Boredoms – B for Boredoms

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Description

Boredoms (ボアダムス (Boadamusu)) (later known as V∞redoms) is a rock band from Osaka, Japan formed in 1986. The band’s sound is often referred to as noise rock, or sometimes Japanoise (Japan’s noise music scene), though their more recent records have moved toward repetitive psychedelic rock, ambient soundscapes, and tribal drumming.

The band has a vast and sometimes confusing discography. Many band members have rotated through the group over the years, often using a number of various stage names. Singer Yamantaka Eye is the closest the band has to a frontman; his style includes a range of baffling screams, babbling, electronic effects, and very heavy post-production. Drummer/keyboard player/vocalist Yoshimi P-We is featured on most Boredoms recordings.

History

Formation and early years

Boredoms were formed in early 1986 by Yamantaka Eye, who at the time acted as front man for the infamous and highly controversial noise/performance art act Hanatarash, locally notorious for its extremely dangerous live shows consisting entirely of on-stage destruction and complete disregard for the audience’s safety. The antics of Hanatarash would later be highly influential on the earliest incarnation of Boredoms, which was formed by the remaining members of a band Eye started with Hanatarash drummer Ikuo Taketani, as well as guitarist Tabata Mitsuru (known as Tabata Mara), bassist Hosoi Hisato, and vocalist Makki Sasarato, called “Acid Makki & Combi and Zombie”. The band’s sound was characterized by violent, noisy punk rock/no wave thrashings. They recorded a single track, “U.S.A.”, for a compilation tape. Shortly after the release of their first song, Taketani was replaced on drums by Yoshikawa Toyohito, a friend of Eye’s. The band officially changed their name to Boredoms after Hira replaced Hosoi on bass, and Sasarato left the band due to creative differences. The band’s name comes from the Buzzcocks song “Boredom”.

With the band finally reaching a level of stability, Eye and Tabata recorded their first official EP, Anal by Anal, in mid-1986. In early 1987, Tabata left the group to later join Zeni Geva and was replaced by Seiichi Yamamoto as guitar player. In March 1988, the band released its first full-length, Osorezan no Stooges Kyo. Due to unhappiness over Yoshikawa’s drumming, Yoshimi P-We from Eye’s Hanatarash-related project UFO or Die was asked to serve as drummer, becoming the first female member of the band, with Yoshikawa switching to general percussion. Shortly after the change Yoshikawa left the group, to be replaced by Chew Hasegawa (now of Japanese funeral doom band Corrupted) and then by Kazuya Nishimura, known by his stage name Atari. The band’s sound from this period was marked by harsh, dissonant punk edited extensively by Eye in the studio, citing Sonic Youth and Funkadelic as influences, among others. This style was seen by some as “pointlessly abrasive” without any underlying motive, making Boredoms nihilistic absolute music, according to some critics; however, the strangeness of the record increased the band’s popularity in the musical underground.

Discography

Main article: Boredoms discography

Members

Previous Members

  • Muneomi Senju – drums, percussion
  • Ikuo Taketani – drums
  • Hosoi Hisato – bass guitar
  • Tabata Mitsuru (Tabata Mara) – guitar
  • Hiyashi Hira – bass guitar, vocals, percussion
  • Seiichi Yamamoto – guitar, vocals, percussion
  • Yoshikawa Toyohito – drums, vocals
  • Chew Hasegawa – drums
  • Kazuya Nishimura (Atari or ATR) – drums, synthesizer, vocals, sampler, djembe, programming
  • EDA – drums, electronic drums, djembe
  • Izumi Kiyoshi – synthesizer, sampler, programming
  • God Mama – dancing
  • Zach Hill – drums, percussion

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