Jean-Michel Labadie

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.

Career
Labadie grew up in the Basque Country, and played bass in regional underground bands.

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

Labadie is known for his energetic live presence during shows, with much jumping around the stage and heavy headbanging. 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".

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

Personal life
Labadie likes landscapes, solitude, nature and adrenaline. He started practicing boardsports such as skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. In 1996, he became passionate about mountain biking, and found these sensations again, "but more brutal". 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. 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".

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

Effects


 * KHDK Abyss
 * Ibanez TS7
 * Boss TU3
 * MXR Smartgate
 * Radial Headbone VT
 * Bass guitars
 * Tobias Basic 6 Bass
 * Fender American Deluxe Precision Bass
 * Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass
 * Fender American Deluxe Dimension Bass
 * Dingwall Super P Bass
 * Dingwall Super P Bass


 * Amplifiers and Cabinets
 * SWR Amps
 * Fender SuperBassman 300 Amp
 * Darkglass Amps
 * Darkglass Amps

Gojira

 * Demos
 * Saturate (as Godzilla) (1999)
 * Wisdom Comes (as Godzilla) (2000)


 * EPs
 * Maciste All'Inferno (Gojira) (2003)
 * End of Time (Gojira) (2012)


 * Studio albums
 * Terra Incognita (2001)
 * The Link (2003)
 * From Mars to Sirius (2005)
 * The Way of All Flesh (2008)
 * L'Enfant Sauvage (2012)
 * Magma (2016)
 * Fortitude (2021)