This experiment was the first time here in Japan and was a great succeeded. They also released the tour video "World Psycho Blues" which was held in Yokohama Arena in January. From April '99 through August, they went on the road as "World Gear Blues Tour" at clubs, a total of 62 shows and all of them were sold out. R&R big wave attracted through out Japan by their increased tightly and powerful live shows. On August 6th-after the tour finished, a compilation album "Rumble" was released which was a edition of their past maxi singles. In the summer of '99, they appeared in Rising Sun Rock Festival and other big festivals in Japan. After that, they have done shows in London and this has been third times since they have started gigs in London. Then, they finished the first tour in America. As the beginning, they played at CBGB in New York and 16 shows were took place in the US. Accordingly, they received good reactions at many places. From November 20th, '99, they started recording for their 5th album. The album "Casanova Snake" was released in Japan on March 1st which has completed along with the beginning of 2000. And "GT 400" was released on February 2nd as the precedence single from the album. Their releases of a maxi single in England and "Gear Blues" album in France was the chance to do a short Europe tour (1 show at LA 2 in London, 4 shows in France) in April. After they came back from the tour, they went on the road from May 6th, and have performed 43 dates through out Japan for "World Casanova Snake Tour". Of course, all the shows were sold out, and they were more tremendously and enthusiastic shows than previous ones.

On July 29th-just after 3 days from the tour finished, they appeared at Green Stage of Fuji Rock Festival. Again, TMGE has stood on the stage. Moreover, this time was the headliner on the second day. They have never stopped their activities, and have recorded a new single, their 11th single "Baby Stardust", which was released on September 27th.

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, the Japanese garage band who made their fourth visit to London last year for a well-received gig at the LA2, at last have their album 'Gear Blues' released in the UK. T.M.G.E.'s immaculately executed performances proudly show off their encyclopaedic knowledge of rock'n'roll. With influences from The Stooges, Feelgoods, Ramones, Stranglers, Motorhead and The Who to name but a few, they have surprised many by selling 500,000 of 'Gear Blues' in their native Japan. Now they have set their sights on the rest of the world, with visits to UK, Europe and America under their belt. Cult underground status has already grown through touring and single releases on Vinyl Japan, and Damaged Goods. Now the French indie SKYDOG (Iggy Pop & Stooges, MC5, Flamin Groovies etc) releases the 'Gear Blues' album in the UK via Jungle. Listen and marvel how rock'n'roll has travelled worldwide, is reinterpreted on every continent and re-exported, bigger and better each time!

What the press say:

"It's clear that we are in the presence of rock greatness. TMGE crank out over an hour of pure-brand, hi-octane Monster R&B that has left the LA2's audience wild-eyed, sweat-sodden and exhilarated."- Mojo

"The Japanese have an deep-rooted respect for tradition. TMGE, four young men from Tokyo, are in thrall to the tradition of rocking in a fantastically demented garage rock style. Cool as fuck. they're an awesomely well-drilled rock and rumble crew, blasting out an apparently ramshackle noise with studied nonchalance." - Kerrang "Four crazed garage rockers with too many Stooges records and too powerful amps, TMGE are winning cult status across the globe with their spirited live shows and ear-splitting shimmy din" - Evening Standard "Japan's biggest rock band, even when not singing in their native tongue, are completely incomprehensible. Boozy black-hearted rock'n'roll filtered through a Pokemon cartoon, all amplified, arena- sized exaggerated postures and raw-throated screaming that is both ridiculous and wonderful. Skinny men in sunglasses screaming and falling over make for quite a show in any language."- NME

"They ostensibly play a blues-based pop-rock but it's a howling blues, a fuzzed-out and geasy rock and a mangled and noise-drenched take on pop. As raw as any sushi and much less likely to make you feel sick. - Kerrang 'Single Of The Week' THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT: BAND PROFILEEnglish version of Japanese biog! "Thee Michelle Gun Elephant" were formed back in 1991. And since then they have been appealing their pub-rock/British punk musical style to their audiences. In October 1995, they released their debut album "Wonder Style" on CD and Vinyl from an independent record company. In September of the same year, they recorded their debut single and album in London; Chris Brown who is known as the engineer for "Radiohead" and "Elastica" engineered all tracks. On February 1st, 1996, they released their first single from Nippon Columbia's TRIAD label "World's End" with their first album "Cult Grass Stars" followed on March 1st. This album left the Japanese rock music scene a massive impact and their tour was succeeded. On August 1st, they released maxi-single "Candy House" and received massive reaction from the foreign-based record shop in Japan. And just before the release of "Candy House", they recorded their 2nd album "High Time". They went over the America for mastering and video shoots. They asked Tom Baker who is known as the mastering engineer of "The Beastie Boys" to master the album. They released the first cut "Lily" from their 2nd album and the video "Thee Michelle Gun Elephant play maximum rockin' blues" which entered straight into #5 on the Japanese national chart. On November 1st, they released their 2nd album "High Time" which shot into #13 on the album chart.

The album received very impressive reviews from many Japanese medias. Their "High Time Tour" took place between December '96 to February '97 at 20 cities with 21dates and all dates were sold out. Those lives proved that they are just too far ahead of other Japanese bands. And on May 1st, they released their 2nd maxi-single "Culture" and hit the singles chart at #29. To coincide with this, they re-released "Wonder style". In April, they had a recording session at London's "Toe Rag Studio" which is known as the studio used by Billy Childish of "Thee Headcoats" fame whom Thee Michelle Gun Elephant respect the most. And also they kicked off their "World Stereo Lynch Tour" at "London Power house" and impressed the Brits. The 4 tracks were recorded in London and they were released as their 3rd maxi-single "Get Up Lucy" on August 1st and charted at #24 on the single chart. And also they released their tour document video "World Stereo Lynch" which includes the footage of their London gigs and it has been selling dramatically. They started recording for their 3rd album in July '97. During this period, they popped for many one off events and got more reputation. And they released the single "The Birdmen" (#23) on October 21st and the 3rd album "Chicken Zombies" on the following week (November 1st) and it shot in at #5 in the national album chart. Then in 1998, they went on the road again as "World Chicken Zombies Tour" The tickets for all 52 dates in 36 cities were sold out within a few days. And with the release of their video clip collection "Film Stars Revenge" (#3), they have again done 5 UK dates (London, Manchester, Brighton) successfully. That summer, they appeared in front of 50,000 audience at Fuji Rock Festival in Tokyo among other acts such as The Prodigy, Primal Scream, Garbage, Stereophonics, Sonic Youth, Ian Brown and Beck to name but a few. Back in the studio after appearing at a couple of other summer festivals in Japan, they released 3 hit singles "G.W.D" (#17), "Out Blues" (#7), and "Smokin' Billy" and lead the way for the long awaited 4th album "Gear Blues" released on November 25, 1998. After that, they started "World Psycho Blues Tour". The first one was from the end of '98 through January '99. This standing tour was held in big arenas that take in over 5,000 audiences in Japan.