Masamichi Hayashi/Patrick Lew Hayashi (born Patrick Allan Lew on November 15, 1985) is an Asian-American musician and YouTuber currently performing in the band PLB (Patrick Lew Band). He is also the band's only constant member, sole singer-songwriter and guitarist alongside his younger sister Madeline. He's also well known for his work playing in the band(s) TheVerse, Benigneglect and Crazy Loser in a Box!
LIFE & MUSIC CAREER Patrick Lew was born on November 15, 1985 in San Francisco, California to a Chinese father and Japanese mother of mixed descent. He grew up in the Bay Area. His early interests were wrestling, video games and cable television programming. He became interested in rock music at an early age. He began playing guitar when his cousin Andy was living with him briefly while studying at a community college as an International Student. He took a couple guitar lessons, but is mostly self-taught as a musician. He began his indie music career in 2001 on the Northern California independent circuit as Patrick Lew Band at the young age of 15. Mostly participating in home recording and occasional live performances. By 2004, the Patrick Lew Band landed a record deal with Statue Records through their MySpace page and has earned a number of accolades for his work with PATRICK LEW BAND. Patrick attended Wallenberg High School in San Francisco and graduated in 2003. He would later attend California State University, East Bay and studied Philosophy. He graduated from college in mid-2011 with a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy. After several line-up changes and personal setbacks, the Patrick Lew Band slowly but surely gradually gained belated success in the regional music scene and on the Internet by 2016. The band's 2009 release Let It Rise and Against brought him his initial fame and notoriety in music. The Patrick Lew Band would begin to make an impact during 2016 and 2017, being mentioned on-air on the San Francisco classic rock radio station 107.7 THE BONE and winning the July 2016 Akademia Music Award for Best Rock Song with PLB. Around that same period, Patrick created a cyber band member in PLB also marketed as his fictional younger sister Madeline Lew through digital face & gender swapping apps. Madeline would join the band PLB on October 31, 2015 and has became a mainstay in the Patrick Lew Band since. Following his induction into CSU East Bay's 2019 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame, Patrick Lew Band broke up for a second time. Using Patrick Lew Band as a platform to branch his talents and his passion for playing music with other local bands. Because of that, he has also played guitar in the Shoegaze band TheVerse. Alongside temporarily being a fill-in bass player for two bands: Pleasure Gallows and The Tortured. Between 2017 and 2020 during PLB's second hiatus, Patrick has played music in a variety of local Bay Area bands and branched outside of his own primary band PLB in the scene. After PLB initially disbanded for the second time in June 2019, he eventually formed a new heavy metal and hard rock inspired solo project under the name LEWNATIC. Going "back to basics" as a performer and semi- pro musician. He quickly began playing a few low-key open mic performances in Japan by the end of the Summer. He retired the PLB name temporarily, as he began performing locally under the name "LEWNATIC." LEWNATIC has self-released a live recording of their November 3, 2019 performance at San Francisco's DNA Lounge on music streaming services. The band LEWNATIC would become monthly residents at DNA Lounge as live performers. In March 2020, LEWNATIC went on a hiatus as Patrick returned to making music and digital content with Patrick Lew Band with his sister Madeline Lew. For the next year-and- a-quarter, Patrick Lew Band was rigorously active in the indie music scene by putting out a lot of new digital content, doing live stream concerts, and using their house in San Francisco as a musical stage. The band just reached potentially prolific status with their music and brand in the indies and on social- media with what they do. Recent years proved to be very prosperous and helped the Patrick Lew Band reach new heights. Since then, the band's music has reached thousands of listeners in 34 different countries worldwide on Apple Music/iTunes. And subsequent reviews and press regarding PLB (Patrick Lew Band) has been more positive. By mid-2021 however, the Patrick Lew Band began slowing down their activity because of Patrick's 9 to 5 job at SAFEWAY. Only sporadically making appearances in the studio and in public. There's been rumors circulating about Patrick rebranding the PLB under the name LEWNATIC or even permanently retiring the "Patrick Lew Band" name. So far, these sources have been rather unclear. The future remains uncertain, but Patrick Lew insists that he will continue making music and YouTube videos with Patrick Lew Band. So far, Patrick Lew Band has released and published at least 12 full-length albums worldwide on Spotify and Apple Music. On October 8, 2021, Patrick's former girlfriend and close friend Madoku officially joined the Patrick Lew Band as a lead vocalist and full-time band member. PERSONAL LIFE & OTHER PROJECTS Outside of music, he has acted in community theater and made a cameo appearance in an episode of Emmy Award winning TV series The Man in the High Castle. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from California State University, East Bay and currently works a full-time day job at SAFEWAY as a Deli Operator. He has also worked in tech for three years as a visual merchandiser and has an extensive work resume outside of the indie music industry. Patrick was previously engaged from a former toxic relationship. He is currently happily single and living with his family and dogs in the Excelsior District in San Francisco. He has also dated his PLB bandmate Madeline on-and-off. He also previously dated his bandmate Yandie/Madoku from their band Crazy Loser in a Box! briefly in 2018. Patrick identifies himself as Agnostic. He is also friends with Bay Area bands Hemorage, The Tortured, The Residuals, Akai Sky, The Porno Riots and SourFlower. And he is also close friends with fellow EDM DJ Robert Pan. In mid-2021, he achieved a lifelong dream by virtually interacting with Japanese porn star Yukari Orihara via Instagram. Patrick's hobbies outside of music also include sports (mostly professional wrestling), video games, cats, commercial driving, reading and watching television.
