G.I.S.M.
G.I.S.M.
Genres: hardcore punk, Crust, hardcore, japanese, punk
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About G.I.S.M.
G.I.S.M. (ギズム) was a Japanese punk metal band formed in Tokyo in 1981. They split up in 2002 and reunited in 2016 for one concert. They effectively disbanded. Members (as of 2002): ** Vocals: 横山SAKEVI (Sakevi Yokoyama; deceased on August 24th 2023) ** Guitar: RANDY内田 (Randy Uchida; played in R.U.G. (Randy Uchida Group) in the 80s; deceased in 2001) ** Bass: KIICHI (Kiichi Takahashi; guitarist in +R; ex サブラベルズ/Sublabels) ** Drums: IRONFIST TATSUSHIMA (Former member of THE MAGNETS) Ex members: Guitar: 南部 (Nambu; ディフェランス/Difference) Bass: CLOUDY (participated in +R) Bass: GHOST (ex GHOUL) Drums: 香村カヲリ (Kaori Komura) Drums: MARIO Drums: HIROSHIMA (Tooru Hiroshima; played in R.U.G. (Randy Uchida Group) in the 80s; deceased in 2022) Chorus: EXECUTIONER (only on track 1 and 3 on their first EP) Souichi Hisatake Biography: Although the guitar style resembled heavy metal in many aspects, GISM was one of the first Japanese hardcore bands, while at the same time drawing influence from the early industrial/avant-garde music scene—something uncommon in punk bands at that time. The acronym GISM has many different variations;[citation needed] they include: "Guerrilla Incendiary Sabotage Mutineer" (original), "God In the Schizoid Mind", "Grand Imperialism Social Murder", "Genocide Infanticide Suicide Menticide", "Gay Individual Social Mean", "Gothic Incest Sex Machine", "Grubby Incest Stripper Mastitis", "Gravity Impel Slaying Machine", "Get Incinerated Sorrow Mass", "Gore Impromptu Suicide Mine", "Grim Iconic Sadistic Mantra" and "Gnostic Idiosyncrasy Sonic Militant". GISM came to be widely known in the global punk scene after the song “Endless Blockades for the Pussyfooter” appeared on International P.E.A.C.E. Benefit Compilation 1984. Thereafter, the band attained something of a cult status in the international punk scene, duly for their unique blend of heavy metal and hardcore punk. Roadrunner Records ranked Sakevi Yokoyama No. 49 out of 50 of The Greatest Metal Frontmen of All Time. Career GISM had their first performance in 1981 at the University of Tokyo. In 1984, GISM released their first album, titled Detestation, on Dogma Records. The album has been applauded for having unique vocals and a guitar style that was very uncommon in hardcore punk. M.A.N., or Military Affairs Neurotic, was released in 1987 on Beast Arts Records. The album was quite a departure from the Detestation album, putting more emphasis on a slower, metal style of music compared to the hardcore punk sound of the previous release. GISM released their last album on compact disc, titled SoniCRIME TheRapy, in 2001. The band featured Kiichi Takahashi on bass and Ironfist Tatsushima on drums. Guitarist Randy Uchida died from cancer on 10 February 2001, shortly after the release of the album. GISM played two shows in Tokyo in honor of Randy Uchida, and then broke up. In 2002, GISM made the cover of Burst Magazine (issue No. 49), an underground Japanese magazine. Following the death of guitarist Randy Uchida, the band's activities were "permanently frozen" (effectively disbanding) after their final live event, "+R," on February 10, 2002. GISM performed in the Netherlands on 15 April 2016 at Lee Dorian's Roadburn event. It was their first performance after a 13-year hiatus, along with being their first show outside of Japan. On September 11, 2018, the film "Reppu Hakai Gyokuon Gun Totsunyū 9/11" ( directed by Junji Yasuda /60 minutes), edited entirely from unreleased live footage, was shown twice a day (2 screenings of 384 seats each) at Tachikawa Cinema City 2 for a limited time. Tickets sold out immediately. The hour-long film featured only GISM, including rehearsal footage of "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" and live footage of the audience fleeing in panic at a live show at Eggplant. Applause broke out at the end of the screening. This was the first time a film about a Japanese hardcore band had been screened in a commercial cinema. On September 11, 2022, BEAST ARTS will release "Reppa Kai Gyokuon Gun Totsunyu 911". On August 24, 2023, Yokoyama, the band's central figure, passed away. Members and other projects Sakevi Yokoyama continued to make collage art with his own clothing brand “stlTH”, which made T-shirt designs until his death in late 2023. In 1987, he made a cameo appearance in the Japanese film Robinson's Garden. In the movie, he attacks a Rastafarian man for teaching children spirituality. This film is the only documentation of his acting career. In 2004, Sakevi released a solo album titled The War under the name S.K.V. In 2006, he designed the artwork for World Burns To Death's album Totalitarian Sodomy. Randy Uchida (guitarist) and Tohru Hiroshima (drummer) played with Ronny Wakamats and Michel Hammer in a side project called R.U.G. (Randy Uchida Group), which released one vinyl EP titled Deathly Fighter in 1984. Uchida died of cancer in 2001, and Hiroshima in 2022. Kiichi Takahashi (bassist) was the vocalist for the occult heavy metal band Sabbrabells. Cloudy (original bassist) played bass for the female-fronted speed metal band Front Guerrilla, which released an EP titled Fight Back in 1986. Ironfist Tatushima (drummer) continues to play in the bands Die You Bastard! and Crow, which he had been playing with prior to GISM. Kaori Komura (original drummer) is an improviser using Korean percussion. She released a duo CD with Kazumoto Endo titled In The Cave in 2020. Frontman Sakevi Yokoyama died on 24 August 2023. P.O.W. magazine During the mid-80s, Sakevi published a Japanese punk zine titled P.O.W. The acronym initially stood for Punk On Wave, but later changed to Performance Of War for the third and final issue. The magazine promoted local punk bands from the Tokyo scene at the time. Sakevi also personally interviewed the Tokyo Medical Examiner’s Office, wrote the P.L.O., and wrote to prisoners of war from Anti Japanese Armed Fronts asking their opinions on death. The magazine included vivid instructions on different ways to kill people and drawings showing how ABC weapons are made, along with images of their consequences. John Duncan, the guest editor for the third issue, wrote in the introduction that Sakevi attacked a salaryman for staring with a makeshift flamethrower on a Tokyo commuter train, which led to him being imprisoned. Discorgraphy: 1983: DETESTation (mini-album, released on CD in 1992 with three bonus tracks) 1987: MAN (Military Affairs Neurotic) (first pressing only includes poster, reissued on LP, CD and cassette tape in 2023) 2002: SoniCRIME TheRapy 2015: DETERMINATION (Best Album)
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