History Music / ManWithAMission

What do you get when you take a group of [[PettingZooPeople wolves with human bodies]] that have the backstory of something out of a Saturday morning cartoon plot, give said group some instruments and a Disk Jockey set, and let them start a band? Well, [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles the US already did that]], but this time they're a [[WidgetSeries Japanese]] version of that concept.

Said band would be '''MAN WITH A MISSION''' [[CapsLock (yes, the all caps are necessary)]], a Japanese AlternativeRock band of five anthropomorphic wolves with both incredible brain power and a superhuman physique.

In the year [[YearX 19XX]], humanity was in a full-on war with itself for wealth and power. Seeing this chaos, a genius biologist named Dr. Jimi Hendrix [[Music/JimiHendrix (yes, THAT Jimi Hendrix)]] in a place called "Ladyland" [[Music/ElectricLadyLand (yes, THAT Ladyland)]] to create the UltimateLifeForm to help save humanity from it's greatest's threat; itself. Said lifeforms, in Dr. Hendrix's eyes, have the heads of wolves, explaining their appearance. Eventually, they grew a power greater then any single army ever has, but soon were hired by the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Principality of Zeon]] to take on top-secret missions that caused death and destruction.

In reality, however, the very much human band was formed in 2010 in Shibuya, Tokyo. To keep up with the backstory, however, it's members have created stage names to fit the theme. As such, no one really knows who they really are.

* Its lineup consists of

Their music explores a bunch of different genres, usually mixing pop, hard rock, dance, rap, and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan but are currently reaching a fanbase worldwide with tours the US, Europe, and other Asian countries for both opening acts to popular western bands and their own, as well as receiving invites to famous music events such as [[Music/{{Slipknot}} Knotfest]] (both US and Japan locations) and ''Download Festival''.

They're better known, however, for being the artists behind themes for multiple anime intros, video games, and other products. (Singles will link to their respective media).

* HarmlessFrezzing: They were frozen in the Antartic for several decades.

* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: Spear Rib's name is pronounced "spare rib", which, according to his bio on their website, is also [[TrademarkFavoriteFood his favorite food.]]

In reality, however, the very much human band was formed in 2010 in Shibuya, Tokyo. To keep up with the backstory, however, it's members have created stage names to fit the theme. Its lineup consists of Tokyo Tanaka (vocalist), Kamikaze Boy (bassist and backup vocalist), Jean-Ken Johnny (vocalist and guitarist), DJ Santa Monica (disc jockey), and Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib"; drummer). As such, no one really knows who they really are.

** They've cover "Lithium" for a Japanese Music/{{Nevermind}} [[CoverAlbum Tribute Album]]. They also have cover "Smells Like Teen Spirit" before that.
** They've also cover "Thinking Out Loud" by Music/EdSheeran.

->''"We are the MAN WITH A MISSION."''

What do you get when you take a group of PettingZooPeople that have the backstory of something out of a Saturday morning cartoon plot, give said group some instruments and a Disk Jockey set, and let them start a band? Well, [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles the US already did that]], but this time they're a [[WidgetSeries Japanese]] version of that concept.

What do you get when you take some anthropomorphic animals, give them the backstory of something out of a Saturday morning cartoon plot, give the said animals some instruments, and let them start playing music? Well, [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles the US already did that]], but this time they're a [[WidgetSeries Japanese]] version of that concept.

Said band would be '''MAN WITH A MISSION''' [[CapsLock (yes, the all caps are necessary)]], a Japanese AlternativeRock band of five anthro wolves with both incredible brain power and a superhuman physique. The story goes that group of superhuman wolves was created in [[YearX 19XX]] by wolf biologist Dr. Jimi Hendrix [[Music/JimiHendrix (yes, THAT Jimi Hendrix)]] in a place called "Ladyland" [[Music/ElectricLadyLand (yes, THAT Ladyland)]] to create the UltimateLifeForm to help save humanity from it's greatest's threat; itself. Said lifeform, in Dr. Hendrix's eyes, have the head of a wolf, explaining their appearance. Eventually, they grew a power greater then any single army ever has, but soon were hired by the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Principality of Zeon]] to take on top-secret missions that caused death and destruction.

Doctor Hendrix, seeing this, began to fear his creations. He knew that they were capable of causing some of the most horrible things in history for the time, but he also believed that one day they would bring the end of days. Wracked with guilt, the doctor froze the group within the ice of Antartica, leaving them with a radio to listen to the music of the modern day to entertain them for the rest of eternity. At least, until 2010, when GlobalWarming eventually thawed their icy prison, and the group went on a rampage through Tokyo greater then any {{Kaiju}} ever has. Not of destruction, however, but of music. And now only time will tell, will they bring our doom...or will they save us from ourselves.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MAN_WITH_A_MISSION_MWAM_1_3367.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300: From Left to Right: Kamikaze Boy, Spear Rib, Tokyo Tanaka, Jean-Ken Johnny, and DJ Santa Monica]]

The MAN WITH A MISSION, sometimes MWAM, is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Shibuya, Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members Tokyo Tanaka (vocalist), Kamikaze Boy (bassist), Jean-Ken Johnny (vocalist and guitarist), DJ Santa Monica (disc jockey), and Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib") (drummer). Each member of the band wears a unique wolf head costume, lending to their backstory that they're scientific experiments with wolf heads and human bodies.

Their music explores a bunch of different genres, usually mixing pop, hard rock, dance, and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan but are currently reaching a fanbase worldwide with tours the US, Europe, and other Asian countries for opening acts to popular western bands as well as receiving invites to famous music events such as [[Music/{{Slipknot}} Knotfest]] (both US and Japan locations) and ''Download Festival''.

** "[[Manga/Inuyashiki My Hero]]"/"Find You" (2017)

** "[[Inuyashiki Take Me Under]]"/"[[Manga/GoldenKamuy Winding Road]]" (2018)

[[caption-width-right:300:(｢ﾟДﾟ)｢ GAW GAW! [[note]]From Left to Right: Kamikaze Boy, Spear Rib, Tokyo Tanaka, Jean-Ken Johnny, and DJ Santa Monica[[/note]]]]

The MAN WITH A MISSION, sometimes MWAM, is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members Tokyo Tanaka (vocalist), Kamikaze Boy (bassist), Jean-Ken Johnny (vocalist and guitarist), DJ Santa Monica (disc jockey), and Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib") (drummer). Each member of the band wears a unique wolf head costume, lending to their backstory that they're scientific experiments with wolf heads and human bodies.

Their music explores a bunch of different genres, usually mixing pop, hard rock, dance, rap, and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan but are currently reaching a fanbase worldwide with tours the US, Europe, and other Asian countries for opening acts to popular western bands as well as receiving invites to famous music events such as ''Knotfest'' (both US and Japan locations) and ''Download Festival''.

They're better known, though, for being the artists behind "database", the original opening theme for ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'', "Raise Your Flag", the first opening theme for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'', and "My Hero", the opening for ''Manga/{{Inuyashiki}}''.

** "distance" (2012)
** "Emotions" (2013)
** "database feat.TAKUMA (10-FEET)" (2013)

** "Raise your Flag" (2015)

** "My Hero"/"Find You" (2017)
** "Take Me Under/Winding Road" (2018)

** This extends to when they perform live. Jean-Ken Johnny, Tokyo Tanaka, and Kamikaze Boy all don different masks that free their mouths so they can sing more easily, [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e7/30/22/e73022c28e60a45091ea2b148fc38695.jpg but their faces are painted pitch black]]. Japanese broadcasters go out of their way to avoid showing their faces during live performances, either opting for wide shots of the whole band slightly from behind, closeups of the top half of the wolf masks, bad lighting, or closeups of DJ Santa Monica and Spear Rib instead. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AOI01h_PWs All for art.]]
*** It also extends to their touring support guitarist E.D.Vedder who wears a plain white mask like Music/{{Buckethead}}.

* CelebrityEndorsement: The video for Take Me Home shows the band snowboarding on Yes boards.

** They covered both {{Music/Nirvana}}'s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Lithium".
** They also cover "Thinking Out Loud" by Music/EdSheeran.

* GlowingEyesOfDoom: They have them in the video for Feel And Think.

* {{Homage}}: "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind" is an original song based around the [[HairMetal Mr. Big]] song of the same title (itself a [[WidgetSeries Widget Song]] [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff of sorts]]), sampling the guitar intro and making several lyrical nods.

* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: WordOfGod says their intention is to make music from all kinds of elements.

* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: Well, at least it's pretty good for a Japanese band.

* [[WidgetSeries Widget Band]]: The wolf mask they wear is not the weirdest thing about this band.
----

One of their songs, "Emotions", was used as a theme for ''Manga/HentaiKamen'''s 2013 live action adaptation. They're better known, though, for being the artists behind "database", the original opening theme for ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'', "Raise Your Flag", the first opening theme for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'', and "My Hero", the opening for ''Manga/{{Inuyashiki}}''.

The MAN WITH A MISSION, sometimes MWAM, is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members vocalist Tokyo Tanaka; bassist Kamikaze Boy; vocalist and guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny; disk jockey DJ Santa Monica; and drummer Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib"). Each member of the band wears a unique wolf head costume, lending to their backstory that they're scientific experiments with wolf heads and human bodies.

Their music explores a bunch of different genres, usually mixing pop, hard rock, dance, and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan but are currently reaching a fanbase worldwide with tours the US, Europe, and other Asian countries as well as receiving invites to famous music events such as ''Knotfest'' (both US and Japan locations) and ''Download Festival''.

* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: Spear Rib's name is pronounced "spare rib", which, according to his bio on their website, is his favorite food.

[[caption-width-right:300:(｢ﾟДﾟ)｢ GAW GAW!]]

The MAN WITH A MISSION is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members vocalist Tokyo Tanaka; bassist Kamikaze Boy; vocalist and guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny; disk jockey DJ Santa Monica; and drummer Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib"). Each member of the band wears a unique wolf head costume, lending to their backstory that they're scientific experiments with wolf heads and human bodies.

Their music explores a bunch of different genres, usually mixing pop, hard rock, dance, and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan but have also briefly toured the US and parts of Europe and were invited as guests to Japan Expo 2012 in France.

One of their songs, "Emotions", was used as a theme for ''Manga/HentaiKamen'''s 2013 live action adaptation. They're better known, though, for being the artists behind "database", the original opening theme for ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'', "Raise Your Flag", the first opening theme for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'', and "My Hero", the opening for ''Manga/{{Inuyashiki}}''

* {{Backstory}}: They claim to have been created by a genius wolf biologist named [[Music/JimiHendrix Jimee Hendrixx]], who froze them to eternal sleep until the ice melted in 2010. [[ItMakesSenseInContext It kinda makes sense in context]].

* DesertPunk: The theme fo the "Raise your flag" music video.

* ShoutOut: The band is really fond of them. They quote Music/TheBeatles in "Fly Again" ("life just comes and goes/[[Music/{{Revolver}} tomorrow never knows]]"), Literature/TheBible in "Emotions" ("you'd always [...] loved your neighbors as yourself"), and the video for "Distance" features an octahedron that looks quite suspiciously like Ramiel from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' (the song itself seems to sample its scream, or at least features a sample that sounds quite similar, pointing out that it's probably an intentional nod). Also, the video for "When my Devil Rises" features an animation of Manga/{{Devilman}} fighting demons (done as a collaboration with Creator/GoNagai, who contributed album art).

* TheVoiceless: Jean-Ken Johnny is the only member of the band to speak (Japanese and English) in interviews. Apparently he was the only member of the band "created" to speak. Except Tokyo Tanaka is lead vocalist and Kamikaze Boy sings during choruses and shares lyric writing duties with Johnny. They never quite explain this.

* WidgetSeries: Oh, yes.

** "[[TitleDrop Seven]] [[Anime/TheSevenDeadlySins Deadly Sins]]" (2015)

** Rumors abound in the Japanese blogosphere that the band is a reinvention of their previous band Grantz, comprising vocalist Tsuyoshi (Tokyo Tanaka), bassist Nishida (Kamikaze Boy), guitarist and vocalist Hiroshi (Jean-Ken Johnny), DJ Nakajima (DJ Santa Monica), and drummer Yumiza (Spear Rib). Grantz allegedly ceased activities in 2009 and MAN WITH A MISSION formed in 2010, and Yumiza's long abandoned [=MySpace=] page [[https://myspace.com/yumiza/music/song/rock-in-the-house-45717277-48880951 has a demo of Rock in the House]], a track eventually released on MAN WITH A MISSION's debut EP.

* BilingualBonus: They usually switch between English and Japanese in most songs.

* CloudCuckooLander: They kinda come across as that when they don't sway from their backstory in interviews.

The MAN WITH A MISSION is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members vocalist Tokyo Tanaka, bassist Kamikaze Boy, vocalist and guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny, disk jockey DJ Santa Monica, and drummer Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib"). Each member of the band wears a unique wolf head costume, lending to their back story that they're scientific experiments with wolf heads and human bodies. Their music explores a bunch of different genres, mixing pop, hard rock, dance and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan, but have also briefly toured the US and parts of Europe and were invited as guests to Japan Expo 2012 in France. One of their songs, "Emotions", was used as a theme for ''Manga/HentaiKamen'''s 2013 live action adaptation. They're better known, though, for being the artists behind "database", the original opening theme for ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'', and "Raise your flag", the first opening theme for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans''.

* CoverVersion: They covered both {{Music/Nirvana}}'s Smells Like Teen Spirit and Lithium.

* ShoutOut: The band is really fond of them. They quote Music/TheBeatles in "Fly Again" ("life just comes and goes/[[Music/{{Revolver}} tomorrow never knows]]"), Literature/TheBible in "Emotions" ("you'd always [...] loved your neighbors as yourself"), and the video for "Distance" features an octahedron that looks quite suspiciously like Ramiel from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' (the song itself seems to sample its scream, or at least features a sample that sounds quite similar, pointing out that it's probably an intentional nod).

* CatchPhrase: "Gow gow".

** This extends to when they perform live. Jean-Ken Johnny, Tokyo Tanaka, and Kamikaze Boy all don different masks that free their mouths so they can sing more easily, but their faces are painted pitch black. Japanese broadcasters go out of their way to avoid showing their faces during live performances, either opting for wide shots of the whole band slightly from behind, closeups of the top half of the wolf masks, bad lighting, or closeups of DJ Santa Monica and Spear Rib instead. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AOI01h_PWs All for art.]]

[[caption-width-right:300:Gow gow!]]

->''"We are the Man With A Mission."''

** During a TV interview hosted by Daisuke and Nao of Music/MaximumTheHormone with just Jean-Ken Johnny and DJ Santa Monica on set, DJ Santa Monica accidentally spoke on camera, leading the others to feign surprise and crack a couple jokes that they heard him speak.

The '''MAN WITH A MISSION''' is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members vocalist Tokyo Tanaka, bassist Kamikaze Boy, vocalist and guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny, disk jockey DJ Santa Monica, and drummer Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib"). Each member of the band wears a unique wolf head costume, lending to their back story that they're scientific experiments with wolf heads and human bodies. Their music explores a bunch of different genres, mixing pop, hard rock, dance and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan, but have also briefly toured the US and parts of Europe and were invited as guests to Japan Expo 2012 in France. One of their songs, "Emotions", was used as a theme for ''Manga/HentaiKamen'''s 2013 live action adaptation. They're better known, though, for being the artists behind "database", the original opening theme for ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'', and "Raise your flag", the first opening theme for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans''.

The '''MAN WITH A MISSION''' is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members vocalist Tokyo Tanaka, bassist Kamikaze Boy, vocalist and guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny, disk jockey DJ Santa Monica, and drummer Spear Rib (pronounced like "spare rib"). Each member of the band wears a unique wolf head costume, lending to their back story that they're scientific experiments with wolf heads and human bodies. Their music explores a bunch of different genres, mixing pop, hard rock, dance and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan, but have also briefly toured the US and parts of Europe and were invited as guests to Japan Expo 2012 in France. One of their songs, "Emotions", was used as a theme for ''Manga/HentaiKamen'''s 2013 live action adaptation. They're better known, though, for being the artists behind "database", the original opening theme for ''LightNovel/LogHorizon''. "Raise your flag" was the first theme for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans''.

** ''Man With A Mission'' (2010)
** ''Rain Of July'' (2011)
** ''Never Fxxkin' Mind the Rules'' (2011)
** ''distance'' (2012)
** ''Emotions'' (2013)
** ''database feat.TAKUMA (10-FEET)'' (2013)
** ''[[TitleDrop Seven]] [[Anime/TheSevenDeadlySins Deadly Sins]]'' (2015)
** ''Raise your Flag'' (2015)

->"We are the Man With A Mission."

** This extends to when they perform live. Jean-Ken Johnny, Tokyo Tanaka, and Kamikaze Boy all don different masks that free their mouths so they can sing more easily, but their faces are painted pitch black. Japanese broadcasters go out of their way to avoid showing their faces during live performances, either opting for wide shots of the whole band slightly from behind, closeups of the top half of the wolf masks, or closeups of DJ Santa Monica and Spear Rib instead. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AOI01h_PWs All for art.]]

* CloudCuckooLander: They kinda come across as that when you read their interviews.

* DesertPunk: The theme fo the "Raise your Flag" music video.

Man With A Mission (often spelled MAN WITH A MISSION) is an alternative Japanese band formed in 2010 in Tokyo. Its lineup consists of members Tokyo Tanaka (vocals), Kamikaze Boy (bass), Jean-Ken Johnny (guitar and vocals), DJ Santa Monica (DJ) and Spear Rib (drums). They're pretty unique in that each member constantly wears a differently designed wolf mask. Their music explores a bunch of different genres, mixing pop, hard rock, dance and punk elements. They're mostly known in Japan, but have also briefly toured the US and parts of Europe and were invited as guests to Japan Expo 2012 in France. One of their songs, "Emotions", was used as a theme for ''Manga/HentaiKamen'''s 2013 live action adaptation. They're better known, though, for being the artists behind "Database", the original opening theme for ''LightNovel/LogHorizon''.

* {{Backstory}}: They claim to have been created by a genius biologist named [[Music/JimiHendrix Jimee Hendrixx]], who froze them to eternal sleep until the ice melted in 2010. [[ItMakesSenseInContext It kinda makes sense in context]].

* VocalTagTeam: All songs feature Tokyo Tanaka and Jean-Ken Jonny in varying amounts.