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Thee Michelle Gun Elephant




  Img TheeMichelleGunElephantjpg
  Img Capt Thee Michelle Gun Elephant: L>R: Abe Futoshi, Chiba Yusuke, Kazuyuki Kuhara, Ueno Koji
  Background group_or_band
  Genre Garage Rock <br /> Blues Rock <br /> Punk Rock <br /> Garage Punk
  Years Active 1991-2003
  Label Universal Music Group <br /> Alive Records
  Associated Acts Rosso <br/> Radio Caroline <br/> The Birthday <br/> Midnight Bankrobbers
  URL Rockin' Blues
  Past Members Chiba Yusuke <br /> Abe Futoshi <br /> Ueno Koji <br /> Kazuyuki Kuhara


Thee Michelle Gun Elephant (often abbreviated to '''TMGE''') was a Japanese Garage Rock band of notable popularity in its country of origin. Their music is known for the loud guitars of Abe Futoshi and lead singer Chiba Yusuke 's loud, gravelly yet melodious vocals. The other members of the band were Drummer Kuhara Kazuyuki and Bass player Ueno Koji . They have cited bands such as Johnny Thunders , The Stooges , Iggy Pop , The Damned , The Clash , The Adicts , The Who and Dr. Feelgood as their influences.


HISTORY

The band was formed in 1991, while the band members were students at Tokyo 's Meiji Gakuin University . Their unusual name originated from a combination of a former bassist's mispronunciation of the The Damned 's album, '' Machine Gun Etiquette '', and the name of Billy Childish 's offbeat band Thee Headcoats .

Their first major label release, ''Wonder Style'', was released in 1995 , and produced in London , United Kingdom , by Chris Brown , who previously engineered albums and tracks for Radiohead and Pink Floyd . The band was later spotted by The Brian Jonestown Massacre during a gig in Los Angeles . They were so impressed by the band that they told Alive Records owner Patrick Boissel about them, who then sought them out and signed them to his label. This led to the American release of '' Gear Blues '' in 2000 , an album which had already proved to be their breakthrough album having sold 4 million copies worldwide.

The band announced that they would break up on October 11 , 2003 , after their ''Last Heaven'' tour of Japan.
Around 2002, vocalist Chiba Yusuke and Blankey Jet City bassist Terai Toshiyuki formed ROSSO .

DISCOGRAPHY


Albums



Live albums

  • ''Casanova Said "Live or Die"'' (2000) Triad

  • ''Last Heaven's Bootleg'' (2003) Island



Singles

  • ''Sekaino-Owari'' (1996) Triad

  • ''Candy House'' (1996) Triad

  • ''Lily'' (1996) Triad

  • ''Culture'' (1997) Triad

  • ''Get Up Lucy'' (1997) Triad

  • ''The Birdmen'' (1997) Triad

  • ''G.W.D'' (1998) Triad

  • ''Out Blues'' (1998) Triad

  • ''Smokin' Billy'' (1998) Triad

  • ''GT400'' (2000) Triad

  • ''Baby Stardust'' (2000) Triad

  • ''Abakareta-Sekai'' (2001) Triad

  • ''Taiyou wo Tsukande Shimatta'' (2002) Island

  • ''Girl Friend'' (2003) Trippin' Elephant

  • ''Electric Circus'' (2003) Island



B-sides compilations

  • ''Rumble'' (1999) Triad



Best of compilations

  • ''TMGE 106'' (2000) Triad

  • '' Collection '' (2001) Alive Records (US release)

  • ''Grateful Triad Years'' (2002) Triad



Other releases

  • ''Wonder Style'' (1995) Trippin' Elephant

  • ''Wonder Style'' (reissue) (1997) Triad

  • ''Vibe On!'' (1998) Trippin' Elephant

  • ''Kwacker'' (with Mick Green) (2001) Trippin' Elephant

  • .



EXTERNAL LINKS