Melt-Banana
The crazy story of MELT-BANANA begins in 1991, when the singer Onuki Yasuko, still student at «Tokyo University of Foreign Studies», decide to launch with few friends a band called MIZU, featuring especially the guitarist Agata Ichirou. Other members will participate in the project in an ephemeral way but in 1992 the bassist Rika joins the line∼up and the group gives its first concerts in Tokyo (japan) ; in novembre of this same year, Sudoh Toshiaki settles down the drums…
• They really begin seriously in 1993, opting for the final name Melt-Banana, in allusion to famous «pop banana» from Andy Warhol. However, the band will subsequently experience many drummer changes, even limiting himself for a time as a trio, then currently in duo. They are quickly spotted by KK Null —leader of japan cult band Zeni Geva— who very early sends a tape to Mark Fischer, owner of american label SKIN GRAFT, to make them known. He will be a great support of the group by producing and offering the services of his label NUX ORGANIZATION editing their debut release ; he also puts them in contact with the famous independent producer Steve Albini. During summer 1994, the band goes to Chicago to record with him their first album «Speak Squeak Creak». Same year, M-B participate to the compilation «Mi Caballito Chulo…! Como Lo Quie Ro…» from japanese label MOM’N’DAD ; Albini & Fischer sing at the beginning of the song. Still in ’94, MELT-BANANA performs its very∼first important tour in japan, alongside of Jim O’Rourke —whom produced «Scratch or Stitch»—, Zeni Geva and Space Streakings. Same period, britsih label CHOCOLATE MONK put out on cassette their second album «Cactuses Come in Flocks». SKIN GRAFT promoted widely around the combo and released the following year a 12” «It’s In The Pillcase». During summer 1995, they tour for a month in north america with U.S. Maple. In this occasion, they record a new album, out on SKIN GRAFT and still engineered by Albini. Around the same time, they met other important members of the «avant∼garde» american music scene, in particular John Zorn and Mike Patton. M-B were part of last tour of Mr. Bungle. Patton will sing in 1998 on their album «Charlie», and Zorn will record, produce & release through his label TZADIK their album «MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles At Light Velocity», on the occasion of a new U.S.A. tour. In 1997 they fund their own label A∼ZAP ← lately IGUANA COAX, on which they have released most of their works ; Sudoh quit definitely M-B six months later. In 2004, they openned∼guest for the tour of Wire in japan & for Fantômas in north america. They have since performed numerous concerts around the world following the release of the album «Bambi’s Dilemma» in 2007 : at the united states of america with Tool —they have known through Buzz Osborne—, Dead Child, The Locust, then in 2008 openning for Shellac, the power trio of Steve Albini. In 2007 they record «Hair-Cat (Cause the Wolf Is a Cat !)», a theme from «Perfect Hair Forever» program broadcast on AdultSwim from Cartoon Network. Their last album «Fetch» got out in 2013…
• Since then, they continue in an original & radical line∼up → power duo : Agata + Yasuko ← Arigato !
