Sex Machineguns
Sex Machineguns (stylized as SEX MACHINEGUNS) is a Japanese heavy metal band formed in 1989. Their music is characterized by a heavy focus on bass as well as extremely fast guitar and bass solos. The band uses the image of "shock rockers" by wearing crazy, exotic outfits like visual kei 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.
Sex Machineguns | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Labels | Toshiba-EMI |
| Associated acts | Elleguns, Dustar-3, Big Bites, The Cycle, The Maintenance☆ |
| Website | Official site |
| Members | Anchang Shingo☆ Leon [1] |
| Past members | Sussy Noisy Ken'ichi Clutch J. Himawari Circuit V. Panther Samurai W. Kenjilaw Speed Star Sypan Joe Ryotatsu |
Biography
Sex Machineguns started in 1989 as an indie group, touring live houses and clubs. Their name is intentionally similar to that of the Sex Pistols 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.
In 1998, Sex Machineguns made their commercial debut with the release of their first single on Toshiba-EMI 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 (formerly of Lucifer). Later in December 2006, Circuit V. Panther, 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) and Annie (The Yellow Monkey). Also in 2008, some footage of the band performing was featured in the film Global Metal during a discussion about heavy metal in Japan.
On 2012, drummer Ken'ichi withdrew, and the band went to an indefinite long time hiatus.
In 2013 Anchang and Shingo☆ formed a similar band called The Maintenance☆ (ザ☆メンテナンス), with Hirota on drums and second lead guitarist Master. They released their debut album Kōji-chū (工事中) on February 21, 2013 [2]
Members
Current members
- Anchang (Koji Ando) – lead vocals (1994–present), guitar (1989–present)
- Sussy (Masahito Furuya) - Lead Guitar (1996–2001, 2008–present* as touring musician)
- Shingo☆ (Shingo Tamaki) – bass (2008–present)
Former members
- Asada – vocals (1989–1992)
- Imai – vocals (1996)
- Noisy (Hiroshi Ohta) – vocals (as H.Ohta, 1993); guitar (1994); bass, backing vocals (1996–2003)
- Zaamasu – bass (1989–1995)
- Atkin-Sukkon – bass (1995–1996)
- Samurai W. Kenjilaw (Kenjirou Murai) – bass, backing vocals (2004–2007)
- Mad Power Tsuchiya (Hiroshi Tsuchiya) – drums (1989–1997)
- Clutch J. Himawari (Jun Kanki) – drums (2000–2003)
- Speed Star Sypan Joe (Koji Ueno) – drums (1997–1999, 2004–2006)
- Ken'ichi (Kenichi Imai) – drums (2007–2012)
- Circuit V. Panther (Yoshikazu Yahiro) – guitar, backing vocals (2001–2006)
- Iberiko Moja Malmsteen (Ryotatsu Kuwae) – guitar (2007–2008)
- Leon - Drums (2013–2019)
Support members (former)
- Cyzer A. Hamburg – synth guitar (April 2001–August 2001)
- Crazy Horse Kameen – synth guitar (April 2001–August 2003)
- Ryosuke (Dragon Sue) - guitar (October 2008-December 2008, May 2010-September 2011)
- Takeo Shimoda - Drums (February 2014–July 2014)
Timeline (Recording Era; 1997-present)
Discography
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 no Tsudoi ("best of" compilation) | June 4, 2003 | 9 |
| To the Future Tracks: Gathering for Unreleased Songs | August 6, 2003 | 29 |
| Live! Final Attack at Budokan (double live album) | September 26, 2003 | 57 |
| Heavy Metal Thunder | 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 | 91 |
| Love Games | October 29, 2014 | 93 |
| Metal Monster | December 16, 2015 | 125 |
| Iron Soul | November 28, 2018 | ??? |
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 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 |
| "Soko ni, Anata ga..." (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) | October 31, 2007 | ― |
| "Pride" | March 4, 2009 | 26 |
| "37564" (Killing 'em All) | February 23, 2011 | 85 |
| "Ame no Kawasaki"(Raining Kawasaki) | January 25, 2012 | 99 |
| "Miren Fire!" (Lingering FIRE!) | July 2, 2014 | 106 |
| Metal Keiri-man (Metal Accountant) | May 27, 2015 | 135 |
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 | |
| Remix Best (remix dance compilation) | March 18, 2012 | 75 |
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 Heart! 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 | ― | ||||
"Sexy Finger III"
|
2010 | - | ||||
"Sexy Finger IV"
|
2011 | - | ||||
| 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 |
| Independence Day Live | April 28, 2010 | Live DVD |
| SMG ALive! | May 18, 2011 | Live DVD |
| "Sex Machineguns vs. The Kanmuri" SMG Tour 2012 | July 18, 2012 | Live DVD |
References
- http://sexmachineguns.smg-fire.com/profile
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2013-08-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links
- Official Site (in Japanese)
- Official Blog - Cho-Jyukinzoku (in Japanese)
- Cycle Official Site (in Japanese)
- Big Bites Official Site (in Japanese)
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