Dragonforce Biography (sorry pake bahasa inggris)

Herman Li
Born in Hong Kong, currently resides in London, England. Herman Li (Chinese: 李康敏) is the guitarist, songwriter and producer of the Grammy nominated metal act DragonForce.

In the last few years, Herman has established himself as one of the most recognised and influential guitarists of the new generation. Accolades starting pouring in, starting with the 2005 ‘Best Shredder’ award at the annual Metal Hammer Golden Gods. Herman also won four categories in Guitar World’s 2007 Readers Poll for ‘Best New Talent’ (winning by 70%), ‘Best Metal’, ‘Best Riff’ and ‘Best Shredders’. He also won ‘Best Guitar Solo’ for ‘Through the Fire and Flames’ in Total Guitar’s Readers Poll in 2007, as well as numerous other polls in media around the world. Outside of DragonForce, Herman has been invited to perform with guitar legends such as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Paul Gilbert, just to name a few. Recently, Herman won for the second time the ‘Best Shredder’ award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2009.

Between intensive world tours with DragonForce, Herman found time to write a monthly guitar column in UK’s Total Guitar magazine as well as becoming involved in guitar clinics around the world. Always continuing to evolve as a guitar player, Herman likes to understand his instrument as much as possible. He has a fascination in electric guitar development, working on new ideas to improve the instrument as much as possible. After 3 years of hard work and dedication, the result was the Ibanez E-Gen guitar, Herman’s signature model.

Outside of music, Herman other interests includes computer technology and martial arts. He enjoys training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts. He also speaks three languages fluently; Cantonese, French and English.

In 2010, Herman will be appearing at a number of guitar workshops and events to showcase his own approach to the instrument and continue to help inspire guitarists worldwide.

Notable Awards and Achievements
Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2009 – Best Shredder Award
Grammy Awards 2008 – Best Metal Performance “DragonForce” Nomination
Guitar World Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best New Talent (winning by 70%)
Guitar World Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best Metal
Guitar World Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best Riff
Total Guitar Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best Solo “Through the Fire and Flames”
Terrorizer Reader’s Poll 2006 – Best Band “DragonForce”
Terrorizer Reader’s Poll 2006 – Best Musician “Herman Li”
Terrorizer Reader’s Poll 2006 – Best Live Act “DragonForce”
Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2005 – Best Shredder Award

Musical Influences
All styles of music. Rock, metal new and old.
Video games music; favourites are from late 80′s, early 90′s arcade and PC Engine games.

Signature Stage Moves
Guitar lifting whammy bar slam
Hurricane Jumps
Playing with his tongue!

Current Main Live and Studio Equipment Guitars
Ibanez E-Gen – Herman Li Signature Model – tranparent violet flat, platinum blonde
DiMarzio® HLM Pickups – Herman Li Model
D’Addario Strings

Amplifications, Rig Setup & Misc
Rocktron Prophesy II
Rocktron All Access
Rocktron MIDI Mate
Rocktron Patch Mate, Loop 8
Rocktron Hush Pro
Source Audio Hot Hand Wah
Samson UHF Wireless system
AKG In-Ear Monitoring system
MIDIjet Pro Wireless Midi System
Mesa Boogie Stereo 2:Fifty
Peavey JSX 4×12 Straight Speaker Cabinets
DigiTech Whammy 2
Dunlop Cry Baby DCR-2SR
Korg DTR-2000
Drink Holders

Sam Totman
Born in England but moved to New Zealand at an early age, Sam started playing the classical guitar at the age of 9 with formal musical training. A great guitar player with plenty of feelings in both rhythm and leads, complement his remarkable ability in writing extremely catchy songs; a perfect combination! The combination of Sam & Herman, two very different guitar players joining forces in DragonForce, is causing quite a stir in the modern metal scene. Watch out for their hyperactive performances, taking the live stage to another level.

Notable Awards and Achievements
Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2009 – Best Shredder Award
Grammy Awards 2008 – Best Metal Performance “DragonForce” Nomination
Guitar World Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best New Talent (winning by 70%)
Guitar World Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best Metal
Guitar World Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best Riff
Total Guitar Reader’s Poll 2007 – Best Solo “Through the Fire and Flames”
Terrorizer Reader’s Poll 2006 – Best Band “DragonForce”
Terrorizer Reader’s Poll 2006 – Best Live Act “DragonForce”

Musical Influences
Catchiest metal bands on the planet only!
Late 80′s, early 90′s video games music!

Signature Stage Moves
Tornado split jump
Hands free booze drinking

Main Live Equipment
Lots of Booze
Drink Holders

Guitars
Ibanez STM1 – Sam Totman Signature Model
DiMarzio® Evolution Pickups
DiMarzio® HLM Pickups

Amplifications, Rig Setup & Misc
Anything Herman recommends!

Vadim Pruzhanov

Born in Ukraine than later moved to London England, Vadim is the keyboard wizard of DragonForce.

With an early start on the piano at the young age of 8, Vadim studied at a music school since the beginning. Bored, he quit three years later and carried on as a self-taught player instead. It is at that time Vadim discovered rock music and decided to pursue it as a career. He got a small keyboard (Yamaha PSS-51) and started to create his own music at the age of 12 and carried on since. Apart from playing the keyboard, Vadim is also a capable guitar player who likes to spend time burning some solos on his Ibanez guitar.

Musical Influences
Yngwie Malmsteen, Devin Townsend, Strapping Young Lad, Steve Vai, Pantera, Judas Priest, Symphony X, Dream Theater.

Signature Stage Moves
Getting derranged!

Main Live Equipment
Korg M3 – 88 keys
Korg Triton Extreme
Korg X50
Korg N264
Korg Kaoss Pad KP3
Theremin with Rocktron G200 Guitar Processor
MIDIjet Pro – Wireless Midi System
AKG In-Ear Monitoring system
Customised Roland AX7

Dave Mackintosh

Dave “Compact Dynamo” Mackintosh began playing at the tender age of eight, and discovered twin kick drums by twelve. Since then, he knew his musical direction, “Metal”! While performing and recording with plenty of unsigned acts throughout the years, he has gained valuable experience not only in his musicianship, but also in showmanship. his thirst for metal has grown ever more extreme. Only now, after two full length albums with black metal outfit Bal-Sagoth, is Dave able to cope with the extreme speed and intensity of DragonForce!

Musical Influences
Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, Tommy Aldridge, Charlie Benante, Ingo Schwichtenberg, Nicko Mcbrain, Jonny Maudling, Vinnie Paul.

Main Equipment
Tama Starclassic birch/bubinga, ultraviolet sparkle
Kicks: 2 x 22″ x 18″
Brass snare: 14″ x 5.5″ (main)
Starclassic maple 14” x 5.5 snare(secondary)
Toms: 8″, 10″, 12″, 13″, 14″
Floor Toms: 16″ & 18″
4 x octaban,left side
4 x octaban, right side
1 x 20” gong drum
Double tier, Tama power tower rack, with Tama road pro hardware
2 x Tama Iron Cobra pedals (rolling glide)
Roland TD-20bk meshheads and triggers
Vic Firth 5a extreme hickory sticks and stick bags

All Meinl Cymbals
14” Soundcaster Fusion Medium Hi Hats.
18” Soundcaster Fusion Medium Crash
10” Soundcaster Splash
18” Byzance China
18” Byzance Rock China
19” MB10 Medium Crash
10” MB10 Splash
18” MB10 medium Crash
19” MB20 Heavy Crash
18” MB20 Heavy Crash
20” MB20 Heavy Bell Ride
19” Soundcaster Custom Powerful Crash
17” Soundcaster Custom Medium Crash
15” Generation x China Crash
12”/14” Generation X Xtreme Stack

Evans skins
Toms: g2 coated top heads, g1 clear bottom heads
Snare: g1 coated / g1 coated with power dot

Frédéric Leclercq

Frédéric Leclercq is best described as the ‘multi’ man; multi-instrumentalist (guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, vocalist), multi-styles (death metal, heavy metal, speed metal, thrash metal, rock, classical, glam, black metal), multi-languages (speaks French, English, German and some dirty words in almost every language), and of course multi-bands! Currently singer, guitarist and main man in his band Maladaptive, he also plays session for various bands and used to play keyboard then guitar in the French band Heavenly, not to mention his appearances here and there on various records in the music scene.

Now, Fred adds another great band on his list: DragonForce. This talented, passionate young French man has known Herman from the ‘force for over 5 years and was asked to help out on bass for their North America and Japan shows.

Fred displayed so much skills and professionalism on the shows in North America and Japan that he was asked to become DragonForce’s permanent bassist. Fred accepted without hesitation.

Signature Stage Moves
Black metal whisky sculling

Musical Influences
Late 80′s video games music, rock, metal and porn!

Main Live Equipment
ESP FL-600 Bass – Fred Leclercq Signature Model
Peavey Tour 700 Bass Amp
Peavey 810 Bass Cabinets
Samson UHF Wireless System
Samson Studio Gear
AKG In-Ear Monitoring system
Mister Fof FL-4 Bass Guitar
ESP Doraemon Guitar
ESP Gundam Guitars