Gastunk

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Gastunk
Also known asGastank
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active1983–1988, 1999 & 2006, 2010–present
Labels
MembersBaby
Tatsu
Motokatsu
Past membersNaoki
Yutaka
Kill
Matsumura
Pazz
Baki
Kei
Websitegastunk.com

Gastunk (stylized as GASTUNK) is an influential Japanese rock band, first active from 1983 to 1988.[3][4] Initially a hardcore punk band, guitarist Tatsu later recalled that when Gastunk made their major label debut they were dubbed heavy metal by the media.[3] They reunited for one-off concerts in 1999 and 2006, before fully restarting activities in 2010.

History

Formed in 1983 by bassist Baby,[5] Gastunk went through several lineup changes in their early years. In 1984, they contributed three songs to the Holdup Omnibus compilation. A self-titled EP was released in February 1985, followed by their first album, Dead Song, in August. That month saw Gastunk appear on the NHK TV show Indies no Shūrai, and perform at an event sponsored by Takarajimasha.[2] In 1986, the band released the single "Geronimo" and two EPs, The Vanishing Signs and To Fans. They also performed at the Indies Festival 1986 at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall that September. The album Under the Sun, featuring a cover created by Tadanori Yokoo, was released in June 1987. A different mix of the album, with a new cover by Pushead, was released internationally in November. Gastunk recorded their third album, June 1988's Mother, in Los Angeles. At the Street Fighting Man event at MZA Ariake in November 1988, the band suddenly announced that they would be disbanding. The reason being that Baby wanted to pursue a musical career in America. Gastunk held their farewell concert at Shibuya Public Hall on December 22, 1988.

Gastunk posters outside Ebisu LiquidRoom (2010)

Gastunk reunited in January 1999 for a concert at Akasaka Blitz called Rest in Peace in memory of hide, who died the previous year.[2] It was recorded and released as a live album in November of that year,[6] and later as a DVD in 2005.[7]

Gastunk performed again in 2006 at an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of Shinjuku Loft,[2] before officially restarting activities in January 2010.[8] They released the three-track single "Deadman's Face" on June 9 as their first new material in 22 years.[9] Drummer Pazz, who joined Gastunk in 1986, left the band in September 2019.[10] He was replaced by Tatsu's The Deadrocks bandmate Kei in August 2020.[11] Gastunk released Vintage Spirit, The Fact, their first album in 33 years, on June 9, 2021.[12] On August 31, 2022, the band announced that vocalist Baki, who first joined in 1984, had suddenly decided to leave Gastunk. The remaining three members cancelled four scheduled shows as a result, but stated that they will continue activities.[5] On August 7, 2023, it was announced that Kei had left the band in March due to various circumstances, that he was replaced by former The Mad Capsule Markets drummer Motokatsu Miyagami, and that Gastunk was in the studio recording new material.[13]

The new lineup, featuring Baby and Tatsu sharing vocal duties, will have its first concerts on November 30 and December 1, 2024. The album The Greatest Swell will follow on December 11.[14]

Influence

Gastunk have been labeled the originators of mixing metal and punk music.[7] They have also been noted for their visual aesthetics coinciding with visual kei, with Baki wearing white face paint inspired by Kiss and Tatsu having red hair.[2][7]

Musicians such as Hide,[7] Hyde,[15] and Hakuei of Penicillin have cited Gastunk as an influence or expressed admiration for them.[16] Morrie cited how Baki alternated between distorted and clean vocals from one song to the next as influencing him in establishing his own vocal style.[17] Early in his career, Aki of Laputa imitated Gastunk's use of difficult or uncommon kanji in lyrics.[18]

Members

  • Baby – bass, vocals 1983–1988,[19] 1999, 2006, 2010–present (The Execute, The Highest Region, Rebel Tribe)
  • Tatsuya "Tatsu" Shinozaki (篠崎辰也) – guitar, vocals 1983–1988,[19] 1999, 2006, 2010–present (Dead Cops, Jacks 'n' Joker, The Eye Scream, The Killing Red Addiction, Punktronica, The Deadrocks)
  • Motokatsu Miyagami (宮上元克) – drums 2023–present (The Mad Capsule Markets, Ace of Spades)
Former members
  • Naoki – guitar 1983[19] (The Comes, Lip Cream) Died 2021[20]
  • Yutaka – vocals 1983–1984 (Dead Cops as "Otakevi"[19])
  • Matsumura – drums 1983–1986 (The Comes)
  • Kill – drums 1984
  • Shigeru "Pazz" Kobayashi – drums 1986–1988, 1999, 2006, 2010–2019 (Z.O.A., Doom, Quartergate, I love you... OK?)
  • Masahiko "Baki" Isowaki (磯脇雅彦) – vocals 1984–1988, 1999, 2006, 2010–2022 (Lip Cream, The Execute, Joy, Quartergate, No. 9, Mosquito Spiral)
  • Kei – drums 2020–2023 (The Jacks, The Deadrocks)

Discography

Studio albums

  • Dead Song (August 1985)
  • Under the Sun (June 21, 1987; US version, December 1987)
  • Mother (June 21, 1988)
  • Vintage Spirit, The Fact (June 9, 2021), Oricon Albums Chart Peak Position: No. 24[21]
  • The Greatest Swell (December 11, 2024)

EPs

  • Gastunk (February 1985)
  • The Vanishing Signs (May 1, 1986)
  • To Fans (July 1986)
  • Midnight Rain (November 18, 1988), No. 82[22]

Singles

  • "Mr. Gazime" (December 1985)
  • "Geronimo" (March 30, 1986)
  • "Sunshine of Your Love" (December 16, 1988) Oricon Singles Chart Peak Position: No. 85[23]
  • "Counter-Clock Wise" (June 1988)
  • "Dead Song" (1989, in Rockin' f magazine)
  • "Deadman's Face" (June 9, 2010) No. 128[23]

Live albums

  • The End (February 21, 1989) No. 82[22]
  • Rest in Peace (March 25, 1999)
  • Live at Loft 2011 (limited cassette, 2018)

Compilation albums

  • Heartful Melody (1983-1988) (1994)
  • Early Singles (August 21, 2002)

Home videos

  • Smash the Wall (VHS:1988, DVD:February 20, 2004)
  • Revelation (VHS:1988, DVD:November 15, 2006)
  • The End Vol. 1
  • The End Vol. 2
  • The End Vol. 1 & 2 (March 25, 2004)
  • Rest in Peace (February 23, 2005)
  • Gig DVD 1987 (November 8, 2006)
  • Double Gigs (August 6, 2008)
  • Gig DVD 1988 (April 21, 2010)
  • Arise Again Tour 2010 (November 17, 2010)
  • The Running Mad Blood in a Dead Indian's Dream! (2 DVDs & 1 CD, February 6, 2019) Oricon DVDs Chart Peak Position: No. 54[24]

References

  1. ^ "Gastunk - discography, line-up, biography, interviews, photos".
  2. ^ a b c d e f "GASTUNKの『DEAD SONG』に宿る先見の明". OK Music (in Japanese). June 28, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Eclectic sounds and erratic looks, this is Japanese metal". CNN. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  4. ^ "Gastunk". discogs.com. August 14, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "GASTUNKのボーカリスト・BAKIが脱退、バンドは活動を継続". Natalie (in Japanese). August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "Rest In Peace Live At Akasakablitz". HMV. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d "【復刻インタビュー】BAKI（2005年2月号）- "Sing for life"──それこそがロックンロールなんだ - インタビュー". Rooftop (in Japanese). February 1, 2005. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "GASTUNK、3年ぶり3度目の復活で全国ツアーが実現". Natalie (in Japanese). January 9, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "GASTUNK、22年ぶり新作は「DEADMAN'S FACE」". Natalie (in Japanese). May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "GASTUNKのドラマー、PAZZが脱退". Natalie (in Japanese). September 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "GASTUNKに新ドラマー加入、バンド史上初の無観客配信ライブでお披露目". Natalie (in Japanese). August 21, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "GASTUNK、1988年「MOTHER」以来の新アルバム「VINTAGE SPIRIT, THE FACT」発売". Natalie (in Japanese). April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "GASTUNKに新ドラマー、元THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETSのMOTOKATSU加入". Natalie (in Japanese). August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "GASTUNKが新体制初のアルバム発表、レコ発は新宿2DAYSワンマン". Natalie (in Japanese). October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "HYDEをかたち作った6枚". Rolling Stone (in Japanese). February 10, 2016. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Rock and Read 040. Shinko Music Entertainment. 2012. pp. 222–239. ISBN 978-4-401-77110-3.
  17. ^ Pebbles (November 24, 2008). "Exclusive interview with Creature Creature!". jpopexpress.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  18. ^ Kano, Kazumi (January 1, 1998). "aki Laputa 呼応する光と闇". Fool's Mate. 195: 177–179.
  19. ^ a b c d "One interview with the wild Tatsu(Gastunk)". Rushed Blue. May 20, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "NAOKIさんが日本のハードコアパンクシーンの中で教えてくれた、愛のある世界の素晴らしさ ISHIYAが綴る追悼文". Real Sound (in Japanese). February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "GASTUNKのアルバム売上ランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "ＧＡＳＴＵＮＫのアルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  23. ^ a b "ＧＡＳＴＵＮＫのシングル売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  24. ^ "GASTUNKのDVD売り上げランキング". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved September 1, 2019.
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