Not to be confused with US glam rock band The Electric Eels
Electric Eel Shock
(EES) are a three-piece garage metal band, formed in Tokyo in the late 1990s. They first toured the United States in 1999 and have been touring the world ever since.
|
ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK TICKETS
|
Pre EES
Akihito Morimoto, known as 'Aki' (
guitar and
vocals) and
Kazuto Maekawa (
bass) first met at
High School in
Osaka [1]. Aki learned
English from the lyrics of bands he liked
.
Akihito Morimoto and
Kazuto Maekawa first formed an 80s metal cover band in
High School called Caducious
[3].
Morimoto and Maekawa first tasted commercial success after moving to Tokyo and playing as guitarist and bassist in a five-piece
pop rock band. Morimoto later said that one of the main reasons for this band's demise was that they acted on everything that they were told, and as a result soon became directionless. It was this lesson that helped form the attitude of Electric Eel Shock – that musicians should listen to the views of others, but that learn from their own mistakes.
After the demise of this band, Morimoto and Maekawa stayed in Tokyo. Morimoto followed his passion of
fishing and became a competition angler
(he still writes for Japan's largest fishing
magazine,
Basser Magazine
[4] [5]) and Maekawa joined The Apollos (a well-known Japanese
funk band) as
session bassist. Maekawa's low-slung bass and unkempt appearance was at odds with The Apollos'
suited and polished image, and meant that his time in this role was short lived. However, Maekawa left a lasting impression on their
drummer, Tomoharu Ito (known as Gian, due to his similar appearance to a well-known Japanese
comedian of that name). Gian, who had a day job making
false teeth, was soon introduced to Morimoto, and the three started practicing together shortly afterwards.
Early years
The first incarnation of Electric Eel Shock was not quite as they are known today. In fact, the band's first public performances were actually as an 11-piece group
with
keyboards, female vocals and
horns. It was not until the logistics of getting all of these members together on the same day to practice became unworkable
that the band stripped down to a three-piece.
Gian took up playing with four
drumsticks
[6], and also gained a reputation for playing almost
naked [7]. Gian has been arrested once, in
Hong Kong and fined HK$100
[9], for playing this way.
Electric Eel Shock decided against making
demos and sending them to record companies. Instead, they quickly set up the Micro Music
label with their friends, and released their first full-length
album,
Maybe I Think We Can Beat Nirvana
. They followed this with
Live Punctured
.
Slayers Bay Blues
In 1999 Electric Eel Shock recorded
Slayers Bay Blues
on an
eight-track recorder, and pressed enough copies to take to the road for their first
gigs abroad. They had lined up a handful of dates in and around
New York, including
CBGB, with their friends
who had relocated there some time earlier
. The gigs were a massive success, with a handful of dates turning into over twenty.
Go America
Shortly after returning to Japan EES sold their
property and left their homes. They returned to the US and toured almost constantly for the next two years. Their tours grew in length as
word of mouth spread that this was a live show not to be missed. All the while, the band survived on the sale of
CDs,
t-shirts, and help from friends
. They then recorded
Go America (EP)
.
Go Europe
In early 2003 the band received an email invitation to perform in London
[10]. On
January 16, 2003, Electric Eel Shock landed in
London for five hastily arranged gigs. The five shows rapidly become twelve gigs in ten days. The band used the
London Underground as their only form of transport
. After this, they returned to the US with the fanzine writer,
James Hay as their new manager
.
The band spent the rest of 2003 between the US and
Europe. Highlights included playing at both the
SXSW and
CMJ festivals in America
, playing at
Roskilde Festival [11] in
Denmark, headlining the
Rockit Hong Kong Music Festival [12], and supporting the
Canadian band
Danko Jones on a 40-date European tour
[13]. During 2003
Bob Slayer, who had been successfully running their online fanclub, became their tour manager
.
At the start of 2004 Electric Eel Shock went into the
studio for the last of the
Go
sessions. Although these were still produced on a relatively low
budget, and paid for by the band, this was the first time that they had used a studio and
sound engineer as opposed to a practice room,
kitchen or
cupboard. The results,
Go Europe!
/
Go USA!
, were licensed around the world and the band went on a promotional tour that took in 25 countries and 27 European festivals.
Beat Me
The band's European base camp for much of their touring in 2004 was the Suicide Motel in
Utrecht [14],
Netherlands, which they set up with Dutch band
Wasted. Whilst spending time in Holland they developed their friendship with
producer Attie Bauw that they had met in
Amsterdam during the Danko Jones tour. Electric Eel Shock were soon making plans with
Grammy-nominated producer
Attie Bauw (who had worked with
Judas Priest and the
Scorpions) for a new album. This would represent a move away from their
garage roots. The aim was to catch all the energy and character of an Electric Eel Shock performance with a production that would sit alongside the early Black Sabbath albums that had inspired their creation. Assisting Attie in the studio was the band's live engineer, Tim Bray, who had become a fixture on tour with the band
.
The band finished recording
Beat Me
at the end of December 2004
, and returned to Japan for the first time in a long time, to do a few gigs.
Throughout 2005 EES shows have become larger; touring in the US and Europe with the
Bloodhound Gang [15] [16], headlining festivals
[17], and playing with the West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra
. Electric Eel Shock also made an appearance in the video clip for the
Bloodhound Gang song "Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss"
. Their tours throughout Europe at the end of 2005 were completely sold out.
In March 2006,
Beat Me
was released in Japan on legendary metal label
Roadrunner Records, New Zealand and the US in 2006 and played festivals in Europe.
Transworld Ultra Rock
Electric Eel Shock released
Transworld Ultra Rock
on October 1, 2007
[18]. The album was the first release on their own label
Double Peace Records. The band toured throughout Europe in support of the new album, later appearing as a support act on
The Presidents of the United States of America's
These Are the Good Times People tour
[19]. The album was released by P-Vine records on November 16th, 2007 in
Japan [20]. It has been Electric Eel Shock's most successful album to date in terms of both press and sales.
Sugoi Indeed
Electric Eel Shock joined Sellaband on May 2nd, 2008
[21] to raise the funds to record their next album. On the 25th of June 2008 after 55 days the band successfully raised $50,000
[22].
Discography
Albums
Maybe I Think We Can Beat Nirvana
(1997)
Live Punctured
(1998)
Slayers Bay Blues
(1999)
#Turbo Slayer
#I'm Not...
#Puma
#Orange Is Back!
#Let's Go to the Beach
#Vegas Night
#Heavy Metal Vagabond
#Jumping Akihito Flush
#Overkill
#Kaza-Machine
#Bingo Shoot!
#Porukeresu Poriforio
Go Europe!
(2004)
Go USA!
(2005)
Beat Me
(2005)
Transworld Ultra Rock
(2007)
Sugoi Indeed
(2009)
Singles/EPs
Go America (EP)
(2002)
Do The Metal
7" (2003)
Rock & Roll Can Rescue the World
Split 7" w/
The Riverboat Gamblers (2005)
Big Mistake
7" (2007)
Videos/DVDs
Slayer's Bay Blues
(2000) VHS
[23]
Go Roskilde
(2003) Live Concert DVD
[24]
Compilations
Welcome To Gearhead Country
(Gearhead) (2006)
[25]
Thunder Tracks
(DefSTAR) (2008)
Documentaries
Sex, Drugs, & Email
[26] [27]
Guest Drummers
In 2007 EES Drummer Gian's mother was diagnosed with Cancer and requires daily care, it has therefore become increasingly difficult for Gian to go on tour and a number of different stand in drummers have been used:
- Damon Richardson (ex Danko Jones) - Europe 2007 [28]
- Roland Ritchie (ex Wasted) - Holland and HMV
- Kosho - Wacken 2007
- Hiroto "The Ginger Drummer" - Presidents of USA tour [29]
- James "John" Thomas (ex Sludgefeast and currently A&E Line)
Electric Eel Shock will be recording their new album in Japan so that Gian can be involved throughout the recording process...
Known Stage Phrases
Electric Eel Shock often use the following phrases in their live routine:
- "Sex, Drugs & Email"
Probably their most famous catch phrase from early gigs - was shouted out to persuade people to sign up for their email list.
- "Usagi chan!"
- although In Japanese the meaning of this phrase may be different, to all Electric Eel Shock fans it is Rock & Roll
- "Menboku Nai is Rock & Roll in Japan! Say Menboku Nai!"
- "Kanpai!"
- Cheers in Japanese
- "Bastard! No! You Bastard! Ok, I am also a Bastard...."
- regarding their song "Bastard"
References
- "Emery, P" "i97bar.com online fanzine" http://www.i94bar.com/ints/electriceelshock.html
- "Kiri" "jame-world.com" "http://www.jame-world.com/us/article.php?id=1452"
- "Westin, C" "Proper Magazine" http://www.propermag.com/article.php?article_id=495
- "Green Ridge Fish Farming" http://www.greenridgefarmfishing.com/news.html
- "A different Basser Article" http://www.duelsmusic.com/websites/robochrist/images/image26.jpg
- "Despres, S" "Gig Review" http://smashingmag.com/tour/07tr/070423bleach_shawn.html
- "Tanzer, J" "Returning Japanese" http://www.offoffoff.com/music/2000/electriceelshock.php
- "TCB: SXSW News" "The Austin Chronical" http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A149425
- "hkoutdoors.com "http://www.hkoutdoors.com/hong-kong-news/rockit-2003-2004.html--->
- "Grunebaum, D" "metropolis.co.jp" "http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/721/music_beat.asp"
- "mtv.com" "http://www.mtv.com/news/yhif/electric_eel_shock/" "Mentions playing at Roskilde"
- Rockit Hong Kong Music Festival
- "drownedinsound.com" "http://drownedinsound.com/news/8113"
- "CD Liner notes for Roadrunner (Japan) release of Beat Me"
- "Westin, C" "drownedinsound.com" http://drownedinsound.com/news/13046
- "Kern, R" "fromoutofnowhere.com" "http://www.fromoutofnowhere.com/ees1105.html"
- "Scarborough Beached Festival" "http://www.thisisull.com/coming05/festivals/beached.html"
- "Tolley, S" "Electric Eel Shock - Transworld Ultra Shock" http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/articles/4068/Electric-Eel-Shock---Transworld-Ultra-Shock.html
- "The editor" "rock-metal-music-reviews.com" http://www.rock-metal-music-reviews.com/electric-eel-shock-team-up-with-presidents-of-the-usa-for-uk-tour/
- "Amazon (Japan)" http://www.amazon.co.jp/Transworld-Ultra-Rock-Electric-Shock/dp/B000WP2CE0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232268890&sr=8-4
- "EES Sellaband Artist page" http://www.sellaband.com/eelshock
- "Sellaband Tribune Edition 88" http://www.sellaband.com/tribune/edition88/
- "Amazon.co.jp" "http://www.amazon.co.jp/SLAYER%E2%80%99S-BAY-VHS-ELECTRIC-SHOCK/dp/B00005K0RH/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1232613770&sr=8-3 Amazon Link for Video"
- "jmusiceastasia.com" "http://www.jmusiceastasia.com/au/database-item.php?id=6793" "Track listing for Live performance DVD"
- "cduniverse.com" "http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7022466"
- "youtube.com" "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ4YQ8heDpc"
- "genertik.com" "http://www.genertik.com/Production/Documentaries/"
- "subba-cultcha.com" "http://www.subba-cultcha.com/article_feature.php?id=5238/"
- "Hiroto serving drinks to the PUSA on stage" "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx-uNFwZ0Qs"