Ichirou Agata

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ichirou Agata


Img_capt = Ichirou Agata live (2005) in a surgical mask
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
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Origin = Japan
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Noise Rock Experimental rock Avant-Garde
Occupation = guitarist
Years_active = 1992 – present
Label = A-Zap, Tzadik Records
Associated_acts = Melt-Banana
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Ichirou Agata, often known simply as Agata, is the guitarist for the Japanese noise rock band Melt-Banana. Agata is known particularly for his furious stage antics, jumping and constantly moving around, and exceedingly unique approach to playing the guitar which involves extended technique heavy use of effects pedals and guitar slides resulting in sounds not easily attributed to the guitar. He is also known for consistently wearing a surgical mask on stage during performances due to nose bleeds.

He has also released a solo guitar album, entitled "Spike", on John Zorn's Tzadik Records.

Agata claims that he gets the inspiration for his guitar riffs from the moment of euphoria when achieving something on a video game (Tony Hawk's is a favourite of his) and at that moment sings out the melody pattern and converts it to guitar.

Agata is normally seen wielding a vintage Gibson SG and plays through a Sunn Beta Lead Head with a Marshal 4x12 cabinet (as of 1999 [http://guitargeek.com/rigview/262/ Guitar Geek Link] ). [http://billtmiller.com/meltbanana/mb_mideast_btm_0628z.jpgHere] is a more recent picture of his effects chain (2005).