In 1991 vocalist Yasuko Onuki decided to form a band, and put together a four piece unit called Mizu, which included guitarist Agata, and other members which did not last long. In 1992 Rika Mmm joined on bass and the group played as a trio until later that year Sudoh Toshiaki was added as drummer. In early 1993 they took on the name Melt Banana and began their musical assault with new energy. An early supporter was noise icon Zeni Geva, who offered to release their first album, which led to the...

In 1991 vocalist Yasuko Onuki decided to form a band, and put together a four piece unit called Mizu, which included guitarist Agata, and other members which did not last long. In 1992 Rika Mmm joined on bass and the group played as a trio until later that year Sudoh Toshiaki was added as drummer. In early 1993 they took on the name Melt Banana and began their musical assault with new energy. An early supporter was noise icon Zeni Geva, who offered to release their first album, which led to the band recording in Chicago with Steve Albini, and to their involvement with US indie Skin Graft. In 1994 the band toured Japan, with Jim O'Rourke, Zeni Geva and Space Streakings, the first of their now nearly uncountable shows with foreign artists. In 1994 the band also signed with the UK label Chocolate Monk, who released their debut album Cactuses Come In Flocks. In 1995 Melt Banana toured the States with Skin Graft labelmates U.S. Maple, and again recorded with Steve Albini. Along with Albini and O'Rourke, along the way Melt Banana also have found support from indie/noise icons Mike Patton and John Zorn, who has amongst other things released their live album on his Tzadik label in 1998. Melt Banana's frantic, distorted squalling sonic blitzes, topped with shrieking vocals so furious that vocalist Onuki is prone to nose bleeds, has received comparisons to Atari Teenage Riot and the Boredoms, but in fact they have developed their own rather distinctive brand of high speed noise. The band remain modest selling cult stars in Japan, but have built a substantial following internationally by relentlessly touring and giving shockingly intense performances.