Description

■LIP CREAM_THRASH TIL DEATH CD■

THRASH TIL\’ DEATH

RELAPSE/DYNAMITE Records/DONDON – 006
LP/CD/CASSETTE TAPE

Original Release date: 1986.SEP
Original Label: SELFIS Records / BEL – 12010 / DONDON – 003

A FAREWELL TO ARMS – SELFISH Records 1986
THRASH TIL\’ DEATH – SELFISH Records 1986
DEVIL MUST BE DRIVEN OUT WITH DEVIL – HOLD UP Records 1986
VIRUS – JUNGLE HOP Records FRANCE 1987
MY MEAT\’S YOUR POISON – Assault Delusion Records 1987

One of the characteristics of LIP CREAM is that they have participated and contributed many songs to omnibus albums in addition to their own sound recordings. Including live recordings and cassette tapes, LIP CREAM has participated in as many as 13 compilations, and if the live video recordings of the omnibus albums are included, the number would be enormous.
This album is a selection of songs from six compilation albums released between 1986 and 1987, starting with the title “THRASH TIL\’ DEATH” (named by NAOKI). The collection also includes rare sound sources such as “A FAREWELL TO ARMS” and “Pathogen VIRUS,” which are now hard to find.
All songs have been digitally remastered by RELAPSE, and the cover artwork has been newly designed. Especially for “MY MEAT\’S YOUR POISON”, the original artwork was obtained from GUY (GUDON, Blood Sucker Records), who illustrated the original jacket, and was used for the composition.
This is LIP CREAM\’s strongest omnibus sound source collection ever, and the complete release that listeners around the world have been waiting for is now a “miracle”.

Track list
1 Yoriri
2 Bloody Summer
3 In Your Mouth
4 Don\’t Speak Too Much
5 Stigma
6 Kill Ugly Pop
7 Back In The Anger
8 No Rules
9 Top Fight
10 Radimental Truth
11 Morpheus
12 Honest
13 Guns Of Fire
14 Right Stuff
15 Yellow Beauty

LIP CREAM – A Band History

Previous Chapters

Legendary hardcore/punk band LIP CREAM released three EPs, a cassette, and four albums in the six years between their formation in 1984 and their breakup in 1990, after changing members twice. In addition, the band participated in 13 compilation albums and released two independent live videos, boasting an astonishing number of works unparalleled anywhere in the world despite their short period of activity.
However, since the band disbanded in 1990, before the Internet archives were built, much of the information about LIP CREAM that is currently circulating is based on hearsay and misinformation, and no official profile or discography has existed until now.
In order to supplement RELAPSE Records\’ project to reissue all of LIP CREAM\’s music, we have compiled a text based on in-depth interviews with original member MINORU, along with a vast amount of other materials.
LIP CREAM\’s first official band profile has been completed.
The entire history of LIP CREAM, which is otherwise unknown, is recorded here.
(Titles omitted in the text)

The 1st period
AA HARDCORE UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY

We took everything so lightly.
MINORU, the originator and original member of LIP CREAM, says of those days, “We were taking everything so lightly.

The year was 1984, and LIP CREAM\’s formation began with the release of the omnibus album “Hardcore Illegal Assembly” on AA Records that same year.
MINORU was originally scheduled to participate in COMES, but left the band before recording. Guitarist NAOKI also left the band (the two were childhood friends who had spent junior high and high school together). At this point, MINORU had forgotten about his participation in the omnibus, and when he received a phone call from the label\’s organizer, CHARMY (LAUGHIN\’ NOSE), urging him to record a sound source, he told them that he was leaving the band, and they suggested that he join a different band. I came up with the name “LIP CREAM” on the spot.
I came up with the name “LIP CREAM” on the spot. “There was no deep meaning behind the band name at all,” said MINORU.

As MINORU stated, LIP CREAM was initially intended to be a session band with limited activities. The first members, except for the vocalist, were decided at this point.
Since three songs were scheduled to be included in “Hardcore Illegal Gathering,” each member was in charge of writing one song: “RENTAL” by MINORU, “DAZED AND CONFUSED” by MARU, and “Akabane-sen Violence Part 1” by NAOKI, but due to recording time constraints, “Akabane-sen Violence Part 1″ was cut. Violence Part 1″ was cut due to recording time (the master tape of this song was later lost and has not been found to this day).
As for the reason why BAKI was finally chosen as the vocalist, MINORU happened to visit BAKI\’s house on the day of recording, and when he asked BAKI to participate in the recording, he was given the OK and went straight to the studio. However, BAKI was still a member of THE EXECUTE at that time, so he was not credited on the album.
After the high-speed recording at Shinjuku JAM Studio, which took only one night, LIP CREAM\’s activities came to a temporary halt.
I was just happy to be in a band and make sounds” (MINORU).

LIP CREAM was also born in the midst of the band scene\’s dissolution and reorganization. LIP CREAM was also born out of this trend.

Second Period
LONELY ROCK – NIGHTRIDER MORE THAN FIGHT

A few months after recording “Hardcore Illegal Gathering,” MINORU was approached by BEAR BOMB, bassist of LAST BOMB, about appearing in a planned gig. At that time, MINORU had suspended his band activities, but when BEAR BOMB suggested that he “perform with that band LIP CREAM,” he decided to resume his activities.
As in the “Hardcore Illegal Gathering,” the lineup consisted of MINORU, MARU, and NAOKI. At this point, however, NAOKI had already left THE EXECUTE to join a new band, GASTUNK, together with BABY (the song NAOKI provided during his tenure became “GERONIMO,” a number that later became a representative of GASTUNK). Later, NAOKI left GASTUNK and rejoined LIP CREAM.
On the other hand, the vocalist remained absent, so MINORU consulted with JHAJHA, the bassist of DEAD COPS, with whom he had been playing together. He received an unexpected response, “I want to do it! and it was decided on the spot that JHAJHA would leave DEAD COPS and join LIP CREAM as a vocalist.

The first live performance by the new group was at Shibuya Attic in June 1984. Riding this momentum, the first EP “LONELY ROCK” is released from HOLD UP Records.
This release was made possible by an independent label started by GHOUL\’s guitarist MAX, who was also a playmate of MINORU\’s. “I just wanted to put out a sound source,” said MAX.
I jumped on it right away because I wanted to release a sound source anyway” (MINORU).

After that, while appearing at several GIGs in Tokyo, CHARMY of AA Records approached them with the idea of releasing a solo EP, which they gladly accepted. In September of the same year, he went on a Kansai tour and recorded “NIGHTRIDER MORE THAN FIGHT” at Studio EVE in Osaka.
However, after the Kansai tour, drummer MARU left the band to concentrate on the activities of LAUGHIN\’ NOSE, and LIP CREAM\’s activities seemed to stagnate once again, but MARU\’s departure turned out to be an opportunity for the band to make great progress.

Shortly after MARU\’s departure, PILL announced his intention to join LIP CREAM at lightning speed, He doubled as drummer in AXE BOMBER, G-ZET, and BRADBURY, and at the same time was an enthusiastic fan of LIP CREAM since the band\’s formation. In fact, in live photos from those days, PILL can often be seen running wild in the front row of the LIP CREAM stage.
PILL may have been searching for the band he should be in while he was juggling many bands” (MINORU).

──In fact, before the recording of “Hardcore Illegal Gathering,” the three had a studio session at PILL\’s suggestion, just after MINORU and NAOKI left COMES. At this point, however, the idea for a new band was still in the trial-and-error stage, and they did not officially form the band. However, there is no doubt that this was an important session that foreshadowed the future of LIP CREAM. The session was a very important one that foreshadowed the future of LIP CREAM.

Third Period Part 1
CHAOS U.K. arrives in Japan – Dawn of the SELFISH Records era begins

With the official addition of PILL, LIP CREAM\’s members were fixed in all parts, and the band began full-scale activities with a greater sense of speed than ever before, while at the same time, events that would become major breakthroughs occurred frequently.

In 1985, LIP CREAM participated in the omnibus cassette “THE PUNX – Street Movement,” the first sound source with the new formation. This was followed by the release of “BIG FOOT Cassette” (also known as “KILL THE IBM”) on May 12 of the same year. This cassette tape was also the first release on DYNAMITE Records, an independent label established by LIP CREAM for his band.
The label name “DYNAMITE” was named after NAOKI\’s gag sense and originated from the movie “Dynamite DON” (*). The part number “DONDON” is also a reference to this movie.

(*) “Dynamite DYNAMITE” (overseas title: “NOISY DYNAMITE”) is a comedy yakuza film produced by Daiei and distributed by Toei and released in 1978. It is a unique story about a protracted war between yakuza gangs that is settled not with violence but with a baseball game. Director: Okamoto Kihachi, Starring Sugawara Bunta

In this year, CHAOS U.K. was invited from Bristol, England for a Japan tour, and LIP CREAM and GAUZE supported the tour. This tour with CHAOS U.K. was the first time that a Japanese hardcore/punk band toured Japan, and was a great success, drawing enthusiastic audiences in all regions.
Through this tour support, LIP CREAM reached a major turning point.
First of all, the turning point in terms of sound was the collaboration with CHAOS U.K. Drummer Pill\’s drumming, in particular, was so different from Japanese hardcore that it was shocking to hear the insanity and intensity of Bristol\’s unique drumming.
Another major turning point was his encounter with SELFISH Records.
SELFISH Records, which invited CHAOS U.K. on their Japan tour, is an independent label founded by the Okamoto brothers, promoters from Shikoku, and later became an essential part of the hardcore/punk music scene in Japan.
The CHAOS U.K. Japan tour was a very important experience for LIP CREAM, both in terms of their sound and their activities.

After the success of this tour, LIP CREAM also organized “DYNAMITE TOUR,” a two-man national tour in Osaka with WAR PAINTED CITY INDIAN, formed by SIN (ex-MOBS), Beret (ex-FREEDOM), and FUNNYARA (ex-THE BONES) in Kyoto. LIP CREAM achieved record attendance and established themselves as a “touring band”.

Then came 1986. At that time, Japan was in the midst of a nationwide indie band movement, and LIP CREAM was among the first to be affected by this wave.
In March of the same year, LIP CREAM released their first full-length album, “KILL UGLY POP” on CAPTAIN Records. For LIP CREAM, who until then had mainly produced sound sources through friends and their own personal connections, and for the indie music scene as a whole at the time, “Kill Ugly Pop” was a revolutionary work, and was a very early release for a single LP by a Japanese hardcore/punk band, compared to other bands of the same era. It was a very early release for a single LP by a Japanese hardcore/punk band compared to other bands of the same era.

CAPTAIN Records was managed by JICC Publishing, a publishing company that published the culture magazine “Takarajima”. In reality, however, it was more like a music office affiliated with a major label. Riding the wave of the band boom, “Takarajima” published a magazine specializing in indie bands, “BAND Yaroze! The appearance of JHAJHA as a model in Takarajima was part of this trend. JHAJHA

Around the time of the release of KILL UGLY POP, LIP CREAM began to accelerate their production of sound sources, and in particular, they began to contribute songs to an omnibus album.
First, in February, LIP CREAM participated in the omnibus album “DEVIL MUST BE DRIVEN OUT DEVIL” by HOLD UP Records. In April, they participated in “A FAREWELL TO ARMS,” the first album released by SELFISH Records.
After “A FAREWELL TO ARMS”, all of LIP CREAM\’s independent works have been released on SELFISH Records.

In September of the same year, LIP CREAM released the compilation album “THRASH TIL\’ DEATH” and went on the “THRASH TIL\’ DEATH TOUR” with OUTO of Osaka, one of the participating bands. In the winter of the same year, a second DYNAMITE TOUR with WAR PAINTED CITY INDIAN was also held.
The success of these two tours led to the birth of many young bands throughout Japan that were influenced by LIP CREAM, and the Japanese hardcore scene exploded with activity.
Furthermore, the video label ROCK\’N PA released LIP CREAM\’s solo live video along with GHOUL and GAUZE, bringing their appeal as a live band to a wider audience.

In 1987, LIP CREAM released a mini-album “9 SHOCKS TERROR” in May. Then, LIP CREAM took the lead in planning the “BLOODY SUMMER TOUR” with three bands, OUTO and DEATH SIDE.
The BLOODY SUMMER TOUR continued to be held every summer until LIP CREAM disbanded in 1990, and was remembered as a “hot and intense summer tradition” for many hardcore kids.

Third Period Part 2
Member\’s Accident – Last Album – and Dissolution

In 1988, around the time of the release of their third full-length album “Close to the Edge: Crisis” in April, the feud between the band members gradually began to surface. As if in response to this sensitive relationship, the band\’s sound became even more profound, and many of LIP CREAM\’s most representative songs were created during this period. This can be said to be a product of the exquisite balance that arose from the tension that covered the band.
On May 21, a one-man gig “LIP CREAM ONLY” was planned and held at Shinjuku Antinok. The white-hot live performance, which was held in a packed venue to the point where the audience was running out of oxygen, was released as a VHS video “LIP CREAM ONLY” on August 20 of the same year by JICC Publishing, which operates CAPTAIN Records, in the extra issue slot of the video magazine VOS. However, LIP CREAM had a major accident shortly after this.

In the summer of the same year, during the BLOODY SUMMER TOUR\’88 with DEATH SIDE, MINORU was seriously injured in a car accident and was hospitalized. He had to temporarily leave the band.
Nevertheless, LIP CREAM managed to get through the tour without canceling their schedule*, with DEATH SIDE\’s guitarist CHELSEA as a help bassist in the western Japan area and Famous as a help in the east to northern Japan.

(*) LIP CREAM performed at the big event “SUPER BATTLEROYAL \’88” held at Toshima Public Hall on July 17 of the same year, although they were scheduled to participate in the VHS video “COMPLETE DEATH LIVE” that recorded the event, However, due to MINORU\’s withdrawal due to an accident, the live video was not recorded. CHELSEA helped out on stage at this time.

In 1989, LIP CREAM released their last album, “Sin -SIN-” (the original version was untitled). This album was produced based on an extremely serious concept that was distinctly different from their previous works, and had a unique composition in which audio drama and music were intermingled. It became a historical work. However, as if in inverse proportion to its perfection, the feud between the members reached its peak, and LIP CERAM was on the road to dissolution.

In fact, SELFISH Records was planning the first US tour for a Japanese hardcore/punk band at this time, following the success of the U.K. tour by S.O.B. and NAPALM DEATH, and with a strong desire to “bring LIP CREAM to the world next! and enthusiastic SELFISH had cleared overseas negotiations and had almost the entire schedule confirmed, including a stage at RITZ in New York. However, due to their breakup the following year, this tour plan never came to fruition. TMZ.

In 1990, while supporting EXTREME NOISE TERROR on their Japan tour in March, he also joined OUTO on the BLOODY SUMMER TOUR \’90. On September 24, LIP CREAM disbanded after the live event “D.D.D.9.24” held at Kyoto University\’s Seibu Auditorium in Kyoto.

Final Chapter
LIP CREAM after that

Since the breakup, the members have continued to work in their own separate bands.

MINORU went through BUTTERFLY, then EXTINCT GOVERNMENT – COLORED RICEMEN, and now forms EIEFITS. He has been active not only in Japan but also in Southeast Asia, organizing tours.

NAOKI participated in the limited-time session band L.O.X., and then formed NO! with ex-COMES and ex-GASTUNK drummer MATSUMURA. However, he has since bravely left the band scene.

JHAJHA joined JUDGEMENT as a vocalist after wandering around Asia as a backpacker, and after JUDGEMENT\’s hiatus, he has been performing under the name “JHAJHA Iwashiro” or “Kuwana Rokudo. He is still performing solo with a folk guitar in his hand under the name of “JHAJHA IWAKI” or “Kuwana Rokudo.

PILL has started his own band project. In the 2000s, he formed DELTA PUREE.
In 2008, he released four CDs of LIP CREAM\’s past material on his own “Oni Oni” label (although the CDs were not remastered and were incomplete as reissues).
In 2009, LIP CREAM released a 9-DVD set of scattered LIP CREAM videos.

In 2010, 20 years after the breakup, LIP CREAM reunited. This reunion was a limited one, with only three live shows in three cities: Tokyo (w/ NICE VIEW), Anjo, Aichi (w/ THE BACILLUS BRAINS and TURTLE ISLAND), and Osaka (w/ NIGHTMARE and WARHEAD).
Tickets for the reunion live shows sold out instantly, and each venue was packed to overflowing, but the band did not continue their activities after that, and they once again fell silent.

In 2021, NAOKI passed away.
PILL passes away in 2024.

And in 2025
After 35 years since the breakup and 15 years since the reunion, RELAPSE Records has taken the initiative to launch a project to digitally remaster all LIP CREAM recordings for reissue.
The LIP CREAM recordings, long awaited by listeners around the world, will finally be unleashed under the supervision of a completely official and thorough production team.

This is an event.
And we are not only witnesses to this incident, but we are also the parties involved.

I\’m a sinner, you\’re a sinner, atone for your sins by yourself” – from “Sin -SIN-” (Lyric by JHAJHA)

Text by TAKESHI UECHI
Special Thanks to SAKAMOTO GISHICHO

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