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Biography
Refimprove|date=June 2011Infobox musical artist|name = Melt-Banana|image = Melt-Banana, Ilosaarirock 2011.jpeg|caption = LR: Rika, Yasuko, Agata|landscape = yes|background = group_or_band|origin = Tokyo , Japan |genre = Punk rock , noise rock , grindcore , experimental rock |years_active = 1992present|label = A-Zap, Gold Standard Labs , Skin Graft |website = http://www.melt-banana.net http://www.melt-banana.net|current_members = Yasuko Onuki Ichirou Agata Rika Hamamoto|past_members = Toshiaki Sudoh Oshima Watchma Melt-Banana is a Japanese noise rock band that is known for playing extremely fast grindcore and noise music mixed with experimental music|experimental , electronica and pop music|pop -based song structures. The band has released nine albums and toured worldwide extensively.
History
In 1991, while attending Tokyo University of Foreign Studies , Yasuko Onuki started a band called Mizu and, after a short period rehearsing with another guitarist, recruited Ichirou Agata to play guitar in the band. http://www.skingraftrecords.com/bandhtmlpages/meltban.html MELT-BANANA Band Page. Skingraftrecords.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-19. Mizu's original drummer and bass player quit six months after Agata joined, leaving Yasuko to handle the bass and vocal duties until she found bassist Rika. They briefly performed shows around Tokyo without a drummer. Toshiaki Sudoh then joined as the new drummer in November 1992, and they changed their name to Melt-Banana. http://www.nme.com/artists/melt-banana Melt-Banana news, lyrics, pictures, reviews, biography, videos, best songs, discography, concerts, gossip, pictures and tour dates. Nme.com (2001-06-18). Retrieved on 2011-09-19.
In May 1993, Melt-Banana played a show opening for KK Null of Zeni Geva fame, who was impressed enough to immediately offer them a deal with his label, and would later introduce them to Mark Fischer of Skin Graft Records and Steve Albini . http://web.archive.org/web/20010306014858/www.parkcity.ne.jp/~mltbanan/his_f_eng.htm 2001 archive of Melt-Banana official site
Melt-Banana have released ten full-length albums and 23 Extended play|EPs (primarily split releases with other bands, most of which were compiled onto one disc in 2005). In 1997, they created their own recording company, A-Zap (formerly Iguana Coax), and re-issued most of their early albums. Around this time, drummer Toshiaki Sudoh quit. In more recent times, the band has had different drummers helping them on tours and in making albums. They do massive U.S. and U.K. tours yearly and smaller Japanese tours (the reason for this, according to them, is that traveling in Japan is quite expensive). In 2007 Melt-Banana recorded the song "Hair-Cat (Cause the Wolf Is a Cat!)" for PerfectHair Forever on Cartoon Network 's Adult Swim lineup. The latest studio album, Bambi's Dilemma , was released on April 24, 2007. A new live album called "MELT-BANANA Lite LIVE:ver.0.0" came out on November 3, 2009. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1672325 Lite Live: Ver.0.0. Melt Banana Allmusic
They have worked with a diverse range of artists, including Merzbow , John Zorn , Agathe Max , Mike Patton , and Discordance Axis .
;Drummers http://www.jame-world.com/us/database-artist.php? id=504 JaME U.S.A. Jpop, Jrock, Visual kei, all about Jmusic (Japanese music)& #33; | JaME U.S.A. Jame-world.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-19. http://kzsu.stanford.edu/~hannah/m/meltbanana.html blood sisters: women in heavy music: melt-banana. Kzsu.stanford.edu. Retrieved on 2011-09-19. http://everything2.com/e2node/Melt-Banana Melt-Banana@Everything2.com. Everything2.com (2000-05-08). Retrieved on 2011-09-19. Melt-Banana does not currently have an official drummer. There have been two drummers who were official members, and a number of guest drummers, for studio recordings and live performances.
Sudoh Toshiaki (Machine and the Synergetic Nuts) Official drummer from 1992 to December 1997. Appears on Speak Squeak Creak , Cactuses Come in Flocks , and Scratch or Stitch .
Kikuchi (ex- Assfort ) Guest live drummer, one show, early 1998.
Youichiro Natsume (ex-Multiplex, ex-Force) Guest studio drummer, early 1998. Appears on Charlie (Melt-Banana album)|Charlie .
Oshima Watchman ( Coaltar of the Deepers , ex-Satanic Hell Slaughter) Official drummer from February 1998 to 2000. Toured, and appears on MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity and Teeny Shiny .
Dave Witte ( Municipal Waste (band)|Municipal Waste , ex- Discordance Axis ) Guest touring drummer, US and Europe only, 2001 to 2005.
Obokata Guest live drummer, Japan only.
Masashi Sakata (324) Guest live drummer, Japan and All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)|ATP UK 2002.
Takiya Terada Guest live drummer in 2002.
Uki Eiji (ex- Acid Mothers Temple , ex-Monghang) Guest live drummer, Japan and 2007 US tours and 2008 Europe tour.
Inomata Guest live drummer.
Style
Melt-Banana's music falls under what many call " noise rock ." Agata Ichirou|Agata plays highly unorthodox guitar with extended techniques . For instance, he overlaps two different guitar riffs, simulates lasers and sirens, and has an impressive arsenal of effects, almost all made through his guitar and large amount of effects pedals. Yasuko Onuki|Yasuko O. belts out high-pitched screams and raps very quickly.Citation needed|date=June 2007 Rika Hamamoto's bass lines are not subdued like in most bands, but are given as much overt influence as Agata's guitar work. The sounds from the bass provide a distinct dimension to the music not found in many other bands. The drums are usually quite straightforward (however, in their recent albums, they have become more complex), especially on the faster songs, where they beat almost straight through with set cymbal crashes, adding a large amount of energy to the songs. The band describes their recent music (especially Teeny Shiny and Cell-Scape ) as pop, but it is far from it, except more accessible when compared to their earlier albums, perhaps.Or|date=July 2009 Essentially, it could be argued that Melt Banana's output, (with special attention brought to their more recent songs) is more reminiscent of quirkier indie pop bands, with definite melodies hiding beneath the distortion, effects and sheer speed.Or|date=July 2009 Yasuko even sings, as opposed to barking, parts of the track "If It Is the Deep Sea, I Can See You There" on their album Cell Scape . Also of note, most of their albums are intentionally lo-fi music|lo-fi , as that is Agata Ichirou|Agata 's feeling for the music; however, group members disliked how these recordings sounded on the radio, so they aimed to make their last two albums more high fidelity|hi-fi .
Cover songs
Melt-Banana is known for covering an eclectic selection of songs.
" Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair " ( Nina Simone /traditional) studio
"Faint Heart" ( The Birthday Party (band)|The Birthday Party ) studio Release the Bats compilation
"Government Flu" ( Dead Kennedys ) live, with Jello Biafra
"GST 483" (The Dogs) studio Doggy Style: The Dogs Tribute (Comp)
" Heart of Glass (song)|Heart of Glass " ( Blondie (band)|Blondie ) live (2007). There were two different versions performed, one faster and upbeat, the other significantly slower.
"Love Song" ( The Damned (band)|The Damned ) studio ????? EP (2006)
"Monkey Man" ( Toots & the Maytals ) studio split 7"
" Paint It, Black " ( The Rolling Stones ) live and allegedly recorded but not used for a compilation.
"Showroom Dummies" ( Kraftwerk ) studio Musique Non-Stop : A Tribute to Kraftwerk compilation
" Surfin' USA (song)|Surfin' USA "/" Heroes and Villains|You're Welcome " ( The Beach Boys ) studio MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity . "Surfin' USA" has also been played live, often with an intro of Lenny Kravitz 's " Are You Gonna Go My Way (song)|Are You Gonna Go My Way "
"Tintarella di Luna" ( Mina (singer)|Mina ) studio split 7"
" Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!|Uncontrollable Urge " ( Devo ) live (2005). A studio version was released on a split CD.
" We Will Rock You " ( Queen (band)|Queen ) studio Dynamite with a Laser Beam compilation
" White Christmas (song)|White Christmas " ( Bing Crosby ) studio The Christmas Album compilation. The song "Here Comes Santa Claus" on the same CD is often attributed to Melt-Banana, but is actually performed by ( Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her ), a somewhat similar band from Japan.
" Wordy Rappinghood " ( Tom Tom Club ) studio
" What a Wonderful World " ( Louis Armstrong ) live US Tour (2011)
As an opening act
Melt-Banana has toured as an opening act with high-profile bands such as:
Mr. Bungle (1995) US http://www.ram.org/music/reviews/banana_bungle.html Melt Banana with Mr. Bungle concert review. Ram.org (1995-11-29). Retrieved on 2011-09-19.
Melvins (1999) Japan and US http://www.themelvins.net/wiki/index.php? title=Melvins_Tour_Dates_1999 Melvins Tour Dates 1999 MelvinsWiki. Themelvins.net. Retrieved on 2011-09-19.
Fantτmas (band)|Fantτmas (2004) US http://web.archive.org/web/20080905112657/ http://www.karaterice.com/Interviews/Melt-Banana.html Melt Banana
Tool (band)|Tool (2007) US http://www.drawerb.com/2007/05/11/melt-banana-prepares-for-massive-tour-supporting-tool-in-arenas/ Melt-Banana prepares for massive tour, supporting Tool in Arenas, Drawer B. Drawerb.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-19.
