Christian Roger Andreu (born 15 November 1976) is a French musician best known as the lead guitarist of heavy metal band Gojira, and was guitarist on a Familha Artús album.

Music

Christian Andreu's influences include bands such as

Death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

, Morbid Angel,

Tool A tool is an Physical object, object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many Tool use by animals, animals use simple tools, only human bei ...

Slayer Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them ...

, and

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...

. His favorite non-metal musicians are

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

, La Tordue, Têtes Raides, and

Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...

, as well as Bulgarian music and

Indian music Owing to India's vastness and diversity, Indian music encompasses numerous genres in multiple varieties and forms which include classical music, folk, rock, and pop. It has a history spanning several millennia and developed over several ...

. He cites French-language singers such as Alain Bashung, Barbara,

Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs. He generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, but later throughout the world ...

, and Georges Brassens. In an interview for

Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...

's ''ZYVA Magazine'', Andreu explained that he does not listen to much metal music apart from Gojira, stating that he primarily listens to classical music. Andreu credited " Symbolic" from the band

as the song that portrays him. In 2007, he was also a guitarist in an experimental ethno-tribal progressive rock band playing in a traditional style called Familha Artús. In May 2019, towards the end of the song "Stranded" at

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

's Sonic Temple Festival, the pyrotechnic effects of the show projected flames in his face under the effect of the wind. Burned superficially, Andreu had to leave his comrades but returned on stage to complete the concert, while taking breaks between songs to throw water on his face. He recovered quickly.

Personal life

Christian Andreu resides close to nature on the south west coast of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, near

San Sebastián San Sebastián, officially known by the bilingual name Donostia / San Sebastián (, ), is a city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. It lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, from the France–Spain border ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. He maintains his organic garden when he is not on tour, and practices fishing.

Equipment

;Guitars * Jackson RR1t *Jackson RR Custom (with "G" inlay on 12th fret) *Jackson RR5 * Gibson Explorer (on The Link Alive) ;Amplifiers and Cabinets *EVH 5150 III 100 watt HEAD (L'Enfant Sauvage – present) *EVH 5150 III 4×12 Cab (Christian started using EVH in 2009 on Gojira's first headlining tour in US) * Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (Terra Incognita – The Link) * Peavey 6505+, 6505, 5150, 5150 II (From Mars to Sirius – The Way of All flesh) ;Pedals * Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner * MXR Smart-Gate *MXR Carbon Copy Delay

Discography

Gojira

;Demos * ''Victim'' (as Godzilla) (1996) * ''Possessed'' (as Godzilla) (1997) * ''Saturate'' (as Godzilla) (1999) * ''Wisdom Comes'' (as Godzilla) (2000) ;EPs * '' Maciste All'Inferno'' (Gojira) (2003) * ''End of Time'' (Gojira) (2012) ;Studio albums *''

Terra Incognita ''Terra incognita'' or ''terra ignota'' (Latin "unknown land"; ''incognita'' is stressed on its second syllable in Latin, but with variation in pronunciation in English) is a term used in cartography for regions that have not been mapped or d ...

'' (2001) *'' The Link'' (2003) *'' From Mars to Sirius'' (2005) *'' The Way of All Flesh'' (2008) *'' L'Enfant Sauvage'' (2012) *''

Magma Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma (sometimes colloquially but incorrectly referred to as ''lava'') is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also ...

'' (2016) *'' Fortitude'' (2021) ;With Familha Artús *Òrb (2007)

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andreu, Christian Death metal musicians French heavy metal guitarists Living people People from Bayonne Progressive metal guitarists 1976 births French male bass guitarists 21st-century French bass guitarists 21st-century French male musicians Gojira (band) members