About G-Ism

Legendary Japanese hardcore punk band (with metal leanings), formed in Japan in 1980. It featured vocalist Shigehisa "Sakevi" Yokoyama, guitarist Randy Uchida, bassist Kannon "Cloudy" Masuo (later replaced by Kiichi Takahashi in the 90's), and drummer Tohru "Monamour" Hiroshima (later replaced by Ironfist Tatsushima around the same time Kannon left). Randy Uchida often used heavy metal style guitar solos & riffs, nonetheless, G.I.S.M. were one of the first japanese hardcore bands, while at the same time drawing much influence from the early industrial/avant-garde music scene; something extremely uncommon in punk bands at that time. The acronym G.I.S.M. stood for many different things. Variations include: God In the Schizoid Mind, Guerrilla Incendiary Sabotage Mutineer, General Imperialism Social Murder, & Gnostic Idiosyncrasy Sonic Militant. G.I.S.M. has attained a cult status in the hardcore punk scene, probably due to their violent attitude and bizarre artworks/performances, coupled with the legends surrounding them. Some claimed Sakevi was a yakuza member and that he doesn't allow any store in Japan to sell or distribute any G.I.S.M. material (even resorting to violence to prevent this). It was also rumor that Sakevi was mentally ill, a rumor not helped any by his paying a fine for acts of violence offstage. Randy Uchida & Hiroshima also played with Ronny Wakamats & Michel Hammer in a side project R.U.G. (Randy Uchida Group), which released an vinyl EP entitled "Deathly Fighter" in 1984. Kannon also played bass for female fronted band Front Guerrilla which released an EP entitled "Fight Back" in 1986. Kiichi Takahashi was the vocalist for occult heavy metal band Sabbrabells. Ironfist Tatsushima currently plays in Crow and Die You Bastard!. G.I.S.M. were good friends with bands like Laughin' Nose and ＧＨＯＵＬ and many more.