Beck : Mongolian Chop Squad.

Found this anime 2-3 years ago, well actually my late gf bought it for my birthday. I really liked it the first time i watched it. Music and anime, really gets me going.

History : BECK is a manga, which was later made into an anime under the name BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad. It was created by mangaka Harold Sakuishi and was originally published by Kodansha in Monthly Shonen Magazine. It tells the story of a group of Japanese teenagers who form a rock band. The manga is currently licensed in the USA by Tokyopop. The series has also spawned three guidebooks. BECK won the 2002 Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen. Harold created this manga to show his appreciation to his rock idols.

Synopsis : Yukio, known by his friends as "Koyuki", is a regular 14-year-old Japanese boy who enters junior high school with two childhood acquaintances. One is now a useless pervert, and ironically the other is a highly sought after female student. Koyuki's boring life is changed when he saves an odd-looking dog, named Beck, from some kids. Beck's owner turns out to be an emerging rock musician, Ryuusuke Minami, who soon influences Koyuki to start playing the guitar, and even gives one to him.
The story focuses on the trials and tribulations of their punk and rapcore band named BECK. There's also an important subplot that deals with Koyuki's relationship with Ryuusuke's sister, Maho.

CHARACTERS (Important ones)

Yukio ("Koyuki") Tanaka : The main character, the series follows his rapid development from an average person to an outstanding guitarist. Being extremely polite, he cannot help but let others push him around, a possible metaphoric stereotype on the very proper and manner conscious Japanese society. The last member of BECK, he is the second guitarist and vocalist. He was the last person to ever talk to Eddie and hears his last song. Yukio has a very beautiful voice that is mostly used for Beck's slower songs. He owns a Fender Telecaster.

Ryusuke ("Ray") Minami : A Japanese character with a long history in America, he speaks fluent English, and frequently uses both Japanese and English in his conversation. He lives alone in a shack by the fishing pond. His skills and taste in music inspire Koyuki to take up the guitar. The band's creator, Ryusuke is BECK's lead guitarist. A once-younger Ryusuke and Eddie Lee stole the Lucille from the trunk of Syke's vehicle.

Ken'ichi Saitou : Koyuki's guitar and swimming teacher, Saitou once swam in the Olympics but was unable to achieve his dream of winning so has turned his life to teaching others how to swim better. Saitou is loud and demanding in public, and especially strict when it comes to swimming. But when he is out of the water he is much more open, even turning to Koyuki for advice on his attractions to Momo. Saitou is a fan of British rock and his favorite band in the anime is the fictional Rocket Boys while in the manga it's The Beatles.

Maho Minami : Ryusuke's sister and a talented singer with a strange relationship with Koyuki. At times she seems attracted to him, others she brushes him off with little regard to his often ignored feelings.

Izumi Ishiguro : Koyuki's childhood friend, he eventually was left to choose between her and Maho, though by the time he reached his decision, the two girls also reached one of their own, luckily a similar conclusion.

Yoshiyuki Taira : The first recruited member of BECK, Taira is the bassist, and the most talented band member next to Ryusuke. He plays Music Man StingRay bass. Little is known about him, and his attitude may sometimes come off as uncaring. He has been seen working as a traffic officer.

Tsunemi Chiba : Main vocalist for BECK, he is the key member that Ryusuke needed to bring Taira into the band. Compared to Koyuki, his voice is more punk and rock oriented, like the majority of the band's songs. He also named the band "Beck" after staring at Ryusuke's dog for a few moments.

Yuji ("Saku") Sakurai : The fourth member to join, he was also Koyuki's first good friend, sticking with him even when the school bully and his gang beat him up for breaking the silent treatment on Koyuki. He is the drummer, inspired by his brother, and replaces the original drummer of BECK who followed Ryusuke from his original band, Serial Mama.