Gastunk Explained

Gastunk
Background:group_or_band
Alias:Gastank
Origin:Tokyo, Japan
Years Active:1983–1988, 1999 & 2006, 2010–present
Website:gastunk.com
Current Members:Baby
Tatsu
Motokatsu
Past Members:Naoki
Yutaka
Kill
Matsumura
Pazz
Baki
Kei

Gastunk (stylized as GASTUNK) is an influential Japanese rock band, first active from 1983 to 1988.[1] [2] 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.[1] They reunited for one-off concerts in 1999 and 2006, before fully restarting activities in 2010.

History

Formed in 1983 by bassist Baby,[3] 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. 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 reunited in January 1999 for a concert at Akasaka Blitz called Rest in Peace in memory of hide, who died the previous year. It was recorded and released as a live album in November of that year,[4] and later as a DVD in 2005.[5]

Gastunk performed again in 2006 at an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of Shinjuku Loft, before officially restarting activities in January 2010.[6] They released the three-track single "Deadman's Face" on June 9 as their first new material in 22 years.[7] Drummer Pazz, who joined Gastunk in 1986, left the band in September 2019.[8] He was replaced by Tatsu's The Deadrocks bandmate Kei in August 2020.[9] Gastunk released Vintage Spirit, The Fact, their first album in 33 years, on June 9, 2021.[10] 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.[3] 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.[11]

Influence

Gastunk have been labeled the originators of mixing metal and punk music.[5] 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.[5]

Musicians such as Hide,[5] Hyde,[12] and Hakuei of Penicillin have cited Gastunk as an influence or expressed admiration for them.[13] 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.[14] Early in his career, Aki of Laputa imitated Gastunk's use of difficult or uncommon kanji in lyrics.[15]

Members

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Live albums

Compilation albums

Home videos

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eclectic sounds and erratic looks, this is Japanese metal. CNN. 2011-08-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20110723050743/http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/life/japanese-metal-243426. 2011-07-23. dead.
  2. Web site: Gastunk. discogs.com. 2011-08-14.
  3. Web site: GASTUNKのボーカリスト・BAKIが脱退、バンドは活動を継続. Natalie. Japanese . 2022-08-31 . 2022-08-31.
  4. Web site: Rest In Peace Live At Akasakablitz. HMV. 2017-05-03.
  5. Web site: 【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. Japanese. 2005-02-01. 2021-04-17. April 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210417184111/https://rooftop.cc/interview/050201153330.php. dead.
  6. Web site: GASTUNK、3年ぶり3度目の復活で全国ツアーが実現 . Natalie. Japanese . 2010-01-09 . 2021-04-01.
  7. Web site: GASTUNK、22年ぶり新作は「DEADMAN'S FACE」. Natalie. Japanese . 2010-05-28 . 2021-04-01.
  8. Web site: GASTUNKのドラマー、PAZZが脱退. Natalie. Japanese . 2019-09-01 . 2021-04-01.
  9. Web site: 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. Japanese . 2020-08-21 . 2021-04-01.
  10. Web site: GASTUNK、1988年「MOTHER」以来の新アルバム「VINTAGE SPIRIT, THE FACT」発売. Natalie. Japanese . 2021-04-01 . 2021-04-01.
  11. Web site: GASTUNKに新ドラマー、元THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETSのMOTOKATSU加入. Natalie. Japanese . 2023-08-07 . 2023-08-07.
  12. HYDEをかたち作った6枚. Rolling Stone. Japanese. 2016-02-10. 2021-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20170917171404/http://rollingstonejapan.com/articles/detail/25364. September 17, 2017. dead.
  13. Book: Rock and Read 040. Shinko Music Entertainment. 2012. 222–239. 978-4-401-77110-3.
  14. Web site: Exclusive interview with Creature Creature! . Pebbles . 2008-11-24 . jpopexpress.com . September 26, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081206062346/http://www.jpopexpress.com/2008/11/24/exclusive-interview-with-creature-creature/ . 2008-12-06.
  15. Kano, Kazumi. aki Laputa 呼応する光と闇. Fool's Mate. 195. January 1, 1998. 177–179.
  16. Web site: One interview with the wild Tatsu(Gastunk) . Rushed Blue . 2013-05-20 . 2021-02-04.
  17. Web site: 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 . Japanese . 2021-02-04 . 2021-02-04.
  18. Web site: GASTUNKのアルバム売上ランキング . . Japanese . 2021-06-16.
  19. Web site: ＧＡＳＴＵＮＫのアルバム売り上げランキング . . Japanese . 2011-08-30 . https://archive.today/20130219001724/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/8852/ranking/cd_album/ . 2013-02-19.
  20. Web site: ＧＡＳＴＵＮＫのシングル売り上げランキング . . Japanese . 2011-08-30 . https://archive.today/20130218185936/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/8852/ranking/cd_single/ . 2013-02-18.
  21. Web site: GASTUNKのDVD売り上げランキング . . Japanese . 2019-09-01.

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