Ichiro Agata

{{Short description|Guitarist}}

{{BLP sources|date=May 2010}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Ichiro Agata

| image = Ichirou Agata (Melt-Banana) live 2005-11-29.jpg

| caption = Ichiro Agata live (2005) in a surgical mask

| image_size =

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| alias =

| origin = Japan

| instrument = Gibson SG Guitar{{citation |url=http://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/43agata.html | year=2010 | title=Guitarist Interview with Agata of Melt-Banana | work=QRD| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208005727/http://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/43agata.html |archive-date=2015-12-08 | accessdate=2017-02-22}}

| genre = Noise Rock
Experimental rock
Avant-Garde

| occupation = guitarist

| years_active = 1992–present

| label = A-Zap, Tzadik Records

| website =

| current_member_of = Melt-Banana

}}

{{Nihongo|Ichiro Agata|縣 一郎|Agata Ichirō}} is the guitarist for the Japanese noise rock band Melt-Banana.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p200036|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Melt Banana|last=Tausig|first=Ben|author2=Lymangrover, Jason |publisher=AMG|accessdate=16 May 2010}} Agata is known particularly for his furious stage antics, jumping and constantly moving around, and exceedingly unique approach to playing the guitar which involves extended technique, heavy use of effects pedals,

Agata's effect pedal setup during the 2010 European tour

and guitar slides resulting in sounds not easily attributed to the guitar.

Agata is known for consistently wearing a surgical mask on stage during performances and in promotional photos, which has been attributed to a "blood condition"{{cite news |last1=Jesudason |first1=David |title=Peeling Back The Skin: Who Are The Real Melt-Banana? – Kerrang! |url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/peeling-back-the-skin-who-are-the-real-melt-banana/ |accessdate=13 January 2020 |publisher=Kerrang! |date=16 August 2019}} or a "bone disease" that can cause sudden nose bleeds, with the mask hiding the tissues used to stem the blood.{{cite news |last1=Bartz |first1=Simon |title=Unpeeling Melt-Banana |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2004/02/18/music/unpeeling-melt-banana/ |accessdate=16 January 2020 |work=The Japan Times |date=18 February 2004}} He started wearing it in "1995 or 1996" when touring with Mr. Bungle.{{cite news |title=Games, pedals and weird lyrics – Melt-Banana interview |url=https://japanvibe.net/games-pedals-and-weird-lyrics-melt-banana-interview/ |accessdate=16 January 2020 |publisher=Japan Vibe |date=11 October 2017}} However, he has also said that his condition is not a major concern any longer and that he wears it for fun.

He has also released a solo guitar album, entitled Spike, on John Zorn's Tzadik Records.

Agata often gets inspiration for his guitar riffs from his experience playing video games: "If I get excited about a clever move I’ve made in the game then I might try to interpret that move musically. It’s hard to explain. But if I’m killing a lot of people in a game and there’s a quiet soundtrack to it I might then go to the studio and think of that game and make a noisy blast-beat song and add some quiet pretty sounds to it." Games he has cited as an inspiration include Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, Ecco the Dolphin, Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Tom |title=Melt-Banana on the Influence of Video Games |url=https://www.westword.com/music/melt-banana-on-the-influence-of-video-games-6948953 |accessdate=13 January 2020 |publisher=Westword |date=24 July 2015}}