Sakevi Yokoyama, the vocalist in Japanese hardcore punk/metallic trailblaers G.I.S.M., has died. Distribution firm Beast Arts International and Relapse Records confirmed that Yokoyama “passed away peacefully” on August 24. “Working with Mr. Sakevi on G.I.S.M. is a chapter in the history of Relapse Records, unto itself,” Relapse wrote on Twitter. “Honoring the work of a true sonic and artistic pioneer is a source of deep pride for us all. We pray for repose for Mr Sakevi’s soul.”
Shigehisa “Sakevi” Yokoyama based G.I.S.M. in 1981 with the late guitarist Randy Uchida, bassist Kannon “Cloudy” Masuo, and drummer Tohru “Monamour” Hiroshima. The “G.I.S.M.” acronym famously had a couple of completely different meanings, together with “God In The Schizoid Mind,” “Guerrilla Incendiary Sabotage Mutineer,” “General Imperialism Social Murder,” “Gnostic Idiosyncrasy Sonic Militant,” and “Guy Individual Social Mean.”
GISM had their first efficiency in 1981 on the University of Tokyo earlier than releasing their self-produced debut album, Detestation, in 1983. The subsequent yr, G.I.S.M. had been featured on the International P.E.A.C.E. Benefit Compilation (later retitled P.E.A.C.E./War In 1997), which additionally had contributions from 50+ hardcore bands similar to Dead Kennedys, Butthole Surfers, Crass, and lots of others.
The groundbreaking Japanese hardcore band launched three albums in whole: Detestation, 1987’s Military Affairs Neurotic (M.A.N.), and 2001’s SoniCRIME Therapy. Sakevi created the paintings for every LP. The band performed their closing present in 2002. Sadly, Uchida died of most cancers in 2001, and Hiroshima died simply final yr.
Famously antagonistic, Sakevi as soon as shot a flamethrower into the gang at a present. Rumors of him utilizing intimidation techniques to cease the promoting of bootleg G.I.S.M. information and merch ran rampant. There was additionally an unverified rumor of Sakevi stabbing an viewers member for taking his {photograph}.
G.I.S.M. carried out within the Netherlands in April 2016 at Lee Dorian’s Roadburn occasion — their first efficiency after a 13-year hiatus and their first present outdoors of Japan. Curator Dorian had this to say in regards to the reserving in 2016:
Over the years I’ve been lucky sufficient to have been concerned in some fairly wonderful actions. This achievement is pretty excessive up there, by way of issues which have excited me essentially the most. When I obtained requested to curate Roadburn 2016, I clearly drew up an inventory of favorite bands and began a strategy of elimination. I attempted Rudimentary Peni however, alas, it was to not be. Then I considered G.I.S.M….. I assumed it was a particularly lengthy shot for a lot of causes. Mainly as a result of I knew that that they had by no means carried out outdoors of Japan but in addition, they hadn’t even carried out a present in Japan for over a decade.
Back in ’93 while in Tokyo with Cathedral, G.I.S.M. vocalist Sakevi got here to the present and invited me and a few others again to his residence the following day, the place all of us frolicked, obtained stoned and watched human dissection movies (!) amongst different issues. It’s an evening I’ll always remember. It’s onerous to under-estimate the affect that G.I.S.M. has had on excessive music, notably hardcore punk over time. I’d say that alongside Discharge, they’re in all probability essentially the most influential within the uncooked and soiled world of metallic-edged, correct, noisy, hardcore.
Anyway, by way of mutual associates, I managed to trace Sakevi down once more and put ahead a severe supply for G.I.S.M. to return over and carry out at Rituals For The Blind Dead. After a few mails backwards and forwards, he agreed to return and play. I nonetheless can’t fairly consider that that is truly taking place however the flights are booked and they’re on the point of come and boot you so brutally fucking onerous within the ass!!!