Nowadays, POLYSICS are known as the Japanese equivalent of Devo and it’s no coincidence as, when Hayashi formed the band in March 1997, they were his inspiration. With a passion for new wave in his heart and POLY 2 and Junichi Sugai by his side, the band soon began performing at live houses. In 1998 Kayo joined the band and their insane live performances soon caught the attention of the Deckrec/UK Project record label.
In February 1999 POLYSICS released their first album, 1st P. After this release POLY 2 left the band. Fumi replaced him as a support member in June after the release of the seven-inch vinyl PLUS CHICKER EP. With a new member and new inspiration the band continued to develop their electro-pop sound into the new wave-synth pop-punk-style they are currently known for.
The following August the band played at the FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL and their second album A*D*S*R*M! went on sale two months later.
POLYSICS performed their first live concert in the US at the SXSW 2000 festival in Austin, Texas which was soon followed by a tour where they were supported by the Japanese indie band Number Girl. It was during this tour that Hayashi was able to meet his inspiration, Mutato Muzika of Devo.
In April 2000 the band signed a major label contract with Ki/oon Records and released their first single XTC. It was followed by their first major album NEU which was released in September. Fumi joined POLYSICS as an official member soon after in March 2001. They also released the compilation HEY!BOB! MY FRIEND under Pony Canyon Records in Korea and on Asian Man Records in the US that year.
The PV and live DVD DVDVPVDVLIVE!! followed in March 2003 and at it was at this time that the band welcomed their new producer Alex Newport. POLYSICS then headed over to San Francisco to record their new album.
Their first major album NEU was released by Asian Man Records in the US in July and the following headlining US tour in September brought POLYSICS to eleven cities. The tour was recorded and released afterwards as the PippikippippiP in USA!! DVD.
Back in Japan, Junichi Sugai left POLYSICS, their fourth album National P went on sale and the POLYSICS TOUR 2003-2004 -National Pioneer- took place in December. The tour, which made stops in 24 Japanese cities, was supported by the drummer Ishimaru.
In 2004 POLYSICS released POLYSICS OR DIE, which was backed up by a huge 94-date European tour. The band started in the UK and worked their way across the continent to meet more and more new fans.
2005's Now Is The Time took things to a whole new level for the band. They hit the road for their longest tour yet, including many high profile support slots including a show at the NEC arena in Birmingham supporting Kaiser Chiefs, who had personally invited the band to play.
It was not long before POLYSICS returned to the UK. They celebrated their tenth anniversary with the release of Karate House on February 28, 2007. The Polysics World Tour Or Die 2007 saw highlights like a sold-out show in front of 2000 fans in Paris, spots at the Wireless festival in Leeds and London, and, after the label boss witnessed their set at US show, an American record contract with MySpace Records. In fact, the label’s boss was so impressed that he presented them with a contract in their dressing room right after the show.
In August 2008, the Gan-Shin sub-label Okami Records released the POLYSICS album We ate the machine all over Europe.
POLYSICS returned to the US in 2009 for their ABSOLUTE USA TOUR, which began in San Francisco. Their album Absolute POLYSICS was released in America on January 12, 2010 on MySpace Records.
Unfortunately, Kayo left the band in early 2010, stating that while she enjoyed her time in POLYSICS immensely, she wanted to try living as a normal woman instead of as a musician. She performed with POLYSICS for the last time at their Budokan live on March 14, which was documented with the DVD BUDOKAN OR DIE!!!! 2010.3.14. The band also decided to go on hiatus after that live in order to regroup and recharge their batteries.
POLYSICS returned as a trio in August 2010. Their first new album without Kayo, Oh! No! It’s Heavy Polysick!!!, was released on March 9, 2011.
In early 2012, POLYSICS announced that three of their albums would be made available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon, making them much more accessible to international fans. They released the album 15th P in February and have a busy touring schedule planned for the rest of the year. They also found the time to contribute tracks to tribute albums for dip, L’Arc~en~Ciel and BUCK-TICK and will perform at BUCK-TICK FEST 2012 ON PARADE.
