Vital
- Vital
- #38
- November 1st 1994
Taken straight from Vital’s website. The text is kept as is.
The Gerogerigegege
by Peter Duimelinks.
Among the many Japanese noise groups there is one that stands out for it’s humour: The Gerogerigegege. Not just cheer noise, but a combination of noise, punk rock and `documentary’ records (such as interview with tramps and recordings from Japanese porn movies). Some of the releases have like 79 tracks on a 7“… Performances of men masturbating… This resulted in a wide cult following in the USA and Europe. Yet communication with Yuntaro Yamanouchi is not easy. Sometimes responses are very enthusiastic, only to bleed dead after a while. The following interview was just the start for a bigger interview, but after these first answers I asked them some more in-depth responses, but then: no reponse. Oh well…
Q. When did the group start?
A. The Gerogerigegege was given its name in January 1985. We released metal case which included 100 tapes of C-0 (No tape only plastic) in it at the end of that Jan. We tried to sell this by mail order in Japan, because record shops didn’t accept them as it was too big size. Couldn’t sell at all.
Q. Who are or were the members?
A. Official Member is me and Gero 30 who is going to be 56 years old. There are other uncountable people as help have performed with us. Two men from Grim (ex-White Hospital, Vasilisk) and Mr. Elle of C.P. played with us at our first stage in November, 86.
Q. Can you tell me something about the performances of the Gerogerigegege?
A. Our performances are mostly done by two of us (Me & Gero30) and sometimes only by Gero30 or sometimes only by myself. Sometimes we also play as punkband. Also there are times when the performances are done by a punkband or heavy-metal band without us. These performances are done under the name “The Gerogerigegege”
Q. Do you think your group is typical Japanese in approach and performance?
A. I think so.
Q. What do you think of the traditional Japanese culture?
A. I don’t know.
Q. What was your education?
A. Drop out of elementary School at the age of 8.
Q. Is music your main activity?
A. I don’t know.
Q. Your second LP, Showa, comes in different covers. One with the photograph of Hirohito and another one is a Ramones LP cover you designed. Can you tell me something about this? Why the Ramones?
A. I used that picture because I thought that was a very good one. I used old person picture for the first LP and first EP also. I like picture of old person. I also used picture of old persons for the one with the Ramones logo. It’s because I like the Ramones and an old person. About Ramones, please do listen my live CD “Tokyo Anal Dynamite”.
Q. Is there any idea behind the Gerogerigegege?
A. We do our music which we like as we like. I also like rock music, of course. I don’t have any future strategies.
Q. Any collaborations you have worked on?
A. No. I can’t do mail-collaborations as I don’t have a mixer. I could do it if we use a mixing room at a studio, but I have neither my own plan or any offer from other artists.
Q. What kind of instruments do you use?
A. We use the tuner (Jap company “Zen-On”). I use octave or on/off switches. I have used this from our first LP. until today.
Q. Do you think the Gerogerigegege is an Art group? And what do you think about art in general?
A. I have never thought about it. I like making things, of course. But I’m not interested in visuals or painting.
Q. What is the reaction of the audience in Japan when they hear your music?
A. All kinds of reactions, they mostly burst into laughter at a show done by myslef & Gero30. When we play rock music, they dance frantically or sometimes dive.
Q. Do you consider the Gerogerigegege as a serious act? Or is there also a satirical and humouristic side?
A. I don’t think so. Of course we do have sarcasm and humour. Critics and listeners and other people make different comments.
Q. What does the name The Gerogerigegege mean?
A. “Gero” means vomiting, “Geri” means Diarrhea. “Gegege” means nothing. All Japanese.
Q. Anything you would like to add at this moment?
A. I’ve been troubling the artists whose cassettes haven’t been released yet. The cover & sticker of them are in printing now. We have changed our plans several times to release them in the best condition, and that was the cause of the delay. I deeply apologize for that.