Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Abbreviated GY!BE; formerly known as Godspeed You Black Emperor!) is a Canadian post-rock band based in Montreal, Quebec. They take their name from God Speed You! Black Emperor, an obscu

Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Abbreviated GY!BE; formerly known as Godspeed You Black Emperor!) is a Canadian post-rock band based in Montreal, Quebec. They take their name from God Speed You! Black Emperor, an obscure 1976 Japanese black-and-white documentary by director Mitsuo Yanagimachi, which follows the exploits of a Japanese biker gang, the Black Emperors. The band is most commonly classified as post rock, but they exist outside any established scene and take influences from a range of styles including progressive rock, punk, classical music and the avant-garde. Their records each consist of a few fairly long tracks (mostly between 10-20 minutes), divided into "movements" which are sometimes specified in the record sleeve. Members of the band are also openly sympathetic with anarchism .

The band formed around 1994 with three members, but its lineup has changed frequently. The band has had as many as fifteen members at one time, but has tended to settle down to a group of nine. The instruments played vary with the lineup, but the music tends to be based around electric and bass guitars, strings and a percussion section. Other instruments such as the glockenspiel and the French horn make more occasional appearances. The music on some of their records is accompanied by spoken samples recorded by the band across North America, including an apocalyptic street preacher from Providence, Rhode Island, an announcement at a gas station, and a group of children talking and singing in French.