Electric Eel Shock

:"Not to be confused with US glam rock band The Electric Eels"Infobox musical artist
Name = Electric Eel Shock
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Tokyo, Japan
Years_active = 1998 – present
Genre = Garage metal
Rock and Roll
Label = Double Peace
Roadrunner Japan
Gearhead Records
Spooky Records
Current_members = Akihito Morimoto (Aki)
Tomoharu Ito (Gian)
Kazuto Maekawa

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.

Pre EES

Whilst still at school in Osaka, Akihito Morimoto, known as 'Aki' (guitar and vocals) and Kazuto Maekawa (bass) were brought together by a mutual love of Black Sabbath. They learned English from the bands they read about in "Burrn Magazine", and played together in several bands that often covered songs by their Western idols, including Black Sabbath, Twisted Sister, Van Halen, Rainbow, MSG, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Queensrÿche, W.A.S.P., Ratt, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Motörhead, Guns N' Roses and Mötley Crüe.

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") 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, and also gained a reputation for playing naked.

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" and set about making a major impact on the independent rock scene of Tokyo.

layers 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 with their friends Peelander-Z, 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 and t-shirts. They then recorded another album: "Go America".

Go Europe

At the end of 2002, an e-mail came out of the blue from a UK journalist, and would open a new phase for Electric Eel Shock. The band answered only one question raised in the e-mail: "Have you got any plans to come to the UK?" The reply was: "No! But we want. You get gig and we will come."

On January 16, 2003, Electric Eel Shock landed in London for five hastily arranged gigs. History was to repeat itself, with the five shows rapidly becoming 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, headlining a stage at Roskilde Festival in Denmark, and supporting the Canadian band Danko Jones on a 40-date European tour. During 2003 old friend of the band 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, Netherlands, which they set up with Dutch band Wasted. Whilst spending time in Holland they developed their friendship with a producer 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, headlining festivals, and playing with an orchestra. 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. The band toured Japan, Australia, 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. 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. The album came out on P-Vine records in Nov 2007 in Japan. It has been Electric Eel Shock's most successful album to date in terms of both press and sales.

New Album

Electric Eel Shock are working with Sellaband to raise the funds to record their new album [http://www.sellaband.com/eelshock www.sellaband.com/eelshock] . In June 2008, the band successfully raised $50,000from fans and are now preparing to record their album. This will be the first time they have recorded in Japan since Slayers Bay Blues, except a couple of tracks for Sony (Back In Black for an AC/DC tribute and Transworld Ultra Metal for a film compilation) .

Discography

"Slayers Bay Blues"

#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 USA!"

#Japanese Meets Chinese in USA
#My Tiger
#Do the Metal
#Waaaa
#Punctured
#Rock 'n' Roll Can Rescue the World
#S.O.S.
#Suicide Rock 'n' Roll
#Puma
#Nothing
#Vegas Night
#Zombie Rock 'n' Roll
#I Wanna Be a Black Sabbath Guy, But I Should Be a Black Bass
#Speedy Joe
#Suicide Rock 'n' Roll [Multimedia track]
#Rock 'n' Roll Can Rescue the World [Multimedia track]

"Go Europe!" (same as "Go USA!" except for the order of bonus tracks)

#Japanese Meets Chinese in USA
#My Tiger
#Do the Metal
#Waaaa
#Punctured
#Rock 'n' Roll Can Rescue the World
#S.O.S.
#Suicide Rock 'n' Roll
#Puma
#Nothing
#Vegas Night
#Zombie Rock 'n' Roll
#I Wanna Be a Black Sabbath Guy, But I Should Be a Black Bass
#Speedy Joe
#Rock 'n' Roll Can Rescue the World [CD-ROM track]
#Suicide Rock 'n' Roll [CD-ROM track]

"Beat Me"

#Scream for Me
#Bastard!
#I Can Hear the Sex Noise
#Don't Say Fuck
#Lemon Lees
#Killer Killer
#Slow Down
#Beat Me
#Rock & Roll Kills the Blues
#Mile End
#I Love Fish But Fish Hate Me
#Iron Man

"Transworld Ultra Rock"

#I Can't Hear You
#Big Mistake
#Dice de Try!
#Joe
#Joe II
#Kill the Weekend
#War
#Transamerica Ultra Rock
#Limousine
#Baby
#All My Music
#Lovin' You

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
* Roland Ritchie (ex Wasted) - Holland and HMV
* Kosho - Wacken 2007
* Hiroto "The Ginger Drummer" - Presidents of USA tour
* 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. Usagi Chan was the name of the EES tour bus before she died of old age.

*"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 "You Bastard"

External links

* [http://www.electriceelshock.com/ The band's official homepage]
* [http://www.bobslayer.com EES Tour Manager, Video Director & Producer: Bob Slayer's website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/beatme Electric Eel Shock's site on Myspace]
* [http://www.youtube.com/bobslayer Electric Eel Shock's site on Youtube]
* [http://www.sellaband.com/eelshock/ Electric Eel Shock's site on SellaBand]
* [http://www.the-mag.me.uk/Band-Profiles/Electric-Eel-Shock/ Electric Eel Shock on The Mag]