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Electric Eel Shock (EES) are a three-piece garage metal band, formed in Tokyo in the late 1990s. They first toured the United States in 1999 and have been touring the world ever since.

Early years of EES

The first incarnation of Electric Eel Shock was not quite as they are known today. In fact, the band's first public performances were actually as an 11-piece group with keyboards, female vocals and horns. It was not until the logistics of getting all of these members together on the same day to practice became unworkable that the band stripped down to a three-piece.

Gian took up playing with four drumsticks, and also gained a reputation for playing almost naked. Gian has been arrested once, in Hong Kongand fined HK$100, for playing this way.

Electric Eel Shock decided against making demos and sending them to record companies[citation needed]. Instead, they quickly set up the Micro Music label with their friends[citation needed], and released their first full-length album, Maybe I Think We Can Beat Nirvana. They followed this with Live Punctured.

Slayers Bay Blues

In 1999 Electric Eel Shock recorded Slayers Bay Blues on an eight-track recorder[citation needed], and pressed enough copies to take to the road for their first gigs abroad. They had lined up a handful of dates in and around New York, including CBGB, with their friends Peelander-Z who had relocated there some time earlier. The gigs were a big success, and the a handful of dates that were planned turned into an East Coast tour.

Go America

Shortly after returning to Japan EES sold their property and left their homes[citation needed]. They returned to the US and toured almost constantly for the next two years[citation needed]. Their tours grew in length as word of mouth spread that this was a live show not to be missed[citation needed]. All the while, the band survived on the sale of CDs, t-shirts, and help from friends. They then recorded Go America (EP).

Go Europe

In early 2003 the band received an email invitation from journalist Bob Slayer to perform in London. On January 16, 2003, Electric Eel Shock landed in London for five hastily arranged gigs. The five shows rapidly become twelve gigs in ten days[citation needed]. The band used the London Underground as their only form of transport. After this, they returned to the US with Bob Slayer as their new manager.

The band spent the rest of 2003 between the US and Europe. Highlights included playing at both the SXSW and CMJ festivals in America, playing at Roskilde Festival in Denmark, headlining the Rockit Hong Kong Music Festival, and supporting the Canadian band Danko Jones on a 40-date European tour.

At the start of 2004 Electric Eel Shock went into the studio for the last of the Go sessions. Although these were still produced on a relatively low budget, and paid for by the band, this was the first time that they had used a studio[citation needed] and sound engineer as opposed to a practice room, kitchen or cupboard[citation needed]. The results, Go Europe! / Go USA!, were licensed around the world and the band went on a promotional tour that took in 25 countries and 27 European festivals[citation needed].

Beat Me

The band's European base camp for much of their touring in 2004 was the Suicide Motel in Utrecht, Netherlands, which Bob Slayer set up with Frank Suicide the guitarist of the Dutch band Wasted[citation needed]. Whilst spending time in Holland they developed their friendship with Grammy-nominated producer Attie Bauw (who had worked with Judas Priest and the Scorpions) that they had met in Amsterdam during the Danko Jones tour[citation needed]. Electric Eel Shock were soon making plans with Attie Bauw for a new album. This would represent a move away from their garage roots. The aim was to catch all the energy and character of an Electric Eel Shock performance with a production that would sit alongside the early Black Sabbath albums that had inspired their creation[citation needed]. Assisting Attie in the studio was the band's live engineer, Tim Bray, who had become a fixture on tour with the band.

The band finished recording Beat Me at the end of December 2004, and returned to Japan for the first time in a long time, to do a few gigs[citation needed].

Throughout 2005 EES shows have become larger; touring in the US and Europe with the Bloodhound Gang, headlining festivals, and playing with the West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra. Electric Eel Shock also made an appearance in the video clip for the Bloodhound Gang song "Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss". Their tours throughout Europe at the end of 2005 were completely sold out[citation needed].

In March 2006, Beat Me was released in Japan on legendary metal label Roadrunner Records. The band toured Japan, Australia, New Zealand[citation needed] and the US[citation needed] in 2006 and played festivals in Europe[citation needed].

Transworld Ultra Rock

Electric Eel Shock released Transworld Ultra Rock on October 1, 2007. The album was the first release on their own label Double Peace Records. The band toured throughout Europe in support of the new album, later appearing as a support act on The Presidents of the United States of America's These Are the Good Times People tour. The album was released by P-Vine records on November 16, 2007 in Japan. It has been Electric Eel Shock's most successful album to date in terms of both press and sales[citation needed].

Sugoi Indeed

Electric Eel Shock joined Sellaband on May 2, 2008 to raise the funds to record their next album. On the 25th of June 2008 after 55 days the band successfully raised $50,000.

The press release describes Sugoi Indeed as an album full of classic rock hand-crafted in Japan. Attie Bauw, (Judas Priest, Scorpions) who produced the last two EES albums, was at the controls again, only this time he engineered the basic tracks and Electric Eel Shock took the production reins on the album themselves.

The album was licensed to several labels around the world and was released in October 2009.

Japan - Universal

Germany - Rodeostar

Netherlands - Rough Trade

UK - Cargo

Fan funding

Electric Eel Shock has always had a strong connection and support from their fans. In 2007 they formed the Samurai club for just 100 hardcore fans which meant all members had guest-list for life among other exclusive benefits. Prior to recording Sugoi Indeed, EES raised $50,000 through SellaBand.com from their global fanbase. The album has been licensed to Universal Records in Japan and various independent labels around the world.

In January 2010 EES launched a campaign through Pledge Music

Electric Eel Shock manager Bob Slayer advises other artists on Fan Funding

Pre EES

Akihito Morimoto, known as 'Aki' (guitar and vocals) and Kazuto Maekawa (bass) first met at High School in Osaka. Aki learned English from the lyrics of bands he liked[1]. Akihito Morimoto and Kazuto Maekawa first formed an 80s metal cover band in High School called Caducious.

Morimoto and Maekawa first tasted commercial success after moving to Tokyo and playing as guitarist and bassist in a five-piece pop rock band[citation needed]. Morimoto later said that one of the main reasons for this band's demise was that they acted on everything that they were told, and as a result soon became directionless[citation needed]. It was this lesson that helped form the attitude of Electric Eel Shock

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