DMBQ
{{Short description|Japanese rock band}}
{{for|the chemical compound known as DMBQ|2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = DMBQ
| image = DMBQ at AS220 (2989647998).jpg
| caption = Shinji Masuko of DMBQ at AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island, 2008
| image_size = 300
| alias =
| genre = {{hlist|Hard rock|rock and roll}}
| years_active = 1989 – present
| label = God?/Drag City
| associated_acts = Boredoms, Moan, 巨人ゆえにデカイ(Kyozin Yueni Dekai)
| website = http://www.dmbq.net/
| current_members = Shinji Masuko
Shinji Wada
Maki
| past_members = Yuka Yoshimura
Mana Nishiura
Toru Mastui
Ryuichi Watanabe
}}
DMBQ is a Japanese rock band from Tokyo, whose name stands for Dynamite Masters Blues Quartet.MKCL-002 Fable of Thinnerlemon They are influenced by British and American rock music of the early 1970s, especially bands like The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.
History
DMBQ was formed in Hokkaido in 1989. The founding members were Shinji Masuko (vocals/guitar), Ryuuichi Watanabe (bass), and Yuka Yoshimura (drums). Shinji Masuko is a well-known journalist in Japan who has regular columns in several music, pornography and subculture magazines. He is a younger brother of Naozumi Masuko, who is a member of Dohatsuten. Yuka Yoshimura was also a member of OOIOO and Hatsuiku Status.
DMBQ began performing in Tokyo in early 1990 and quickly gained notoriety for their psychedelic live performances. In 1995, their debut album Dynamite Masters Blues Quartet was released. In 1997, Toru Matsui (guitar) became a member of the band. In 1999, they contracted with PARCO/Columbia and made their major label debut. In 2002, they contracted with avex trax.
In June 2004, they were supposed to start their first American tour, but Yoshimura left the band just before embarking, and Mana Nishiura (also a member of Shonen Knife) became her replacement. In 2005, they contracted with the American label Estrus/Touch and Go, and toured in the United States.
On November 4, 2005, while driving to a show at New York City's Club Exit, Mana Nishiura died when another vehicle crossed lanes and struck the band's van in southern New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorknighttrain.com/zine/issues/1/dmbq.html|title=NEW YORK NIGHT TRAIN - issue 1: DMBQ FATAL VAN ACCIDENT|website=Newyorknighttrain.com|accessdate=2 January 2019}} After recovering from their injuries, DMBQ decided to go back to the US (west coast only) for another mini-tour. In February, 2006, Shinji Wada formally assumed DMBQ's drummer duties.
By 2014, Toru Matsui and Ryuichi Watanabe left DMBQ and Maki (formerly of OOIOO) assumed bass duties. They have continued as a three-piece since then. In February 2018, they released their first new album in 13 years, Keeenly, in Japan. After a Japan tour in March 2018 with Ty Segall and the Freedom band, Segall re-released Keeenly on his own label in the United States. Ty Segall said, "There is no band like DMBQ. They are unique destroyers of sound, and lovers of sonic beauty, existing in the places between. Masters of harsh tone and psychotic rhythm. Keeenly is an alien planet type record, evoking images of landscapes and weather patterns found in other galaxies. Purple wind and green fire.” {{cite web|url=http://www.dragcity.com/products/keeenly|title=DRAG CITY/GOD? RECORDS KEEENLY PRESS RELEASE|website=Dragcity.com|accessdate=2 January 2019}}
= Related bands =
Former members of DMBQ have formed the bands Tompei & Bishop and Hydro-Guru. Shinji Masuko has also been a member of Boredoms since 2004 and has also served as an instrument designer and live sound technician for Yamantaka Eye. Masuko also formed a solo project called Moan.{{cite web|url=http://www.lightning-usa.com/magazine-00//moan-shinji-masuko-dmbq-boredoms|title=MOAN Shinji Masuko (DMBQ, Boredoms)|website=Lightning-usa.com|accessdate=16 January 2019}}
Personnel
=Current members=
- Shinji Masuko - guitar
- Shinji Wada - drums (formerly of King Brothers BROTHERS)
- Maki - bass (formerly of OOIOO)
=Former members=
- Mana Nishiura - drums
- Yuka Yoshimura - drums (formerly of OOIOO, currently in Catsuomaticdeath and Metalchicks)
- Toru Matsui - guitar
- Ryuichi Watanabe - bass
Partial discography
| Year
!Title !Label + catalog number |
|---|
| 1995
|Dynamite Masters Blues Quartet |Less Than TV |
| 1996
|EXP |Less Than TV ch-24 |
| 1997
|COG |
| 1998
|Fable of Thinnerlemon |Nanophonica MKCL-2002 |
| 1999
|I Know Your Sweet |
| 2000
|Jinni |
| 2001
|Annular Music |
| 2001
|Resonated (remix album) |
| 2002
|Phalanges |
| 2003
|The Cold One |
| 2004
| Esoteric Black Hair |Fake Chapter Records |
| 2004
|DMBQ vs. Hysteric Glamour |
| 2004
|Hercules Hits (DMBQ Best) |
| 2004
|You Must Be Psychic (promo one-song EP from 2004 tour) |released by the band as a CDR |
| 2005
|The Essential Sounds from the Far East |
| 2018
|Keeenly |Tsukumogami Co. Ltd. on CD in Japan; Drag City/God? on 2xLP in the US |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.dmbq.net/ DMBQ official site]
- [http://www.myspace.com/dmbq Official Myspace page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081118015036/http://www.retardriot.com/photos/2007/05/26/dmbq-above-the-auto-parts-store-brooklyn-ny/ DMBQ performing in Brooklyn]
- [http://spin-cdnsrc.texterity.com/spin/200812/?pg=30&pm=2 DMBQ's Photo Feature in SPIN's Dec. '08 Issue]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dmbq}}
Category:Japanese hard rock musical groups