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Cleph (also Clef, Clepho, or Kleph) was king of the Lombards from 572 or 573 to 574 or 575.

He succeeded Alboin, to whom he was not related by blood. He was a violent and terrifying figure to the Romans and Byzantines struggling to maintain control of the peninsula. He extended Lombard dominion over all of northern Italy, finishing the conquest of Tuscany and bringing Lombard authority to the gates of Ravenna. He was assassinated after an 18-month reign by a young guard, a slave whom he had mistreated. His death was followed by a ten year interregnum, known as the "Rule of the Dukes" because the territorial dukes were supreme. His son, Authari, eventually took the throne in 585.^[1]

Notes[link]

v t e Kings of Italy between 476 and 963 Non-dynastic Odoacer (476–493) Ostrogoths Theodoric (493–526) Athalaric (526–534) Theodahad (534–536) Vitiges (536–540) Ildibad (540–541) Eraric (541) Totila (541–552) Teia (552–553) Byzantines Justinian I (as Emperor) (553–565) Lombards Alboin (565–572) Cleph (572–574) Interregnum (574–584) Authari (584–590) Agilulf (590–616) Adaloald (616–626) Arioald (626–636) Rothari (636-652) Rodoald (652–653) Aripert I (653–661) Godepert (661–662) Perctarit (661–662) Grimoald (662–671) Garibald (671) Perctarit (671–688) Cunipert (688–689) Alahis (689) Cunipert (689–700) Liutpert (700–702) Raginpert (701) Aripert II (702–712) Ansprand (712) Liutprand (712–744) Hildeprand (744) Ratchis (744–749) Aistulf (749–756) Desiderius (756–774) Carolingians Charles I (774–814) Pepin (781–810) Bernard (810–818) Lothair I (818–855) Louis I (855–875) Charles II (875–877) Carloman (877–879) Charles III (879–887) Arnulf (896–899) Ratold (896) Non-dynastic (title disputed 887–933) Unruochings: Berengar I (887–924) Guideschi: Guy (889–894) Lambert (891–897) Welfs: Rudolph (922–933) Bosonids: Louis II (900–905) Hugh (926–947) Lothair II (945–950) Anscarids: Berengar II (950–963) Adalbert (950–963)

This biography of a member of a European royal house is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Sex Machineguns (stylized as SEX MACHINEGUNS) is a Japanese heavy metal band formed in 1989. Their music is characterized by a heavy focus on bass as well as extremely fast guitar and bass solos. The band rides an image of being "shock rockers" by wearing crazy, exotic outfits like visual kei bands (although this image has been toned down, especially since 2003 when the long-term bassist Noisy left the band). The lyrics feature very off-beat and non-serious themes (the superior quality of Satsuma fruits in Ehime prefecture, minor annoyance in family restaurants, etc.). Casting themselves as shock rockers is not the prime selling point of their music though, as they also exhibit technical skill on their instruments.

Biography[link]

Sex Machineguns started in 1989 as an indie group, touring live houses and clubs. Their name is intentionally similar to that of the Sex Pistols and, according to the band, "implying that [we] machineguns are more radical than [the] pistols". They gained a large fan base quickly and sold out their shows. They went on tour and spread their popularity all over Japan. Once they got back home to release their first video and live CD in spring 1997, they had developed such a fan base that the first press of the video sold out instantly, to all parts of Japan from Okinawa to Hokkaidō.

In 1998, Sex Machineguns made their commercial debut with the release of their first single on Toshiba-EMI Records: "Hanabi-la Daikaiten". The single sold out instantly, and it was decided they would go on a debut tour (which sold out in every location). Magazines began to run articles, and the "Hanabi-la Daikaiten" single sold steadily, skyrocketing the band's popularity. In September they released their first album, which was another huge hit. They went on many tours, all selling out, and topped the singles charts. As 1998 came to a close, the Sex Machineguns had topped the charts and played 62 concerts (all sold out).

The band's front-man announced that the band would be taking a "activity pause" on March 20, 2006. All members at the time except for Anchang had left the band and formed a new band/side-project called Elleguns which released a 6-track instrumental. In 2004, Clutch.J.Himawari and Noisy have formed a 3-man group called Dustar-3 with Yuki (formerly of Lucifer). Later in December 2006, Circuit.V.Panther, Samurai.W.Kenjilaw, and Speed Star Sypan Joe have started a new band known as Cycle. Anchang later reformed Sex Machineguns in 2007 with Ryotatsu Kuwae on guitar and Kenichi Imai on drums, and they released three digital download-only singles that year.

In 2008 Anchang formed the band Big Bites, with Natchin (Siam Shade) and Annie (The Yellow Monkey). Also in 2008, some footage of the band performing was featured in the film Global Metal during a discussion about visual kei and heavy metal in Japan.

Members[link]

Current members (Sex Machineguns V)[link]

• Anchang (Koji Ando) - lead vocals (1992-present), guitar (1989–present)
• Shingo☆ (Shingo Tamaki) - bass (June 2008–present, support in 2007)

Former members[link]

• Asada - vocals (????–1992)
• Saamasu - bass (????–1995)
• Atkins - bass (1995–1996)
• Imai - vocals (1996)
• MAD Power Tsuchiya (Hiroshi Tsuchiya) - drums (1996–1998)
• Sussy (Masahito Furuya) - guitar (1996–2001)
• Noisy (Hiroshi Ohta) - vocals (as H.Ohta, 1992–1996); bass, backing vocals (1996–2003)
• Clutch.J.Himawari (Jun Kanki) - drums (2000–2003, support in 1998-1999)
• Circuit.V.Panther (Yoshikazu Yahiro) - guitar, backing vocals (2001–2006, 2007, 2009)
• Samurai.W.Kenjilaw (Kenjirou Murai) - bass, backing vocals (2004–2006, 2007, 2009)
• Speed Star Sypan Joe (Koji Ueno) - drums (1997–1999, 2004–2006, 2007, 2009)
• Iberiko Moja Malmsteen (Ryotatsu Kuwae) - guitar (October 2007–August 2008)
• Ken'ichi (Kenichi Imai) - drums (October 2007–April 2012)

Support members[link]

• Cyzer.A.Hamburg - synth guitar (April 2001–August 2001)
• Crazy Horse Kameen - synth guitar (April 2001–August 2003)
• Sussy (Masahito Furuya) - guitar (1996–2001, support member in: 2008, 2009, 2011- actual)

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Other[link]

Solo works[link]

Videography[link]

The naming scheme for the Sex Machineguns videos is as follows:

• Video Sex = A compilation of the latest music videos from the band
• SM Show = A compilation of concert video bits (SM Show 2 has a 90min full concert followed by a 20min clip of another, followed by some other clips, and then a second full 90min concert, for example)

=links[link]

• Official Site (Japanese)
• Official Blog - Cho-Jyukinzoku (Japanese)
• Latest Live video (Currently 30 video clips taken from 2005 to the present)
• Cycle Official Site (Japanese)
• BIG BITES Official Site (Japanese)