Their first major label release, wonder style, was released in 1995, and produced in London, United Kingdom, by Chris Brown, who previously engineered albums and tracks for Radiohead and Pink Floyd. Their breakthrough album, however, was 1998's Gear Blues which sold more than 500,000 copies, a huge number in the Japanese recording industry. Gear Blues was released in the United States in 2000 by Alive Records, but the band's success in that country never reached the level that they had in Japan, although they had moderate success in Europe. With the release of Gear Blues, the band stopped using lowercase letters in their name, and became known as THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT, with capitalized letters. The band announced that they would break up on October 11, 2003, after their Last Heaven tour of Japan.
After breaking up, the members have all continued activities in other bands. Chiba Yusuke recorded two albums and several smaller releases while in ROSSO, and has participated in projects of smaller scale, such as Midnight Bankrobbers, RAVEN and THE MIDWEST VIKINGS. In 2006, he and drummer Kuhara Kazuyuki got together again and formed The Birthday. As for the other TMGE members, bassist Ueno Koji was part of the three-piece rock band Radio Caroline for several years before suspending activities in 2009, and helped record the HIATUS' album Trash We'd Love. While not as active after the breakup as some of the other members, guitarist Abe Futoshi has among other things appeared in a band called KOOLOGI.
On July 22nd, 2009, it was announced on the band's official homepage that Abe Futoshi had passed away due to an acute epidural hematoma, a condition often caused by a blow to the side of the head. Abe was 43 years old.
Members:
Chiba Yusuke (チバユウスケ) – Vocal, guitar
Abe Futoshi (アベフトシ) – Guitar
Ueno Koji (ウエノコウジ) – Bass
Kuhara Kazuyuki (クハラカズユキ) – Drums
Official Webpages:
http://www.rockin-blues.com/
http://www.universal-music.co.jp/tmge/
http://columbia.jp/~michelle/
アッシュ
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant Lyrics
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灰になった歌が 黒塗りをつんざいた
灰になった歌が 黒塗りをつんざいた
前後左右 はじけとんだアタマで
ブーツを踏み鳴らして マラカスを蹴散らした
灰になった歌で ワルツを踊るカウボーイ
テンガロン焼き捨てた 灰だらけの歌が
黒塗りをつんざいて ワルツを踊るカウボーイ
あの娘は星になって ただ酔って消えたんだ
灰になった歌は 漂って染み込んだ
灰になった歌が 黒塗りをつんざいた
灰になった歌で ワルツを踊るカウボーイ
灰になった歌は
灰になった歌は
灰になった歌は
The lyrics of the song "アッシュ" by Thee Michelle Gun Elephant depict a scene of destruction and transformation in the middle of the night. The imagery of crushing decayed imitations and converting them into ashes conveys a sense of breaking free from constraints and societal norms that are decaying and false. The ashes of the song are described as piercing through the darkness with a black paint, symbolizing a rebellious act of defiance and individuality against conformity.
The singer of the song appears to be in a frenzied state, with their head exploding in all directions, stomping their boots and scattering maracas. The act of dancing a waltz with an ash-converted song portrays a surreal and chaotic dance with elements of rebellion and liberation. The ashes of the song seem to fuel the cowboy's movements, adding a sense of intensity and defiance to their actions.
The lyrics mention blowing away the megalos and exposing the sun, implying a sense of revealing truths and shedding light on hidden aspects. The discarded Stetson (ten-gallon hat) covered in ashes symbolizes letting go of past identities or conventions and embracing a new, liberated self. The cowboy continues to dance a waltz with the ash-covered song, further emphasizing the motif of transformation and defiance through music and movement.
The narrative takes a melancholic turn as the lyrics mention a girl who turns into a star and fades away in intoxication. The theme of fleeting beauty and transient existence is highlighted, contrasting with the enduring presence of the ash-converted song that lingers and permeates the surroundings. The repeated references to the ash-converted song piercing through with black paint and dancing a waltz evoke a sense of defiance and resilience in the face of inevitable change and impermanence. The repetition of the phrase "灰になった歌は" underscores the transformative power of music and art to endure and resonate even after being reduced to ashes.
Line by Line Meaning
くさったまがいモノを かみ砕いた真夜中
In the dead of night, I crushed the rotten impostors
灰になった歌が 黒塗りをつんざいた
The song turned to ashes, piercing through the darkness
前後左右 はじけとんだアタマで
With a wild mind all around me
ブーツを踏み鳴らして マラカスを蹴散らした
Stomping boots, scattering maracas
灰になった歌で ワルツを踊るカウボーイ
Dancing a waltz with the song turned to ashes
メガロ吹きとばして 太陽をさらけ出す
Blow away the clouds and expose the sun
テンガロン焼き捨てた 灰だらけの歌が
Throwing away the ten-gallon hat, the song covered in ashes
黒塗りをつんざいて ワルツを踊るカウボーイ
Piercing through the darkness, the cowboy dances a waltz
あの娘は星になって ただ酔って消えたんだ
That girl became a star and simply disappeared in a drunken haze
灰になった歌は 漂って染み込んだ
The song turned to ashes drifting and soaking in
灰になった歌が 黒塗りをつんざいた
The song turned to ashes, piercing through the darkness
灰になった歌で ワルツを踊るカウボーイ
Dancing a waltz with the song turned to ashes
灰になった歌は
The song turned to ashes
灰になった歌は
The song turned to ashes
灰になった歌は
The song turned to ashes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Yusuke Chiba, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind