CATSUOMATICDEATH was founded in 2003 in Tokyo as a three-piece band. The other members, aside from vocalist ACEKAY, are unknown because the band's history is full of holes up until the summer of 2006.
The band mostly consists of support musicians that sometimes join the band for three or four concerts before leaving for other bands. The vocalist formed the band shortly after receiving his Bachelor of Philosophy, which he acquired at Columbia University, New York.
In August 2004, they were asked to be part of a sampler album produced by major label Universal Music, which earned them their first recording contract. On the indies label they released their first single, Charlie vs Sammy, in December 2005. Less than a year later, the band felt prepared to go on their first tour in Germany with former RaFF-CuSS bass player Ishitani Hikari, called THE ACMAMANN, accompanying ACEKAY. Shortly after the tour's end, there were several members changes.
Nevertheless, the concert, featuring Electric Eel Shock and Metalchicks, was an important event in the group's history. YUKA, Metalchicks's drummer, was attracted to the band and joined as an official member in November. As with the other members, a nickname was given to her. Because she goes everywhere by bike, her nickname became 21st Century YUKA-RYDER. YUKA also frequently plays with OOIOO, of which some members are involved with Boredoms, leading to a good friendship between Boredoms and CATSUOMATICDEATH.
At the beginning of the new year the band's old recording contract expired, leading the group to re-record the songs from their old single in February 2007 and distribute them as a kind of "bootleg" at their concerts. For their tour through China and Hong Kong in March they were able to hire another bass player. Again, the members changed and with the new lineup the band headed for their second German tour, which kicked off at the end of August and has them playing more than a dozen concerts.
According to their own statements, CATSUOMATICDEATH is both an alternative and occult grunge rock'n'roll band. The name of the band was derived from vocalist ACEKAY's favorite meal, the "Catsuo" fish, which can be ordered in Japanese sushi restaurants.
ACEKAY, who is responsible for everything concerning the band, was inspired by famous bands such as Iggy and the Stooges and The Doors as well as by legendary Japanese singer Ozaki Yutaka.
While the influence of the first two can be clearly heard in the band's music, the latter's influence can be seen in the lyrics.
On the band's homepage ACEKAY explains their style in the following way:
1. English prose texts used for lyrics, 2. heavy guitars, 3. the rhythm of James Brown and John Bonham, 4. Kimonos and 5. top hats. All this ends up "banally" as "prose rock'n'roll made by Japanese with a Japan fetish".
