Super Junky Monkey was an all female Japanese funk metal group.[2][3]
Super Junky Monkey | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Funk metal, alternative metal, avant-garde metal[1] |
| Years active | 1991–1999, 2009–2010, 2015–2016, 2019 |
History
editBeginning
editTheir first release was in 1994: a live recording called Cabbage, originally released as an audio recording, but also released as a video recording later that year. This was quickly followed in 1995 by the studio album Screw Up, which features some of the songs from Cabbage as well as some new tracks.
The band released two full-length albums, both of which were released internationally. Additionally, in Japan, they released several EPs and three concert videos.
The band's performances of "Skysurfers!!" and "I Call Myself Sliced Ice" were used as the opening and end credits music, respectively, for the second season of the American animated series, Skysurfer Strike Force.
The album Super Junky Alien features a bonus 1996 cover of the MTV Top of the Hour tune.
Death of Mutsumi
editOn February 5, 1999, Mutsumi Fukuhara committed suicide by leaping from the balcony of her apartment in Osaka,[4] leaving behind her husband and one-year-old son. The other band members decided not to continue without her and instead moved on to other projects.
Several years after Mutsumi's death, the band released the material they were working on at the time as the E-KISS-O EP and the greatest hits Songs Are Our Universe. E-KISS-O includes three songs with Mutsumi's vocals and two instrumentals. Songs of Our Universe features two unreleased tracks and several videos. On June 20, 2009, the remaining three members of Super Junky Monkey reunited to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Mutsumi's death with a performance at the Liquid Room in Tokyo, Japan.
Musical style
editThey performed and merged various styles and genres of music, including hardcore, heavy metal, hip hop, jazz, avant-garde, noise rock and funk. Influences on the band members include Steve Vai, Jaco Pastorius, Madball, Pink Floyd and Mr. Bungle. AllMusic states "A quick description of the band would be 'Japanese all-girl Faith No More or Primus'".[5]
Members
edit- Mutsumi "623" Fukuhara, née Takahashi — vocals
- Keiko — guitar
- Shinobu Kawai — bass
- Matsudaaahh!! — drums
Discography
editLPs
edit- Cabbage (1994)
- Screw Up (1994)
- Parasitic People (1996)
- Super Junky Alien (1996)
EPs
edit- A.I.E.T.O.H. (1995)
- E Kiss O (2001)
Collections
edit- Songs Are Our Universe (2001)
- Is the Best (2015)
Compilation appearances
edit- Benten Bentoh - "Po Po Bar"
- Japanese Homegrown Vol. 1 - "Another Mother"
- Japanese Homegrown Vol. 2 - "If (Take 2)"
- Soy Milk Vol. 1 - "Towering Man"
Videos
edit- キャベツ ビデオ (1994)
- Deathi (1995)
- Holy Mother Of Meatloaf (1996)
- Live - We're The Mother Of Meatloaf! Hyper Collection (2010)
References
edit- ^ "Super Junky Monkey". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^ MacDonals, Heidi (September 1996). "Super Junky Monkey / Parasitic People / TriStar". CMJ New Music Monthly (37): 13. ISSN 1074-6978.
- ^ McClure, Steve (2 December 1995). "TriStar Act Up To 'Monkey' Business". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 48. Nielsen Business Media. p. 103. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Super Junky Monkey". Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ "Songs Are Our Universe - Super Junky Monkey | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 November 2020.