G.I.S.M. Sakevi Yokoyama Death At 60 Legendary Japanese Hardcore Punk Vocalist!!

Sakevi Yokoyama, the iconic vocalist of the Japanese hardcore punk and metal band G.I.S.M., has sadly passed away. His distribution company, Beast Arts International, which specializes in art, merchandise, and records, confirmed on September 2 that he departed this world peacefully on August 24.

Formation and Evolution of G.I.S.M

In 1981, Tokyo witnessed the formation of G.I.S.M. by Shigehisa “Sakevi” Yokoyama, alongside the late guitarist Randy Uchida, bassist Kannon “Cloudy” Masuo, and drummer Tohru “Monamour” Hiroshima.

The band’s acronym remained consistent throughout their journey, but it represented various names such as God in the Schizoid Mind, Guerrilla Incendiary Sabotage Mutineer, and several others.

Debut Album and Its Impact

Their inaugural album, “Detestation” released in 1983, perfectly encapsulated the fusion of hardcore punk and metal. Sakevi’s distinctive guttural growl was instrumental in shaping the band and the album’s unique sound. This album, recorded at Our House, a dual-purpose venue and recording studio, was self-produced.

It also benefited from the engineering expertise of Konishi Koji. “Detestation” holds the distinction of being among the pioneering Japanese hardcore albums. Its popularity soared in American punk circles, especially after being featured in Maximum Rocknroll and Thrasher.

G.I.S.M.’s International Recognition

In 1984, G.I.S.M. earned a spot on the International P.E.A.C.E. Benefit Compilation, which was later renamed P.E.A.C.E./War in 1997. This record was a global collaboration, featuring 55 hardcore bands, all united in their mission to promote peace through anarcho or left-leaning songs.

The proceeds from this compilation were dedicated to anti-nuclear organizations. This release marked a significant milestone for G.I.S.M., making them one of the first Japanese punk bands to gain widespread recognition in the U.S.

Album Releases and Artistic Endeavors

Throughout their career, G.I.S.M. released three albums. Sakevi’s artistic flair was evident in the artwork for each album, which stood out distinctly from other punk bands. His art, inspired by the collage-based, anarcho-punk aesthetic, ventured into more provocative realms, often shocking viewers.

Live Performances and Mystique

Sakevi’s live performances were nothing short of legendary. He was known for his confrontational style, even once using a flamethrower on stage without prior warning. The band’s enigmatic nature was further amplified by various rumors surrounding Sakevi, adding to the band’s international allure.

Band’s Hiatus and Reformation

Following the tragic demise of guitarist Randy Uchida in 2001, G.I.S.M. honored him with two concerts in Tokyo. Although they disbanded in 2002, they made a comeback in 2016, performing at the Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands. This event marked their first show in nearly a decade and a half and was their only performance outside Japan.

Sakevi’s Legacy

Beyond music, Sakevi was a multifaceted artist. He ventured into art and clothing design under various labels, with Beast Arts International being the most recent. This platform not only served as a hub for G.I.S.M.’s vinyl and merchandise but also showcased a book featuring Sakevi’s diverse artwork. His brief stint in acting was marked by an appearance in the 1987 film “Robinson’s Garden.”

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In April of 2016, G.I.S.M. played their first gig outside of Japan and their first show outside of the Netherlands at Lee Dorian’s Roadburn event. In 2016, Dorian, the curator, had this to say about the booking:

Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to have been involved in some pretty amazing activities. This achievement is fairly high up there, in terms of things that have excited me the most. When I got asked to curate Roadburn 2016, I obviously drew up a list of favourite bands and started a process of elimination. I tried Rudimentary Peni but, alas, it was not to be. Then I thought about G.I.S.M….. I thought it was an extremely long shot for many reasons. Mainly because I knew that they had never performed outside of Japan but also, they hadn’t even performed a show in Japan for over a decade.

Back in ’93 whilst in Tokyo with Cathedral, G.I.S.M. vocalist Sakevi came to the show and invited me and some others back to his apartment the next day, where we all hung out, got stoned and watched human dissection videos (!) amongst other things. It’s a night I will never forget. It’s hard to under-estimate the influence that G.I.S.M. has had on extreme music, particularly hardcore punk over the years. I would say that alongside Discharge, they are probably the most influential in the raw and dirty world of metallic-edged, proper, noisy, hardcore.

Anyway, via mutual friends, I managed to track Sakevi down again and put forward a serious offer for G.I.S.M. to come over and perform at Rituals For The Blind Dead. After a couple of mails backwards and forwards, he agreed to come and play. I still can’t quite believe that this is actually happening but the flights are booked and they are getting ready to come and boot you so brutally fucking hard in the ass!!!

Sakevi Yokoyama’s legacy in the world of hardcore punk and metal remains unparalleled, and he will be deeply missed by fans and the music community worldwide.