The Stalin

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The Stalin
Origin Fukushima, Japan
Genre(s) punk rock
Years active 1980—1985, 1988—1993
Label(s) Politics Records (1980 – 1981)
Tokuma Onkou (1982 – 1985)
Alfa Records (1989 – 1993)
Members
Michiro Endo
Ritsu Saito
Chikao Adachi
Shigeo Mihara
Former members
Atsushi Kaneko
Shintaro Sugiyama
Jun Inui
Kazuo Tamura
Hitoshi Oda
Keigo Nakata
Tatsuya Nakamura
June-Bleed
Teruya Ogata
Masayuki Ono
Kubota
May
Shoko
Aihiko Yamamori
Yusuke Nishimura

The Stalin was an influential Japanese punk rock band formed in 1980, by Michiro Endo.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 1980-1982 Formation

The Stalin began in 1980 and was founded by Michiro Endo, a 32 year-old socialist activist. He chose the name because "the name Stalin is very hated by most people in Japan, so it is very good for our image."[citation needed] At live shows, Michiro behaved like a madman, leaving a wake of destruction everywhere he went. The Stalin were quickly banned from many venues, especially after beating up members of the audience, or simply leaving after singing one song.

For the first LP, 1981's Trash, they sped up the pace and began to sound like a hardcore band. Released on Political Records, the record is so rare that it has been bootlegged even in Japan.[citation needed] The new sound of the Stalin was due partly to the addition of guitarist Tam, formerly of Typhus, the band that spawned the band Gauze.

[edit] 1982-1984

Cover of a single Romantist (1982)
Cover of a single Romantist (1982)

The band's major label debut was 1982's Stop Jap LP. The lyrics from this album supposedly reflect a more anti-nationalist, anarchistic slant on political issues.[citation needed] The band reached their peak in popularity with the next two hardcore records in 1983: the 4-song Go Go Stalin 12" and the Mushi LP. The Stalin was one of the first Japanese bands to reach an international audience when their song "Chicken Farm" appeared on MRR's seminal Welcome to 1984 compilation alongside other international hardcore pioneers like Raw Power and BGK.[citation needed] Shortly after, Tam left the band. 1984's Fish Inn LP found the Stalin with American musicians playing parts. After releasing a 1985 double live album, the Stalin called it quits.

[edit] 1988-1990 Birth of "Stalin"

Inspired by the monumental events of 1988, especially the collapse of Soviet Communism[citation needed]}, Michiro formed a new band just called "Stalin". He had been fascinated with the Polish Solidarity movement, which began the same year as the band, and after a visit to Warsaw he organized a Japanese tour for the Polish punk band Dezerter. The Stalin completed the cultural exchange in 1990 when they toured Eastern Europe. At some point the band converted to Video Stalin, a video production ensemble. One video they made, "The History of the Stalin," has live footage and promo clips from the band's early days.

[edit] Discography

[edit] The Stalin

Albums & EPs
Singles
  • Dendou Kokeshi (電動こけし? Vibrator) (1980)
  • Romantist (ロマンチスト Romanchisuto?) (1982)
  • Allergy (アレルギー Arerugii?) (1982)
  • Go Go Stalin (GoGoスターリン Go Go Sutarin?) (1983)
  • Nothing (1984)

[edit] Stalin

Albums
Singles
  • Houchou & Man-jyu (包丁とマンジュウ? Kitchen Knife & Bun) (1989)
  • Benkyou ga Dekinai (勉強ができない? Can't study) (1989)
  • '90s Sentimental Osechi ('90sセンチメンタルおせち 90s Senchimentaru Osechi?) (1989)
  • Mayonaka no Omocha Bako (真夜中のオモチャ箱? Toy Box of Midnight) (1990)
  • Wild Ghetto (1991)
  • Ride on Time (ライド・オン・タイム Raido On Taimu?) (1992)

[edit] Video-Stalin

Albums
  • -1 (Minus One) (1988)

[edit] External links

Languages