ZENI GEVA is a Japanese prog-hardcore band, led by singer and guitarist KKNull, one pioneering group of innovators and legends. ZENI GEVA was founded in Tokyo in 1987 and quickly found a dedicated fan base in the states. Their popularity in the west enabled ZENI GEVA to be one of the first Japanese bands to tour the States with bands like Bastro, Crash Worship, Dazzling Killmen, Don Caballero, Eyehategod, Melvins, Neurosis, Pain Teens, Shellac and more. Steve Albini rates ZENI GEVA as one of his favourite bands. He highlights the band’s wide range of influences for keeping the ZENI GEVA sound diverse and challanging. Steve also admires the way ZENI GEVA embrace the Japanese culture in their sound rather than trying to Westernize it. Subsequent tours have comprehensively covered Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, proving a fast emerging worldwide audience. Also ZENI GEVA recorded twice for John Peel Session on BBC. ZENI GEVA has released 12 albums (5 out of them produced by Steve Albini) on Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles, Null’s self label NUX Organization, Skin Graft, Neurosis’ Neurot Recordings and more.
1987 KK NULL starts ZENI GEVA with ex-HANATARASHI drummer, IKUO TAKETANI. Releases 1st album, “How To Kill” LP from NULL’s own label NUX ORGANIZATION.
1988 MITSURU TABATA (ex-BOREDOMS) joins ZG. Releases the 2nd album, “Maximum Love & Fuck” LP from NUX ORGANIZATION.
1989 After TAKETANI quit, TATSUYA YOSHIDA (RUINS) joins ZG. Releases the 1st CD “Maximum Money Monster” from Pathological (UK).
1991 Records “Total Castration” engineered by STEVE ALBINI in Chicago. Live debut in USA (Chicago, Madison, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco) with support from MELVINS, NEUROSIS, PAIN TEENS.
1992 ZENI GEVA & STEVE ALBINI record “Nai-Ha” in Tokyo. This album is subsequently selected as one of the best Japanese rock albums of the year (1992) by MUSIC MAGAZINE. ZENI GEVA & ALBINI also play live together in Tokyo & Osaka. The 2nd USA tour with support from CRASH WORSHIP, DAZZLING KILLMEN, etc.
1993 Records “Desire For Agony” with STEVE ALBINI in Chicago before the 3rd USA tour.
1994 Tours in Europe for the first time, playing more than 40 shows in Germany (inc. POP-KOMM), Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Holland (inc. VPRO), Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and England (inc. JOHN PEEL SESSION on BBC).
1995 Records “Freedom Bondage” in France before touring in France & Italy and plays with SHELLAC in Chicago. Tours in Australia and New Zealand for the first time. The 2nd Europe tour of two months and plays at JOHN PEEL SESSION again.
1996 Tours in USA with BLAKE FLEMING (drummer from ex-DAZZLING KILLMEN) and also does radio session at WFMU & KFJC. ZG tours in USA again with new drummer, MASATAKA FUJIKAKE and in Europe, playing in many countries for the
first time including Norway, Poland, Czech, Slovenia, Croatia & Portugal.
1997 The 2nd Australia tour and plays at “Livid” festival in Brisbane.
1998 Records KRAFTWERK’s “Sex Object” for a tribute album to KRAFTWERK “Muisque Non Stop” on Toshiba EMI (Japan).
2000 ZG supports the first Japan Tour of NEUROSIS. Records “10,000 LIGHT YEARS” in Chicago by STEVE ALBINI, and does a live radio session at KFJC and live show with NEUROSIS at the Great American Hall in SF.
2002 ZG is invited to play at the “All Tomorrow’s Parties U.K.” and also play a few shows in Switzerland, France and Belgium.
current personnel :
Kazuyuki K Null – guitar & voice
Mitsuru Tabata – guitar & guitar-synthesizer
Masataka Fujikake – drums
There are currently no shows booked through Mammoth Booking