Four different projects have been announced to showcase the history of legendary rock/punk band
THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT, including the releases of a new best-of album and DVD box.
TMGE made their way into the Japanese music scene with loud and powerful music in 1991, later releasing their major debut single in 1996 and becoming a true legend in the country. Since their disbandment in October 2003, the members went to form new bands, most notably
ROSSO and
The Birthday by vocalist
Chiba Yuusuke, with drummer
Kuhara Kazuyuki in the latter. Unfornately, in July this year, their guitarist
Abe Futoshi passed away due to an acute epidural hematoma at the age of 43.
Several labels and managements have united to release a complete edition of
TMGE's best works.
THEE GREATEST HITS, a complete best-of album, will be released by Columbia Music Entertainment on December 16th. This compilation will feature 32 songs split into two SHM-CD discs. The limited edition will also include a 15-track DVD including TV performances and a 100-page booklet.
A special DVD box, titled
THEE LIVE, will be released by Universal Music on January 20th 2010. Among its ten discs, there will be scenes from performances from TV, events and festivals, as well as specially selected DVDs:
WORLD STEREO LYNCH TOUR (recorded at Hibiya Yagadai Ongakudou in 1997),
WORLD CASANOVA SNAKE TOUR FINAL (filmed at Akasaka BLITZ in 2000) and
TMGE YOYOGI RIOT! (
TMGE's first free open-air live, held at Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyougijou Olympic Plaza in 2001).
It has also been announced that the live movie "MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT "THEE MOVIE" -LAST HEAVEN 031011-" will be released in the Sezon Shibuya theater on December 19th, followed by other theaters in the whole country. This movie features footage from
TMGE's final concert, held at Makuhari Messe in October 2003, including backstage and never published scenes.
Almost at the same time as the movie release,
THEE SCENE-LAST HEAVEN 031011-, a special work with recompiled scenes from the band's last live, will be broadcast in several live houses all around Japan, in basically the same format as an actual tour.
A
special website for all of these activities has been opened, in which you can find more information about screening schedules and the new releases in Japanese.
