GISM

G.I.S.M.
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Hardcore punk heavy metal Crust punk
Years active	1981–2002
Associated acts	Randy Uchida Group S∴K∴V∴
Members	Sakevi Yokoyama (vocals) Randy Uchida (guitar) Kiichi Takahashi (bass) Ironfist Tatsushima (drums)
Past members	Kannon "Cloudy" (bass) Hiroshima (drums) Mario (drums)

G.I.S.M. (ギズム, Gizumu) was a Japanese hardcore punk band formed in Tokyo in 1981. Even though the guitar style resembled heavy metal in many aspects, GISM was one of the first Japanese hardcore bands, while at the same time drawing influence from the early industrial/avant-garde music scene—something uncommon in punk bands at that time.

The acronym GISM had many different variations; they include: "Guerrilla Incendiary Sabotage Mutineer" (original), "God In the Schizoid Mind", "General Imperialism Social Murder", "Genocide Infanticide Suicide Menticide", "Gay Individual Social Mean", and "Gnostic Idiosyncrasy Sonic Militant".

GISM has attained a cult status in the international punk scene, duly for their unique blend of heavy metal and hardcore punk. Roadrunner Records ranked Sakevi Yokoyama No. 49 out of 50 of The Greatest Metal Frontmen of All Time.

Biography

Career

GISM had their first performance in 1981 at the University of Tokyo.

In 1984, GISM released their first album titled 'Detestation' on Dogma Records. [1]. The album has been applauded for having unique vocals and a guitar style that was very uncommon in hardcore punk.

'M.A.N.', or 'Military Affairs Neurotic' [2], was released in 1987 on Beast Arts Records. The album was quite a departure from the 'Detestation' album, putting more emphasis on a slower, metal style of music compared to the hardcore punk sound of the previous release.

GISM released their last album on compact disc titled 'SoniCRIME TheRapy' in 2001 [3]. The band featured Kiichi Takahashi on bass and Ironfist Tatsushima on drums. Guitarist, Randy Uchida, died from cancer on February 10, 2001, shortly after the release of the album. [4]. GISM played two shows in Tokyo in the honor of Randy Uchida, and then broke up.

In 2002, GISM made the cover of Burst Magazine (issue No. 49), an underground Japanese magazine.

GISM is scheduled to perform in the Netherlands on April 15, 2016 at Lee Dorian's Roadburn event. This will be their first show performed after a 13 year hiatus, along with being their first live performance outside Japan.

Members and other projects

Sakevi Yokoyama continues to make collage art with his own clothing brand "stlTH", which makes design t-shirts [5]. In 1987, he made a cameo appearance in the Japanese film "Robinson's Garden". In the movie, he attacks a Rastafarian man for teaching children spirituality. This film is the only documentation of his "acting" career [6]. In 2004, Sakevi released a solo album titled 'The War' under the name S.K.V.[7]. In 2006, he designed the artwork for World Burns To Death's album titled Totalitarian Sodomy.

Randy Uchida (guitarist) & Hiroshima (original drummer) played with Ronny Wakamats & Michel Hammer in a side project called R.U.G. (Randy Uchida Group), which released one vinyl EP titled “Deathly Fighter” in 1984. Uchida died in 2001 of cancer.

Kiichi Takahashi (bassist) was the vocalist for the occult heavy metal band Sabbrabells. .

Cloudy (original bassist) played bass for female-fronted band Front Guerrilla, which released an EP titled Fight Back in 1986.

Ironfist Tatushima (drummer) continues to play in the bands Die You Bastard! and Crow, which he had been playing with prior to GISM.

P.O.W. Magazine

During the mid 80's, Sakevi published a Japanese punkzine titled P.O.W. The acronym of P.O.W. initially stood for Punk On Wave, but then changed to Performance Of War for the third, final issue. The magazine promoted local punk bands from the Tokyo scene at the time. Sakevi also personally interviewed the Tokyo Medical Examiners Office, wrote the P.L.O., and wrote prisoners of war from Anti Japanese Armed Fronts by asking them all their opinions on death, included vivid instructions on different ways to kill people and showed vivid drawings on how ABC weapons are made with images of their horrific consequences. John Duncan, the guest-editor for the magazine, stated in the introduction of the third issue that Sakevi attacked a salaryman for staring with a makeshift flamethrower on a Tokyo commuter train, subsequently landing him in prison.

Discography

LPs

• "Detestation" (1983) Dogma Records [8]
• "M.A.N. (Military Affairs Neurotic)" (1987) Beast Arts [9]

CDs

• "DETESTation" (1992) Beast Arts
• "SoniCRIME TheRapy" (2002) Beast Arts [10]
• "Determination" (2015) Beast Arts

Compilations

• "Outsider" LP (1982, City Rocker) Tracks: "Incest", "Gash, Bite, Snatch", "AAHB"
• "Great Punk Hits" LP (1983, Japan Records) Tracks: "Death Exclamations", "Fire"
• "Hardcore Unlawful Assembly" LP (1984, AA records) Tracks: "Still Alive", "Nervous Corps"
• "P.E.A.C.E./War" 2xLP (1984, R Radical records) Track: "Endless Blockads for the Pussyfooter"
• "The Punx" Cassette Tape (1985, JICC) [11] Tracks: "Shoot to Kill (for epileptic soldier)", "GISM"

Videos

• "Performance" (1985) Beast Arts [12]
• "BOOTLEG 1986" (1986) Beast Arts
• "Gay Individual Social Mean - Subj & Egos, chopped" (1995) Beast Arts [13]
• "+R, Regicide Reverberation" (2002) Beast Arts

External links

• GISM Fan site I
• GISM at Kill From The Heart
• GISM at Metal Archives
• A review of GISM - Detestation