Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A Brief Overview Of Godspeed You! Black Emperor

By Mark Floyd

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a post-rock group from Montreal, Canada. They are most widely known for their lengthy songs and extensive and visual live shows. Their recordings and performances generally consist of electric guitars and percussion instruments, however more obscure instruments such as French horns and glockenspiels have been known to make appearances.

The band got their name from an ambiguous Japanese film about a motorcycle gang, the "Black Emperors". The number of people in the group is never given, ranging anywhere from 9 to 20 at any given moment. The group was on a lengthy break for a few years so that its various members could focus on other endeavors, though they are scheduled to perform together at an upcoming English festival.

Everyone in the group considers the music to be far bigger than the band, which helps to explain their constantly changing numbers and lack of a leader. There is also a harsh moratorium on band photos and magazine interviews. The seemingly odd behavior is a way for appreciators to get nearer to the music, instead of focusing on minor details.

The more well known members of GYBE stress in their rare interviews that multinational corporations are what is wrong with the media industry and the American economy in general. In fact, many of their album and song linear notes reference the wrongdoings of the corporate media. On their latest album, an image was included on the back art work that linked several record labels to America's military-industrial complex.

Fans of GYBE cite their live performances as random and exciting occurrences. Because the band employs no singers they utilize scores of visual imageries in all of their shows. The films are meant to tie the message and the music together for the watching audience and are most often produced and recorded by a group member.

In 2003, the members of Godspeed had the pleasure of being mistaken for terrorists when they passed through Ardmore, Oklahoma. The band, touring through the United States, stopped for gas on their way to Missouri and worried the station attendant on duty. She convinced another customer, who was also pumping gas, to summon the local police.

When the Ardmore police arrived, they discovered anti-government documents in both of the group's two vans. These finds, coupled with the groups general scruffiness prompted the local officers to call in the FBI. The band members were immediately detained and personally questioned for some time before the authorities decided to let them go. And although GYBE made it to their next tour stop in time, the run-in no doubt only fueled their anarchist philosophies.

They have officially released three albums since their debut in the 1990s. Since then, Godspeed You! Black Emperor has also put out several releases and EPs. Several of their songs have even come out without being on an album since GYBE encourages their fans to record their concerts. The band has even lent songs to a handful of television and movie soundtracks as well, although it happens very rarely.

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