Gokumontō Ikka (獄門島一家, "Hell's Gate Island Family") is a Japanese band that formed in 2013. The band is a supergroup formed of Avu-chan from Queen Bee, Ryosuke Nagaoka from Tokyo Jihen, KenKen from Rize and drummer Tatsuya Nakamura from Blankey Jet City.

Gokumontō Ikka
獄門島一家
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresIndie rock, indie pop
Years active2013—present
LabelsParadox, Sony Music Associated Records
MembersAvu-chan
Ryosuke Nagaoka
KenKen
Tatsuya Nakamura

Biography edit

In February 2013, Avu-chan's band Queen Bee went on hiatus.[1][2] While considering whether to continue music or to return home to Kobe, Avu-chan was asked by former Blankey Jet City drummer Tatsuya Nakamura if they could form a band together, and Avu-chan agreed.[3] In addition to Nakamura, Avu-chan asked Tokyo Jihen guitarist Ryosuke Nagaoka to join the project (who had performed in the backing band for Queen Bee's final tour before their hiatus), as well as bassist KenKen of the band Rize, who Nakamura introduced to the project.[3][2]

The band made their debut performance at the 2013 Rising Sun Rock Festival in August 2013,[4] followed by their first solo concert in October, held at Liquidroom in Shibuya, Tokyo.[5]

The band toured again in 2015, performing a second concert at Liquiroom in July, followed by concerts in Yokohama and Kyoto in November.[6] At these concerts, the band unveiled their first release, Jitsuroku! Gokumontō Ikka, a magazine+extended play set, which was initially only sold during these live performances in November.[3][7]

On March 25, 2016, Gokumontō Ikka and Queen Bee performed a dual concert in Roppongi, Tokyo, as the final of a six concert series of double-billed concerts.[8][2] During the concert, the bands announced that they would release "Kinsei" / "Shibō Yūgi", a split single in May 2016.[9] The cover art for the single was created by Kinu Nishimura, in the vein of her 1990s Capcom fighting game art.[2] Avu-chan performs the trumpet on "Shibō Yūgi".[2]

In 2018 the band reunited to perform at the Rising Sun Rock Festival for their fifth anniversary, where they performed a cover of 1980s boyband Shibugakitai's "Sushi Kui nee!" [10]

Members edit

The members of the band are given a fictional backstory and familial titles as stage names.[11][12]

Discography edit

Extended play edit

Title Details
Jitsuroku! Gokumontō Ikka (実録!獄門島一家, "Real Recording! Gokumontō Ikka")
  • Released: November 3, 2015
  • Label: Paradox, Sony
  • Formats: CD/Magazine

Singles edit

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN
Oricon

[13]
JPN
Hot
Phys

[14]
"Shibō Yūgi" (死亡遊戯, "Game of Death")[15] 2016 24 24 Non-album single

References edit

  1. ^ Kuwahara, Ryoko (2017-04-02). "宇宙特集:Avu-chan from Ziyoou-vachi『Q』Special Photo Shoot & Interview". neol.jp. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  2. ^ a b c d e Shinji, Hyogo (May 31, 2016). "女王蜂 アヴちゃんロングインタビュー!獄門島一家の始まり、スプリットシングル発売への経緯を語る!". Disk Garage (in Japanese). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Tanaka, Hirokazu (July 16, 2019). "女王蜂VS獄門島一家「金星 / 死亡遊戯」アヴちゃん×KenKenインタビュー". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "RSR第6弾でアヴちゃん新バンド、KEMURI、サンフジンズ". Natalie. 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  5. ^ "アヴちゃんや中村達也を擁する獄門島一家、初の<東京会合>開催". Barks. 2013-08-21. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  6. ^ "女王蜂アヴちゃん、KenKen、中村達也、長岡亮介からなる獄門島一家、雑誌創刊". Barks. 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  7. ^ "手記にグラビア!獄門島一家、ライブ会場で音源付き雑誌販売". Natalie. 2015-10-28. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "女王蜂 vs 獄門島一家、対バン決定! オープニングアクトはベッド・イン". Rockin On (in Japanese). January 15, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "女王蜂VS獄門島一家、スプリットSg『金星/死亡遊戯』発売決定! 女王蜂新ビジュアルも". Rockin On (in Japanese). March 25, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  10. ^ "【RSR2018】ライジングサンの皆勤賞男、中村達也家長を務める獄門島一家、「スシ食いねェ!」で会場を完全掌握". Billboard Japan. 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  11. ^ 実録!獄門島一家 (Magazine and CD). Gokumontō Ikka. Japan: Paradox/Sony. 2015. B017022HHO.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ 金星/死亡遊戯 (CD). Queen Bee, Gokumontō Ikka. Japan: Ziyoou Record/Sony. 2016. AICL-3107/8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "金星/死亡遊戯(初回生産限定盤)". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Japan Billboard Top Single Sales". Billboard (in Japanese). May 18, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "金星/死亡遊戯<通常盤>". Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2021.