène. 10 June 2016. Les cinq albums de metal qui ont changé la vie de Gojira. The five metal albums that changed Gojira's life. live. fr. Télérama. Paris. https://archive.today/20210227161623/https://www.telerama.fr/sortir/les-cinq-albums-de-metal-qui-ont-change-la-vie-de-gojira,143153.php. 27 February 2021. 27 February 2021.
  6. News: . Gojira, deux fois plus de bruit. Gojira, twice as loud. live. fr. Sud Ouest. Biarritz. 28 November 2012. https://archive.today/20210309204442/https://www.sudouest.fr/2012/11/28/gojira-deux-fois-plus-de-bruit-892266-706.php. 9 March 2021. 9 March 2021.
  7. News: Soenen. Marie-Hélène. 24 June 2016. Gojira, du zen dans le metal. Gojira, Zen in metal. live. fr. Télérama. Paris. https://archive.today/20201212141419/https://www.telerama.fr/musique/gojira-du-zen-dans-le-metal,144063.php. 12 December 2020. 12 December 2020.
  8. Web site: impire.cz. Gojira's Jean-Michel Labadie: "The Abyss overdrive is here to stay!". 2021-05-03. KHDK Electronics. 14 July 2017 . en.
  9. Web site: Inside Gojira's Touring Rig. 2021-05-03. reverb.com. 17 July 2017 . en.