MUCC (by noi, proof-reading by Evil Mochi)
MUCC - this are Miya (*July 26th, guitar),
YUKKE (*November 5th, bass),
SATOchi (*August 12th, drums) and
Tatsuro (*August 21th, vocalist).
During their 10 years of history together as a band, MUCC has shown itself to be one of the most versatile bands on the Japanese music scene.
Stared as representatives of angura-kei, with styles like punk rock and nu-metal, they have since broken away more and more from the visual style in both their music and look. It's difficult to classify their music. It is a fusion of popular Japanese music from the 70s, with its catchy melodies, and nu-metal, a mix of rock, ska and blues influences. In other words: melodious hard rock joined with Japanese tradition.
MUCC has already demonstrated its universalism and changeability often, and Tatsuro's voice is really an ideal package: Multifarious, expressive, and unmistakable.
The lyrics of the band, for the most part written by band leader Miya and vocalist Tatsuro, deal with ideas like depression, fear, pain, love, friendship. But they reflect also the rejection of today's (Japanese) society.
MUCC is also known for being great at animating the audience at lives. They love to cover popular songs, but up until now, this
had been reserved only for the Japanese fans.
The history of the band started in May 1997 in Ibaraki with high school friends TATOO (later Tatsuro), Miya, Hiro (bassist) and SATOchi. The name MUCC comes from a character from Japanese children's program Ponkichies and was chosen by Miya. The band is also known as 69. Six-nine (ムック), which can be read as "mukku" in Japanese, is used for example, on the official webpage 55-69 (go go mukku).
After only three gigs, they had already released their first record. The first demo "NO?!" was apparently limited to only 10 samples. "Tsubasa wo kudasai" followed. In 1998 "Aika" was already produced by indies-label Misshitsu Neurose Records and was given out during concerts. The band Cali≠Gari was also signed by the same label at around this time and they are often called "big brothers" and mentors of MUCC.
In February 1999 the young band gave their first one-man at the Mito Lighthouse. This was their last performance together with Hiro as bassist. That February he left MUCC, but Miya found a new member very quickly. YUKKE, a childhood friend of his became the bassist. The
demo tapes "shuuka" and "Aka" soon followed. In December the first album named "Antikuu" was published.
In 2000 MUCC's publicity grew more. The Japanese music magazine, Fool's Mate asked them for their first interview and more interviews followed from known magazines such as ShoXX. Furthermore it was published that TATOO "died" and since then Tatsuro now uses his real name. At the same time the band changed the writing of MUCC into the katakana version ムック (mukku).
The first whole album "Tsuuzetsu" followed in 2001, and in 2002 even more albums and singles followed. They also took part in some TV shows like Hot Wave and Jee Jee Trap. In 2002 the official fanclub, Shuu no to, was founded. It was the same year that MUCC started its own label, Shu, under Danger Crue Records. Although they signed with the major label Universal, they produced all CDs themselves and used the label only for marketing. Till then there were a lot of gigs, concerts, tours, albums and DVDs. They also grabbed big attention at the broadcast of Beautifool's Fest, where they played together with musicians like Miyavi, deadman and The GazettE. During this time they broke away more from visual style in music and look from release to release. In 2004 MUCC finished their dark period with the album "kuchiki no tou" and the appending tour. They chanced a new musical start by using the ideas from the beginning of the band.
In August 2005 the conquest of Europe started for MUCC. During the three concerts in Germany and France they introduced the single "ame no Orchestra" which presaged the album "houyoku", released in November. For some fans this record was a little shocking because the style
change brought a lot of ballads and hard rock songs instead of the usual dark melodious metal songs. It was an experimental phase for MUCC.
2006 was really productive with 4 singles and 3 albums released. The first was the 6th album with the simple name "6". You could say it was the second part of "houyoku", but with a lot harder sound. The second was a special album called "Cover Parade", where MUCC praised some famous Japanese musicians, including their mentors Cali≠Gari. For the song "La vie en Rose" they even got ex-DîERLANGER vocalist, Kyo as a guest for their cover of his old band's song. It was not easy for fans to get one of these special albums, only those who were able to prove they had bought previous singles got the chance to buy one of these CDs at a special concert. In November the last album of the year "Gokusai" was published. It showed the amazing universalism of the band and the different styles belonging to MUCC.
The band didn't rest in 2007. They released "Best of MUCC" and "Worst of MUCC" amongst other albums. The former contains singles, and the latter contains songs which were seldom played and titles from their indie times as well.
Every year since 2005 the band tours Europe, conquering new countries. In 2007 they performed together with BALZAC for the first time. So far the Gan-shin label has published 6 albums along with some singles, and more are already advertised for Europe.
The newest album will also be sold in America, where they will go on tour this spring with the Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour.
DISCOGRAPHY
1997:Oktober "NO?!" (demo tape)
1998:
March 20th "Aika" (demo tape)
December 1st "Tsubasa wo kudasai" (demo tape)
1999:
February 14th "Shuuka" (demo tape)
July 24th "Aka" (demo tape)
December 25th "Antique" (first album)
2000:
June 9th "Syouhu/Hai" (maxi)
2001:
January 7th "Tsuuzetsu" (album)
July 15th "Akaban" (maxi) and "Aoban" (maxi)
December 25th "Aishuu" (album)
2002:
January 21st "Fu wo tataeru uta" (maxi)
May 9th "Suisou" (single)
September 6th "Homura uta" (album)
2003:
May 21st "Ware, arubeki basho" (maxi)
September 3rd "Zekuu" (album)
December 10th "Nihon rettou konton heisei kokoro no naka" (concert DVD)
2004:
February 25th "Rojiura boku to kimi e" (maxi)
June 9th "Monokuro no keshiki" (maxi)
September 1st "Kuchiki no tou" (album)
October 31st "Kuchiki no tou Live at Roppongi" (Live album)
December 22rd "MUCC history DVD the worst" (making of DVD)
2005:
February 22rd "kRayzi yeaR(s)" (artbook)
March 25th "Shounen M" (artbook)
March 30th "Kokoro no nai machi" (maxi)
June 8th "Ame no orchestra" (maxi)
October 10th "Saishuu ressha" (maxi)
November 23rd "Houyoku" (album)
2006:
Feburary 15th "Garbera" (maxi)
March 29th "Tonan no houyoku" (concert DVD)
April 26th "6" (album)
May 24th "Ryuusei" (maxi)
June 6th "COVER PARADE mini" (mini album) and "COVER PARADE" (album)
September 11th "6" (scorebook)
August "MUCC LIVE BOOTLEG #1" (mini album)
August 23rd "Utagoe" (maxi)
November "MUCC LIVE BOOTLEG #2" (mini album)
November 8th "Horizont" (maxi)
December "MUCC LIVE BOOTLEG #3" (mini album)
December 6th "Gokusai" (album)
December 20th "WORLD TOUR FINAL BUDOKAN ''666''" (concert DVD)
2007:
March 21st "Libra" (maxi)
March 28th "Psychedelic Analysis" (album)
May 2nd "Flight" (maxi)
June 6th "BEST OF MUCC" and "WORST OF MUCC" (albums)
September "SHOX'X FILE" (artbook)
October 31st "FUZZ" (maxi)
November 28th "MUCC ～Live Chronicle～" (concert DVD)
LINKS