Sex Machineguns
Encyclopedia
Sex Machineguns (stylized as SEX MACHINEGUNS) is a Japanese speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
band formed in 1983. Their music is characterized by a heavy focus on bass as well as extremely fast guitar and bass solos. The band rides an image of being "shock rock
Shock rock
Shock rock is an umbrella term for artists who combine rock music with elements of theatrical shock value in live performances.-History:Screamin' Jay Hawkins was arguably the first shock rocker...
ers" by wearing crazy, exotic outfits like visual kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
bands (although this image has been toned down, especially since 2003 when the long-term bassist Noisy left the band). The lyrics feature very off-beat and non-serious themes (the superior quality of Satsuma fruits in Ehime prefecture, minor annoyance in family restaurants, etc.). Casting themselves as shock rockers is not the prime selling point of their music though, as they also exhibit technical skill on their instruments.
Biography
Sex Machineguns started in 1989 as a IndieIndie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
group, touring live houses and clubs. Their name is intentionally similar to that of the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
and, according to the band, "implying that [we] machineguns are more radical than [the] pistols". They gained a large fan base quickly and sold out their shows. They went on tour and spread their popularity all over Japan. Once they got back home to release their first video and live CD in spring 1997, they had developed such a fan base that the first press of the video sold out instantly, to all parts of Japan from Okinawa to Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
.
In 1998, Sex Machineguns made their commercial debut with the release of their first single on Toshiba-EMI
Toshiba-EMI
(formerly , is one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. in June 30, 2007 after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. The current CEO and president is San-e Ichii. When EMI Music Japan was trading as Toshiba-EMI, it was...
Records: "Hanabi-la Daikaiten". The single sold out instantly, and it was decided they would go on a debut tour (which sold out in every location). Magazines began to run articles, and the "Hanabi-la Daikaiten" single sold steadily, skyrocketing the band's popularity. In September they released their first album, which was another huge hit. They went on many tours, all selling out, and topped the singles charts. As 1998 came to a close, the Sex Machineguns had topped the charts and played 62 concerts (all sold out).
The band's front-man announced that the band would be taking a "activity pause" on March 20, 2006. All members at the time except for Anchang had left the band and formed a new band/side-project called Elleguns which released a 6-track instrumental. In 2004, Clutch.J.Himawari and Noisy have formed a 3-man group called Dustar-3 with Yuki
Yuuki Masahiko
, better known as "YUKI", is a Japanese guitarist. He started his career in 1995 as session guitarist. In September 1999, he joined Λucifer, a real life counterpart from a band with the same name in the anime Kaikan Phrase and was given the stage name YUKI, as he was taking the role of Yukifumi...
(formerly of Lucifer). Later in December 2006, Circuit.V.Panther
Yoshikazu Yahiro
Yoshikazu Yahiro , better known by his stage name Panther and formerly as Circuit.V.Panther, is a Japanese metal guitarist...
, Samurai.W.Kenjilaw, and Speed Star Sypan Joe have started a new band known as Cycle. Anchang later reformed Sex Machineguns in 2007 with Ryotatsu Kuwae on guitar and Kenichi Imai on drums, and they released three digital download-only singles that year.
In 2008 Anchang formed the band Big Bites, with Natchin (Siam Shade
Siam Shade
Siam Shade was a five-piece Japanese rock band, which broke onto the visual kei scene alongside a multitude of other artists in the early 1990s. They enjoyed a decade of relative popularity before disbanding in early 2002. On November 18, 2007, they reunited for a concert in honor of their...
) and Annie (The Yellow Monkey
The Yellow Monkey
The Yellow Monkey , often abbreviated as Yemon , was a Japanese rock band active from 1989 to 2001. They officially disbanded on July 7, 2004....
). Also in 2008, some footage of the band performing was featured in the film Global Metal
Global Metal
Global Metal is a 2008 documentary film directed by Scot McFadyen and Canadian anthropologist Sam Dunn. It is a followup to their successful 2005 documentary, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey. The film's international premiere took place at the Bergen International Film Festival on October 17th 2007...
during a discussion about visual kei and heavy metal in Japan.
Current members (Sex Machineguns V)
- Anchang (Koji Ando) - lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1992-present), guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1989–present) - Shingo☆ (Shingo Tamaki) - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(June 2008–present, support in 2007) - Ken'ichi (Kenichi Imai) - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(October 2007–present)
Former members
- Asada - vocals (????–1992)
- Saamasu - bass (????–1995)
- Atkins - bass (1995–1996)
- Imai - vocals (1996)
- MAD Power Tsuchiya (Hiroshi Tsuchiya) - drums (1996–1998)
- Sussy (Masahito Furuya) - guitar (1996–2001)
- Noisy (Hiroshi Ohta) - vocals (as H.Ohta, 1992–1996); bass, backing vocals (1996–2003)
- Clutch.J.Himawari (Jun Kanki) - drums (2000–2003, support in 1998-1999)
- Circuit.V.Panther (Yoshikazu YahiroYoshikazu YahiroYoshikazu Yahiro , better known by his stage name Panther and formerly as Circuit.V.Panther, is a Japanese metal guitarist...
) - guitar, backing vocals (2001–2006, 2007, 2009) - Samurai.W.Kenjilaw (Kenjirou Murai) - bass, backing vocals (2004–2006, 2007, 2009)
- Speed Star Sypan Joe (Koji Ueno) - drums (1997–1999, 2004–2006, 2007, 2009)
- Iberiko Moja Malmsteen (Ryotatsu Kuwae) - guitar (October 2007–August 2008)
Support members
- Cyzer.A.Hamburg - synth guitar (April 2001–August 2001)
- Crazy Horse Kameen - synth guitar (April 2001–August 2003)
- Sussy (Masahito Furuya) - guitar (1996–2001, support member in: 2008, 2009, 2011- actual)
Albums
| Title | Release date | Peak Chart Position in Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Sex Machinegun | October 16, 1998 | 29 |
| Made in Japan | November 26, 1999 | 9 |
| Barbe-Q★マイケル | March 7, 2001 | 7 |
| Burning Hammer (live album) | October 31, 2001 | 7 |
| Ignition | October 9, 2002 | 8 |
| Machineguns Get-Together ("best of" compilation) | June 4, 2003 | 9 |
| To the Future Tracks: Gathering for Unreleased Songs | August 6, 2003 | 29 |
| Live! Final Attack at Budokan Live! Final Attack at Budokan Live! Final Attack at Budokan is the 2nd live album by the Japanese speed metal band The Sex Machineguns. It was released on September 26, 2003 in Japan only. As the title suggests, it was recorded at the world famous Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo, Japan... (double live album) |
September 26, 2003 | 57 |
| Heavy Metal Thunder Heavy Metal Thunder (Sex Machineguns album) Heavy Metal Thunder is the 9th studio album by the Japanese speed metal band The Sex Machineguns. It was released on March 2, 2005 in Japan only... |
March 2, 2005 | 22 |
| Made in USA | February 8, 2006 | 29 |
| Best Tracks the Past and the Future | March 26, 2008 | 65 |
| Cameron | October 8, 2008 | 39 |
| 45° Angle | October 7, 2009 | 34 |
| SMG | August 31, 2011 |
Singles
| Title | Release date | Peak Chart Position in Japan |
|---|---|---|
| "Hanabi-la daikaiten" | April 22, 1998 May 23, 2001 (reissue) |
50 |
| "Burn: Burn Your Fire of Love" | September 18, 1998 May 23, 2001 (reissue) |
55 |
| "Tekken II" | February 3, 1999 May 23, 2001 (reissue) |
38 |
| "Mikan Mikan The satsuma is a seedless and easy-peeling citrus mutant of Japanese origin introduced to the West.In Japan, it is known as mikan or formally unshu mikan . In China, it is known as Wenzhou migan . The Japanese name is a result of the local reading of the same characters used in the Chinese... no uta" (Orange Song) |
April 21, 1999 May 23, 2001 (reissue) |
25 |
| "Onigunshow" (Hard-hearted sergeant) | October 20, 1999 September 26, 2003 (reissue) |
14 |
| "Aikoso subete" (Love Is All of My Life) | May 24, 2000 September 26, 2003 (reissue) |
16 |
| "S.H.R: Sexy Hero Revolution" | January 24, 2001 | 16 |
| "Tairyô" (Good Fishing!) | August 29, 2001 | 13 |
| "Sokoni anataga..." (There You Are...) | January 23, 2002 | 13 |
| "Bousou Rock" (Reckless Rider) | May 16, 2002 | 16 |
| "Yonaoshi Good Vibration" (Social reform, Good Vibration) | August 7, 2002 | 16 |
| "Demae-do icchokusen" (Straight Line Meal Delivery) | November 10, 2004 | 15 |
| "Suspense Gekijou" (Suspense Theatre) | February 9, 2005 | 22 |
| "Aijin 28" (Lover 28) | August 3, 2005 | 28 |
| "Haihin Kaishuu" (Junk Salvaging) (download only) | August 22, 2007 | ― |
| "Doku Mamaushi" (Poisonous Viper) (download only) | September 26, 2007 | ― |
| "Jacky" (download only) | - | |
| "Pride" | March 4, 2009 | 26 |
Other
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
Hellthy Set M
|
April 21, 1999 |
| Route320
|
June 1, 2002 |
| Love for Nana: Only 1 Tribute
|
March 16, 2005 |
| Music from and Inspired by the Game Heavy Metal Thunder: The Recordings
|
September 7, 2005 |
Solo works
| Member | Title | Release date | Peak Chart Position in Japan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchang | Cobra Twist |
2007 | includes covers of Marianne (The ALfee) and Cherry (Spitz) |
Open Your Head! Tear!
|
December 3, 2003 | 25 |
| The Maintenance
|
January 28, 2004 | 26 | ||||
| Memphis
|
February 21, 2007 | 98 | ||||
| Circuit.V.Panther | Sexy Finger
|
September 26, 2003 | ― | |||
| Sexy Finger II
|
September 15, 2004 | ― | ||||
| Elleguns | Keepout
|
October 12, 2005 | ― |
Videography
The naming scheme for the Sex Machineguns videos is as follows:- Video Sex = A compilation of the latest music videos from the band
- SM Show = A compilation of concert video bits (SM Show 2 has a 90min full concert followed by a 20min clip of another, followed by some other clips, and then a second full 90min concert, for example)
| Title | Release date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency! Nozarashi! | September 27, 2000 | Video |
| SM Show | October 16, 2000 | DVD and Video |
| Video Sex | June 7, 2000 | Video |
| February 20, 2002 | DVD | |
| SM Show 2 | February 20, 2002 | DVD and Video |
| Video Sex 2 | December 4, 2002 | |
| SM Show 3 | February 19, 2003 | |
| SM Show Finale | October 22, 2003 | DVD |
| Metal Box | December 10, 2003 | DVD |
| Made in USA | January 25, 2006 | Single DVD |
| Living in America | March 8, 2006 | Documentary DVD |
| A Day in the Live: Sex Machineguns Live in USA | June 28, 2006 | Live DVD |
| Video Sex Special Best Clips | March 26, 2008 | DVD |