Frédéric Leclercq
A virtuoso French bassist who became the rhythmic engine of DragonForce's hyper-speed power metal before reinventing himself in the extreme metal underground.
Born 1978 (age 48)·French musician·Birthday: June 23·Generation X
Biography
Frédéric Leclercq emerged from France's metal scene not as a specialist, but as a formidable musical polymath. His technical prowess and deep musical knowledge landed him the bassist role in the British band DragonForce in 2004, just as their video game-inspired power metal was conquering the world via 'Guitar Hero.' For over a decade, Leclercq was the steady, complex foundation beneath the band's blistering solos and fantastical themes, contributing to global hits like 'Through the Fire and Flames.' Yet, his true passions leaned into darker, more extreme territories. A multi-instrumentalist at heart, he eventually stepped out from DragonForce to fully embrace his death metal roots. He co-founded the extreme metal supergroup Sinsaenum, where he switched to guitar and songwriting, and later joined the legendary German thrash act Kreator as their bassist. Leclercq’s career is a journey of relentless musical curiosity, moving from the spotlight of mainstream metal success to the respected, craft-driven circles of the genre's most intense subgenres.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Frédéric was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frédéric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Frédéric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the bassist for DragonForce from 2004 to 2019, performing on five studio albums including the platinum-selling 'Inhuman Rampage'.
- Co-founded and is the main songwriter and guitarist for the extreme metal supergroup Sinsaenum.
- Joined the iconic German thrash metal band Kreator as their full-time bassist in 2019.
- Has worked as a prolific session musician for artists like George Lynch (Souls of We) and the French death metal band Loudblast.
- Released music with his melodic death metal project Maladaptive, where he handles vocals and guitar.
Did You Know?
He is a self-taught musician who learned to play guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums.
Before joining DragonForce, he was a member of the French power metal band Heavenly.
He is fluent in French, English, and Japanese.
He has a degree in English and used to work as a teacher before his music career took off.
“Speed and melody are the heart of metal; technique is just the tool.”
