Biography

Jason Richardson is an American heavy metal guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and teacher. Known for a highly original, deeply technical style on seven- and eight-string guitars, he began establishing his reputation when he joined All Shall Perish as a high-school student. Richardson grew up in Manassas, Virginia. His father is a musician, and instruments were all over the house. He took piano lessons in the fourth grade, but gave them up. Though he could emulate what his teacher was doing on the keys, he couldn't learn -- yet -- to read music. In the fifth grade he tried violin and drums. The kit became his main instrument for a time, but he wanted to learn guitar in order to be able to write songs. At 12, his father gave him a gothic black Gibson Les Paul. He practiced endlessly. Obsessed with the band Dream Theater and in particular the song "This Dying Soul," he began cutting lawns and doing odd jobs in order to purchase a seven-string instrument. His bought his first at 14. His inventive technique began to develop while in a local band called Gallows Hill (with future Veil of Maya bassist Danny Hauser). Trying to promote the group, he answered a trade ad to audition for All Shall Perish, hoping he could shine a light on his own group. Instead, he won the audition and left high school in February 2009 -- with three months left until graduation. He hit the road for ten months with All Shall Perish. While the band was on tour with Born of Osiris, Richardson filled in on a show for Tosin Abasi, who had a scheduling conflict. While All Shall Perish had time off, Richardson began his tenure with Born of Osiris. He remained with the group for two years, and played on 2011's Discovery. Richardson had been touring on and off with deathcore act Chelsea Grin as a fill-in for departing guitarist Michael Stafford. When he was unceremoniously fired from Born of Osiris in 2011 -- his accounting for why was that he complained too much and his bandmates were involved in alcohol and substance abuse -- he became a full-time member of Chelsea Grin. He remained with the band until 2015, playing on the Evolve and Lilith EPs and 2014's Ashes to Ashes album. His departure was mutual and amicable. Almost immediately, Richardson launched a crowdfunding effort to finance his debut solo effort. He reached his goal quickly and went into the studio, playing many instruments himself and enlisting help from friends including drummer Luke Holland, vocalist Spencer Sotelo, Rick Graham, and Hauser. The album I was issued in the summer of 2016. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi