Sug

SuG
Also known as SuG Heavy Positive Rock
Origin Japan
Genres Alternative rock,[1] pop punk, electronic rock, nu metal
Years active 2006–present
Labels PS Company, Indie PSC, Pony Canyon, CLJ Records
Associated acts Travel
Website www.sug-web.jp
Members Takeru
Shigeru
Yuji
Chiyu
Masato
Shinpei
Past members Shōta
Mitsuru

Sug (typeset as SuG) is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in 2006. The band has released two EPs, two full-length studio albums, and several singles. Until 2009, the band was signed to "Indie PSC", a subdivision of PS Company.[2] As of 2010, they have signed onto a major label, Pony Canyon, and joined the forefront of major bands on PS Company.

The band's tagline in promotional work is "Heavy Positive Rock."

History

Vocalist Takeru and guitarists Masato and Yuji had previously performed in a band called Travel. After Travel disbanded, they joined with AmeriA's bassist, Shouta, to form Sug in October 2006. The drummer Mitsuru then joined in November of the same year.[3]

Shouta left the band in February and was replaced by Chiyu on bass. Their first release was "7th Breeze" on the compilation album Cannonball Vol. 03. The band signed to the visual-kei management PS Company, and in August 2007, the band released their first single, "Scheat".[3] Months after the release of their first single, Sug released their first EP entitled Love Scream Party. To promote their music outside of Japan, Sug performed at "J-Rock Invasion" in Germany alongside Kagrra, Kra, Alice Nine, and Screw—all of whom are also signed to CLJ Records, a German label.[4]

Mitsuru left Sug after their live on May 9, 2009. It is supposed that Mitsuru left citing creative differences to the remaining band members. Their support drummer at the time, Shinpei, became a full-time member of the band after Mitsuru's departure.

Following the announcement of their single "Gr8 Story," Sug announced their move onto major label PS Company during the live event called "Sug Fes 2009 Alternative POP Show ~ Vol.6" on November 30, 2009.[5] "Gr8 Story" was released through Pony Canyon, and the title track was used as the ending song for the Katekyō Hitman Reborn! anime[6] According to the band, the song is "rather punkish", yet with a catchy tune and an "easy-listening appeal".[7]

Their second studio album and their first album through Pony Canyon, Tokyo Muzical Hotel, was released on March 9, 2010. Their third studio album and their second album through Pony Canyon Thrill Ride Pirates, was released a year later, also on March 9.

On October 7th, 2012, SuG announced they would officially leave PSC after their performance on December 29th at Yoyogi Kyougijou Daini Taikukan, resulting in a temporary hiatus.

Name

The name "Sug" is derived from the transliteration of the English word "thug", written (and pronounced) in Japanese as Sagu (サグ). The name is then simplified to the slightly more romantic "Sug".[8]

Members

Former members

Discography

Albums and EPs
  Title Release Date JPN[9]
1st I Scream Party December 19, 2007 181
2nd N0iz Star May 14, 2008 41
3rd Punkitsch September 3, 2008 77
4th Tokyo Muzical Hotel March 9, 2010 26
5th Thrill Ride Pirates March 9, 2011 15
6th Lollipop Kingdom April 25, 2012 10
7th Black March 4, 2015 -
Singles
  Title Release Date JPN[10]
1st Scheat August 1, 2007 -
2nd Yumigiwa Downer
(夢際ダウナー)		 September 2, 2007 -
3rd Alterna. September 5, 2007 -
4th Tricolour Color
(虜ロォルカラァ)		 December 3, 2008 -
5th 39GalaxyZ April 15, 2009 -
6th Life♥2Die October 14, 2009 -
7th P!NK masquerade November 18, 2009 -
8th Gr8 Story January 27, 2010 13
9th Koakuma Sparkling
(小悪魔Sparkling)		 June 30, 2010 7
10th R.P.G.〜Rockin' Playing Game September 1, 2010 14
11th Crazy Bunny Coaster January 12, 2011 3
12th ☆Gimi Gimi☆
(☆ギミギミ☆)		 June 15, 2011 8
13th Toy Soldier October 26, 2011 9
14th Fukanzen Beautifool Days
(不完全Beautyfool Days)		 February 1, 2012 8
15th swee†oxic September 19, 2012 10
16th MISSING February 19, 2014 13
17th B.A.B.Y August 23, 2014 13
18th CRY OUT November 19, 2014 -
Best Of Albums
  Title Release Date JPN[9]
1st BEST 2010~2012 March 6, 2013 25
DVDs
  Title Release Date JPN[11]
1st SuG TOUR 2010"TOKYO MUZiCAL HOTEL" August 25, 2010 49
2nd SuG TOUR 2011「TRiP~welcome-to-Thrill-Ride-Pirates~」 September 21, 2011 22
3rd SuG Oneman Show 2011 VIP POP SHOW March 21, 2012 47
4th The Lollipop Kingdom Show October 10, 2012 46
5th SuG Oneman Show 2012 This iz 0 2012.12.29 at YOYOGI 2ND GYMNASIUM April 10, 2013 33
6th SuG Onemanshow 2013 Update Ver.0 April 16, 2014 42
7th VersuS January 28, 2015 276
DVD singles
  Title Release Date JPN[11]
1st Mujouken Koufukuron
(無条件幸福論)		 November 17, 2010 7
Compilations
  Title Release Date
1st Cannonball Vol. 3 February 2, 2007

References

  1. ↑ SuG Allmusic by John D. Buchanan
  2. ↑ "Sug at Nipponproject". nipponproject.com.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 SuG · サグ - Profile & Biography - JaME U.S.A
  4. ↑ CLJ Records - alice nine
  5. ↑ "Sug to Make Major Debut". Musicjapanplus. 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  6. ↑ "Sug to Provide Ending Song for Popular Anime". Musicjapanplus. 2009-12-08. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  7. ↑ "Sug Special Interview for the Release of 'gr8 story'". Musicjapanplus. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  8. ↑ "Sug A-Z interview at Jmusiceuropa". jmusiceuropa.com. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "SuGのアルバム売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
  10. ↑ "SuGのシングル売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "SuGのDVD売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2015-02-13.

External links