It's so strange. You listen to his music and for a second, you think that he must be some sort of all-knowing divine god of electronic music, and then you realize, he's just a guy doing what he loves. And it's so weird to think of it that way.
wow... i really wouldn't know what to say to him if i met him; i don't even think i would say anything. I think that i would just look at him, with all of his masterpieces rushing through my mind like Xtal, girl\boy song, or Rhubarb; thinking to myself "I'm standing in front of one of the greatest minds in the history of all music"
It was probably a once in a lifetime experience, especially since he never comes to the United States. Surreal is a great way to put it. I didn't plan on going backstage, snuck back there bc someone I met at the show suggested so. Thank god he did, got to meet my idol. Saw Elijah Wood backstage too lol, posted a brief video of that encounter here as well.
You bet, got my ticket a few days ago :) Got the VIP package but don't expect to meet Richard again necessarily, better off paying nothing and sneaking in apparently!
I met him this year backstage... I actually met his wife and asked her if she could ask him to sign an Aphex pendant I carved and she said, “if you wait here I’ll tell him to come out and meet you...” I shook his hand and didn’t really get time to chat with him, I think he was trying to catch up to the rest of his crew. But I saw him both weekends Coachella 2019.
Here is the part where Aphex speaks- RDJ: "I wish it could have been like 3 hours or something... I only found out I was doing an hour here today, I was planning on doing at least an hour and a half; I'm like an hour?, fucking, took me 2 weeks to sort my visa out and I'm only playing an hour..."
RDJ is my idol and has been for years, I practically worship him. All things considered it was an extremely rare experience especially since he was in the US (once in last 10 years) and I happened to sneak backstage, everything fell into place and I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. Got to shake his hand, tell him I have much respect and he signed my original copy of SAW 85-92. I'll say it again, he is the only person alive I've ever truly cared to meet, I can truly die a happy man.
idk if I were him it would be a fond memory to look back on. The kid who said that to him obviously didn't think about what he was going to say ahead of time.
I love that he’s actually there having conversations with his fans like a normal person and he’s genuinely happy to be there. You wont find that type of connection with fans with other celebrities
I think he’s changed a lot. Taking photos with fans, coming out on stage and thanking the crowd (in another vid). Fucking love a photo with him though.
Aphex Twin is my hero and this was truly one of the most memorable moment of my life!!! Today is also Richard David James birthday too, happy birthday Richard!
Actually, TY doesn't limit this to fans; he does it with peers as well. I first read about him doing it backstage at some kind of event that included other performers. Apparently he has a zero tolerance policy for what he perceives as bullshit. In contrast, RDJ is remarkably patient with these folks.
This man has been my idol for the past 3 years, I've listened to a LOT of stuff, i literally live for music, This is the only person that I'd literally the fine line between consciousness and a dream state with, I have no words to describe what would happen to my physical body and my emotional state if i simply glimpse upon his smile, i know everything about him, i mean LITERALLY EVERYTHING. This man changed the world... he literally did, fucking shit he's beautiful... I just want o hug him..
45squire Pardon if i sound ignorant, i just never really heard an accent from the UK that subdued, I'm an american (resentful one at that). In retrospect though he still says mental a lot hah
@AlbertX78 I never expected to meet him and was surprised when I did. Got to see him do his set then shake his hand backstage, told him I had lots of respect for what he does, then got his signature. Best day ever, will never forget it.
@JavaSpitLava same here, that's why couldn't think of much to ask him or talk about, all I could say was "much respect" as I shook his hand, that was enough :) was cool to hang around him for about 15 min and listen to him chatting with random fans
I understand what you mean, but it's lucky to have any video 1-I felt bad shoving a camera in Richard's face, only reason I did was because my other camera wasn't taking pictures properly, and I wanted to prove I met the man backstage. 2-I handed my camera to a friend to record (you can tell when the camera gets handed off half way in vid and starts moving around) while I tried to find a pen to get his autograph. Wanted him to record while Rich was talking and hangin out, but he shut off early
lmao when Richard is talking and that guy walks up to get a selfie with him and he kinda looks out of the corner of his eye but maintains the conversation without looking at the camera for the selfie. I absolutely love this guy. God bless you Richard
I wonder how many people just listen to his music and weren't inspired to start creating music themselves. Both him and The Prodigy are the two artists that got me into making electronic music. :D
I know! I have always seen/heard the same thing. That's one reason I didn't record him very long, I expected him to be like that as well but he was surprisingly friendly!
@montrealmanu True true. He's just a guy when it comes down to, who is also a musical genius. As for the hair, well he's growing it back out again if you look at some of his most recent videos or photographs from live shows.
I spoke to him in 1991 and he was totally cool all the aloofness is an act for the fickle media. He makes his music for the love of it and does not like to be pigeon holed, he probably wouldnt do interviews at all if it wasnt a way of expanding his potential audience.
Definitely seems more comfortable with his fans, which is cool. Can't blame him about long hair, I was growing mine since 98' till I got tired of it. I'm glad to see he is still around... hopefully I can catch a live performance someday. He's legendary, and you can't argue that.
umm, about 13 years happened. He had just got his haircut short in 2007, and he seems a bit different person. The major difference is that in 95 the video was a press interview, he was probably intentionally being dismissive as always, here he is being approached by fans after a show, different environments
I didn't have to, I already know! I did seriously take The Tuss - Rushup Edge CD to the Coachella show, but didn't bring it in with my other stuff, just the one CD to be signed.
It is because I had just started fumbling with the camera, I am the one who you see with the Heineken bracelet taking the picture of Richard and Aaron Nevill in the cowboy hat, I handed the camera off to a friend at that point (hence why the camera drops for a moment) didn't realize it was filming his 'groin' area, lucky you I guess
The curse of doing anything that everyone gets on top of is trying to explain it later. If you go on about how great you are, you sound like an arse. If you're stoic, you seem like a snob. If you don't talk to people, first your a jerk, then you're mysterious. It's a lot of work to be a hero you're not. What do you do for a living? Imagine everyone wants to talk to you about it right after you've been at it for days? Everyone knows you, you know no one.
Maybe - end of the day its better for him to be pleasant than not. After all giving positive energy is better than being closed off. People are always about the 'no'. Be open with people as you never know what use or how they may benefit your life and visa versa.
It puts into perspective the level of bullshit that we have been conditioned to percieve with regards to celebrity and reality. Met a few famous Djs /artist in the past and they all seemed pretty normal and down to earth but take meeting eg some pop or rock star and they almost inact godlike.(Small g) We are all human and born into this life and all destined to leave this life. Its the fruits we bear in between which speaks volumes. Peace😉
The guy created a mystical larger than life aura around himself. I think beyond the myth of him he's probably just a pretty humble fairly ordinary guy. There's been a few artists that kept themselves a mystery, Andy Kaufman was another.
well yeah because he is human, he is just a guy walking around in this world just like everyone else, and he's well aware of that it seems, never puts himself above the reality of human life. i do feel like he's got a very strong drive to escape that reality as well though, or to rise above it somehow in an abstract sense, like all good artists i suppose. ideas have the ability to transcend that reality if they're strong and good enough, of which he seems to have an absolutely staggering amount. the aura around him is actually the ideas his mind came up with, firing off associations in your own mind. most people have this transcendent capacity, but they never acknowledge or explore it. music like his brings it out to the forefront in your own mind, and shows you what your mind is actually capable of. in a way listening to his music has been a massive confidence boost for me, just because it made me realize i had a whole different side to myself that i had never indulged in. nowadays it's pretty much all i indulge in, which probably isn't healthy, but i don't really wanna go back either
@montrealmanu Sounds about right, he does have that 'don't give a fuck' attitude when it comes to shows. Great story, thanks for sharing! When he opened for Bjork in 2003 he played insane noise, pissed the audience off, & was behind the curtain out of sight. I would be pissed a bit if going to see him, but it's about the music anyways, heard what he played was brutal at that show! Wish there was a recording of it out... it's weird to hear these stories and then see him act like this in person!
I have been listning to him since 1989 have. And thier is lots more he have releaced after drkqs here is the list: [2001] Innovation in The Dynamics of Acid [89-95] [Mixed by Kosmik Kommando] [2001] Sonar Live [2003] 26 Mixes for Cash [2003] Live at Fuse [feat Plastikman & Derrick May] [2003] Smojphace EP [2005] 4 Track EP [feat LFO] [2005] Acoustica - Alarm Will Sound performs Aphex Twin [2005] Analord Aphex isnt lazy :D
I wouldn't either, but it's not like it doesn't happen to him all the time, and maybe he does listen to it. But if this guy's music really was any good he'd've probably been noticed, on account of his desperate measures of trying to get noticed.
Maybe he has just given money to an actor who looks pretty much the same to pretend he is RDJ and film it, in that case he accomplished getting so much likes.
I'd say the best British electronic bands of the 90s: Aphex, Chemial Brothers, Prodigy, Boards of Canada, Chemical Brothers, probably match the biggest bands from ALL genres this decade.
I never ever went to college for music and especially electro-acoustic music. I went for computing and electronics. I learned by myself how to create, mold, and shape the music I now make under my ambient name Morphine Machine. Just like Richard did. I hate folks who name drop their college they go to for music. Gives the impression they are better than others. I wonder if Richard was like to himself "Oh you went to college for music> I didn't and hehehe look at me now"
