44 Magnum (band)

{{Short description|Japanese heavy metal band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = 44 Magnum | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = Osaka Prefecture, Japan | genre = {{flatlist| * Heavy metal * hard rock}} | years_active = 1977–1989, 2002–present | label = Moon, Invitation, Danger Crue, East West Japan | website = [http://www.44magnum2001.com/ Official site] | current_members = Paul Jimmy Joe | past_members = Akira Taka Hirofumi Teruki Shuse Ban Stevie }}

'''44 Magnum''' (stylized as '''44MAGNUM''') are a Japanese heavy metal band, originally formed in Osaka Prefecture in mid-1977.<ref name="LarkinHM">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1995|edition=Second|isbn=0-85112-656-1|pages=138/9}}</ref> They were one of the first Japanese metal bands.

==History== 44 Magnum was originally formed in 1977 by vocalist Tatsuya "Paul" Umehara. After recruiting guitarist Satoshi "Jimmy" Hirose and bassist Hironori "Ban" Yoshikawa in 1979, the classic line-up was finalized when Satoshi "Joe" Miyawaki joined on drums in 1982. The band made their major label debut the following year with the album ''Danger''.<ref name="2009self">{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/20038|script-title=ja:44MAGNUM、7年ぶり新作でメタルシーンの“変革”を問う|publisher=Natalie|language=Japanese|date=2009-08-18|accessdate=2022-04-23}}</ref> 1985's ''Four Figures'' was composed of solo songs by each of the four band members, and featured guest appearances by Tomoyasu Hotei (Boøwy), Akira Wada (Prism), Kenji Kitajima (Fence of Defense), Yoshiro Takahashi (Action) and Hoppy Kamiyama (Pink)<ref name="jbpress">{{cite web|url=https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/77877|script-title=ja:ジャパメタからヴィジュアル系へ、シーンに影響を与えたレジェンドバンドとは|work=JB Press|language=ja|date=2023-11-04|accessdate=2025-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115052618/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/77877|archive-date=2023-11-15}}</ref>

In 1987, the band changed record labels and shifted to a soft rock sound.<ref name="jbpress"/> The subsequent albums, ''Love or Money'' (1987) and ''Emotional Color'' (1988), were badly-received by fans.<ref name="jbpress"/> Joe left the band in 1988.<ref>{{cite web | title =JOE、hideへの感謝と誓い「君の作った作品は命懸けで演奏し続けて守っていく」【hide with Spread Beaverフォトブック刊行記念(5)】| url=https://thetv.jp/news/detail/1173685/|work=The Television|publisher=Kadokawa Corporation| language = Japanese| date =2023-12-27| accessdate=2023-12-27}}</ref> 44 Magnum disbanded in April 1989.<ref name="2009self"/> The album ''Still Alive'' was released later that month and features the band's classic heavy metal sound, as it was recorded in 1986.<ref name="jbpress"/>

After thirteen years, 44 Magnum reunited in 2002 and released their seventh album ''Ignition''.<ref name="2009self"/> Bassist Ban left the band in 2009. That year, they released a self-titled album featuring new members Shuse, formerly of La'cryma Christi, on bass and Stevie, Paul's son, as a lead singer alongside Paul on most of the tracks.<ref name="2009self"/><ref name="shuseoffical">{{cite web|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000052008|script-title=ja:7年ぶりの新作完成、8月15日幕張メッセにて“新生44MAGNUM”始動|publisher=Barks|language=Japanese|date=2009-08-14|accessdate=2024-06-23}}</ref>

In early 2012, frontman and sole original member Paul announced he would stop performing live shows to focus on his treatment for Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2005.<ref name="Paulleaves">{{cite web| title = 44MAGNUM's PAUL to leave band to focus on treatment for Parkinson's disease| work = tokyohive.com| url = http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/01/44magnums-paul-to-leave-band-to-focus-on-treatment-for-parkinsons-disease/| access-date = 2012-01-11}}</ref> However, he continues to record and write songs with the band,<ref name="Paulleaves"/> and still makes occasional live appearances. Bassist Ban returned to 44 Magnum for the 30th anniversary of their debut in 2013.<ref name="Ban2022">{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/464438|script-title=ja:44MAGNUMのオリジナルメンバー・吉川“BAN”裕規が脱退|publisher=Natalie|language=Japanese|date=2022-02-04|accessdate=2022-04-23}}</ref>

On February 3, 2022, 44 Magnum announced that Ban was no longer a part of the band.<ref name="Ban2022"/> A little over a week later, Sexx George of the band Ladies Room was announced as support bassist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/465460|script-title=ja:44MAGNUMサポートでSEXX GEORGE加入！新体制初ライブは4.4開催|publisher=Natalie|language=Japanese|date=2022-02-12|accessdate=2022-04-23}}</ref> After 17 years, Stevie announced his departure from 44 Magnum on May 7, 2026.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=STEVIE_44 |author=Stevie (Trymatic) |number=2052185989301600564 |date=2026-05-06 |title=お知らせです |access-date=2026-05-07}}</ref>

==Members== {{col-float}} '''Current members''' * Tatsuya "Paul" Umehara – vocals (1977–1989, 2002–present) * Satoshi "Jimmy" Hirose – guitar (1979–1989, 2002–present) * Satoshi "Joe" Miyawaki – drums (1982–1988, 2002–present)

'''Support members''' * Anarchy Bad Ray – bass (2010) * Sexx George – bass (2022–present) {{col-float-break}} '''Former members''' * Akira Nagamori – guitar (1977–1981) * Taka Tanaka – bass (1977–1982) * Hirofumi Miyamoto – drums (1977–1980) * Teruki Iga – drums (1979–1982) * Shuse – bass (2009–2012)<ref name="shuseoffical"/> * Hironori "Ban" Yoshikawa – bass (1979–1989, 2002–2009, 2013–2022) * Stevie Umehara – vocals (2009–2026) {{col-float-end}}

'''Timeline''' {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:60 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1977 till:{{#time: m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1977 ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1977

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:lines value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData = at:12/21/1983 color:black layer:back at:09/25/1984 color:black layer:back at:03/24/1985 color:black layer:back at:05/29/1987 color:black layer:back at:06/20/1988 color:black layer:back at:05/12/1989 color:black layer:back at:08/21/2002 color:black layer:back at:09/16/2009 color:black layer:back at:11/04/2015 color:black layer:back at:01/30/2019 color:black layer:back

BarData = bar:Paul text:"Tatsuya Paul Umehara" bar:Stevie text:"Stevie Umehara" bar:Akira text:"Akira Nagamori" bar:Jimmy text:"Satoshi Jimmy Hirose" bar:Taka text:"Taka Tanaka" bar:Ban text:"Hironori Ban Yoshikawa" bar:Shuse text:"Shuse" bar:Hirofumi text: Hirofumi Miyamoto bar:Naoki text:"Naoki Yokota" bar:Iga text:"Teruki Iga" bar:Joe text:"Satoshi "Joe" Miyawaki"

PlotData= width:11 bar:Paul from:start till:08/01/1989 color:vocals bar:Paul from:04/01/2002 till:end color:vocals bar:Stevie from:06/16/2009 till:05/07/2026 color:vocals bar:Akira from:start till:06/23/1981 color:guitar bar:Jimmy from:06/23/1979 till:08/01/1989 color:guitar bar:Jimmy from:04/01/2002 till:end color:guitar bar:Taka from:start till:06/23/1982 color:bass bar:Ban from:06/23/1979 till:08/01/1989 color:bass bar:Ban from:04/01/2002 till:04/01/2009 color:bass bar:Shuse from:04/01/2009 till:01/01/2012 color:bass bar:Ban from:01/01/2012 till:02/03/2022 color:bass bar:Naoki from:start till:06/23/1979 color:drums bar:Hirofumi from:start till:06/23/1982 color:drums bar:Iga from:06/23/1979 till:06/23/1982 color:drums bar:Joe from:04/01/1982 till:12/31/1988 color:drums bar:Joe from:04/01/2002 till:end color:drums }}

==Discography== ;Studio albums * ''Danger'' (1983) * ''Street Rock'n Roller'' (1984) * ''Actor'' (1985) * ''Love or Money'' (1987) * ''Emotional Color'' (1988) * ''Still Alive'' (1989) * ''Ignition'' (2002) * ''44Magnum'' (2009) * ''Angel Number'' (2015) * ''Prisoner'' (2019)

;EPs * ''44Magnum'' (1983) * ''Four Figures'' (1985) * ''Beast'' (2013)

;Singles * "It's Raining" (1987) * "I Miss You" (1988)

;Live albums * ''The Live'' (1985, EP) * ''Live Act II'' (1986) * ''2016 04 03 04 Special Live'' (2017)

;Compilations * ''Anthology'' (1989) * ''Live & Rare'' (2000, 10-CD boxset) * ''The Bootleg-MK.I'' (2001, 2CD & DVD) * ''The Bootleg-MK.II'' (2011, CD & DVD) * ''44Magnum 35th Anniversary Ultimate Collection'' (March 21, 2012, SHM-CDs) :Includes ''Danger'', ''Street Rock'n Roller'', ''Actor'', ''Live + Four Figures'', ''Live Act II -Complete-'' and ''Ignition''.

;Videos * ''The Beginning'' (1985) * ''The Bootleg-MK.I'' (2001, DVD & 2CD) * ''Live at Alive'' (2010) * ''The Bootleg-MK.II'' (2011, DVD & CD) * ''44Magnum on 30th Anniversary Tour 2013 Bombard Attack'' (2014) * ''Bombard Attack 44Magnum on Tour 2014 2014.10.18 Tokyo'' (2015) * ''2016 04 03 04 Special Live'' (2016)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.44magnum2001.com/ Official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:44Magnum}} Category:Japanese heavy metal musical groups Category:Japanese hard rock musical groups Category:Japanese musical quintets Category:Musical groups established in 1977 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1989 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2002 Category:Musical groups from Osaka Prefecture