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| musical groups established in 1987 | |
Guitar Wolf is a three-piece Garage Punk band founded in Japan in 1987. The band is known for songs with piercing vocals and an extremely loud style of Noise Rock which emphasizes heavy distortion and feedback. They coined the phrase "Jett Rock 'n' Roll", which they also used to describe their musical style — an energetic cross between The Ramones , Rockabilly , classic Punk , and Noise Rock . The band has released nine studio albums internationally as well as a live album, numerous singles, and a greatest hits album called "Golden Black." The band members have also been featured in two B-grade Science Fiction horror movies, "Wild Zero" and "Sore Losers." A collection of Guitar Wolf's most popular videos and live performances have been compiled into a limited edition DVD entitled ''Red Idol''. In March 2005, bassist and founding member Billy, also known as Bass Wolf, died of a heart attack at the age of 38. His replacement in the band, bassist U.G., has become a permanent member of Guitar Wolf and now rounds out the trio which currently consist of band members Seiji (Guitar Wolf): U.G. (Bass Wolf); and Toru (Drum Wolf). Guitar Wolf was predated by a series of similar Japanese bands such as Teengenerate and Supersnazz, although none achieved the cult status this trio did. Since their inception, Guitar Wolf have influenced a neo-renaissance of Punk Rock in Japan . HISTORY Formation Guitarist Seiji and bassist Billy became friends while the two were in Harajuku. The two worked across from each other, Seiji in a used clothing store and Billy in a punk rock shop nearby. Realizing they shared similar musical tastes, the two decided to join together to play rock and roll. After convincing Seiji's coworker Narita to accompany them on drums, Guitar Wolf formed in Harajuku in 1987. After creating the band, each member adopted a Ramones -style surname reflecting their instrument of choice: Seiji became Guitar Wolf, Billy became Bass Wolf, and Narita became Drum Wolf. In time, Narita left the band, apparently to become a fortune teller, and was replaced by Toru, a drummer suggested by Enocky from the band Jackie & The Cedrics. {Link without Title} First Releases After releasing two vinyl albums in Japan, the first of which, , where Memphis-native and Oblivians member Eric Friedl first saw the band. Impressed with the band's set, Friedl approached the band and received a demo tape which he decided to self-release, forming his own label, Goner Records , for the specific purpose of exposing Guitar Wolf to an American audience. After placing a call to the band in Japan in order to get permission to issue the album, Goner Records released " Wolf Rock! ," Guitar Wolf's debut LP, in 1993. {Link without Title} Later work Guitar Wolf released their first CD, , who issued the band's fourth album " Missile Me! " that same year. Guitar Wolf would continue releasing albums with Matador until 1999's " Jet Generation ," an album which Matador Records claims is the loudest CD in history. {Link without Title} Film appearances In 2000 Guitar Wolf starred in the Japanese rock ‘n’ roll "zombie horror" movie, '' Wild Zero '', directed by Tetsuro Takeuchi. The band plays themselves as they take on crazed fans, Zombie s, and an Alien Invasion . Guitar Wolf recorded the soundtrack to the film as well, releasing it in 1999 under the title, "Wild Zero." Guitar Wolf is currently looking for a sponsor for the sequel, Wild Zero 2. This was not the first time the band had appeared on screen, in 1997 all three original members of Guitar Wolf appeared in the John Micheal McCarthy-directed "The Sore Losers", appearing as the "mysterious strangers." Death of Bass Wolf In 2002 the band made the move to Narnack Records where the band continued to release material until 2005 when the band released their greatest hits album, "Golden Black." That same year after completing a U.S. tour, the band returned home to Japan where bassist Billy/Bass Wolf suffered a fatal , U.G.. LIVE EXPERIENCE Guitar Wolf are well known for their frenetic live shows. They sometimes rely on elaborate stage productions, including lighted banners, comedically oversized speakers, and microphones that spew fire. There is little-to-no time in between songs and the band has been known, on many occasions, to play completely non-stop through their entire set. JETT ROCK 'N' ROLL Guitar Wolf often touts itself as "The World's Greatest Jett Rock 'n' Roll Band". ''Jett Rock 'n' Roll'' is a term coined by the band to describe their musical style; a conglomeration of Punk , traditional Rock , heavy distortion, and screaming that has only ever been applied to Guitar Wolf itself. The name is derived from the last name of musician Joan Jett , whom Guitar Wolf frontman Seiji considers his greatest influence. See King Brothers for one such band that is influenced by Guitar Wolf. JETT CLOTHING The band have their own line of Jett clothing consisting of jackets, pants, T-shirts and belts. The Guitar Wolf Motorcycle Jacket , a variation of the 613 Perfecto called 613GW, is manufactured by Schott NYC . DISCOGRAPHY Singles
Vinyl LPs
Studio albums
Sountracks
Splits
Tribute albums
Song covers
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