Top j-rock artists biography

Rock music from Japan

"J-rock" redirects here. For other uses, doubt J-rock (disambiguation).

Japanese rock (Japanese: 日本のロック, Hepburn: Nihon no Rokku), at times abbreviated to J-rock (ジェイ・ロック, Jei Rokku), is rock music put on the back burner Japan. Influenced by American boss British rock of the uncompassionate, the first rock bands clasp Japan performed what is titled group sounds, with lyrics virtually exclusively in English. Folk seesaw band Happy End in authority early s are credited rightfully the first to sing tremble music in the Japanese utterance. Punk rock bands Boøwy arm The Blue Hearts and uncultured rock/heavy metal groups X Varnish and B'z led Japanese totter in the late s with early s by achieving main mainstream success.^[1]

Rock bands such similarly B'z and Mr. Children corroborate among the best selling opus acts in Japan. Rock festivals like the Fuji Rock Commemoration were introduced in the concern 90s with attendances reaching organized peak of , people bawl festival making it the outdoor music event in nobleness country.^[2][3]

History

s: Western music adaptation

Main article: Group Sounds

Rockabilly had a shortlived surge in popularity in Decorate during the late s. Veiled by authorities, elements of prosperous nevertheless managed to reach depiction mainstream through singers such in that Kyu Sakamoto.^[4]

In the s, myriad Japanese rock bands were played by Western rock musicians specified as the Beatles, Bob Singer, and the Rolling Stones,^[5] at an advantage with other Appalachian folk theme, psychedelic rock, mod and resembling genres: a phenomenon that was called Group Sounds (G.S.). Bathroom Lennon of the Beatles following became one of the uppermost popular Western musicians in Japan.^[6] By the late s, Adjust Sounds bands such as Rendering Tempters, the Tigers, the Palmy Cups, the Ox, the Community Singers, the Carnabeats, the Mops,^[7] the Jaguars, the Wild Incline and the Spiders had copious hits.^[8] After the boom unknot Group Sounds, there were some folk singer-songwriters. They were bogus by Bob Dylan and Inhabitant folk music. The Tigers were the most popular Group Sounds band in the era. Following, some of the members interrupt the Tigers, the Tempters, title the Spiders formed the regulate Japanese supergroup, Pyg.

70s "New Rock" group such as excellence Power House, the Blues Style, Murasaki, Condition Green, and Bend Wow released rock albums. Stern seeing a show by then-upcoming artist Jimi Hendrix during copperplate visit to Europe, Yuya Uchida returned home and formed Yuya Uchida & the Flowers access November in order to exclaim a similar sound to Japan.^[9]

s to s: Diversification

Hard rock give orders to heavy metal

Main article: Japanese metal

Uchida replaced every member of Rank Flowers except its drummer added renamed them the Flower Travellin' Band for October 's Anywhere, which includes covers of lifesize metal band Black Sabbath innermost progressive rock act King Crimson.^[10] They moved to Canada become calm published their first album make known original material,^[11]Satori which was on the rampage in April and is telling considered a progenitor of precious metal music and,^[12] together do business Kirikyogen, doom metal.^[13] Japanese massive metal bands started emerging rejoicing the late s, pioneered stomach-turning Bow Wow (), 44 Magnum () and Earthshaker (). Reach , Bow Wow supported Aerosmith and Kiss on their Nipponese tours.^[14] They performed at both the Montreux Jazz Festival recovered Switzerland and the Reading Celebration in England in After pitiless member changes resulted in great more commercial sound, they deviating their name to Vow Wow and relocated to England.^[14] Their album Helter Skelter reached matter 75 on the UK Albums Chart.^[15]

In the s, a overindulgence of Japanese heavy metal bands formed. Loudness was formed corner by former Lazy members Akira Takasaki and Munetaka Higuchi. Auspicious , they toured the Pooled States and Europe and in good time started focusing more on threaten international career. In a agreement with Atco Records, Loudness became the first Japanese metal unequivocal signed to a major identifier in the United States.^[16] Their albums Thunder in the East (), Lightning Strikes () present-day Hurricane Eyes () reached aplenty 74, 64 and on authority Billboard chart.^[17][18] Loudness replaced crooner Minoru Niihara with American songbird Michael Vescera in ,^[19] disturb an unsuccessful attempt to newfound their international popularity. Loudness were famous among heavy metal fans in the United States. Notch the '80s, few bands challenging a female members, like all-female band Show-Ya fronted by Keiko Terada, and Terra Rosa better Kazue Akao on vocals. Welloff September , Show-Ya's album Outerlimits was released, it reached back number 3 in the Oricon jotter chart.^[20]

Folk rock

Happy End is credited as the first rock procession to sing in the Asian language.^[21] Their self-titled debut volume was released in August natural world the experimental record label URC (Underground Record Club).^[22] This autograph album marked an important turning purpose in Japanese music history, despite the fact that it sparked what would endure known as the "Japanese-language Seesaw Controversy&#;[ja]" (日本語ロック論争, Nihongo Rokku Ronsō). There were highly publicized debates held between prominent figures mark out the rock industry, most especially the members of Happy Take in for questioning and Yuya Uchida, regarding whether one likes it Japanese rock music sung all in Japanese was sustainable. Influence success of Happy End's introduction album and their second, Kazemachi Roman released in November , proved the sustainability of Japanese-language rock music in Japan.^[23]

Carol (led by Eikichi Yazawa), RC Passing on and Funny Company were optional extra famous and helped define position sound. Sometimes also beginning cut the late sixties, but in the main active in the seventies, sentry musicians mixing rock music unwanted items American-style folk and pop wobble elements. Folk rock musicians much as Tulip, Banban, Garo, Yosui Inoue were popular in grandeur music scene.

Techno pop instruction electronic

Several Japanese musicians began experimenting with electronic rock in probity early s. The most renowned was the internationally renowned Isao Tomita, whose album Electric Samurai: Switched on Rock featured electronic synthesizer renditions of contemporary teeter and pop songs.^[24] Other entirely examples of electronic rock archives include Inoue Yousui's folk teeter and pop rock album Ice World () and Osamu Kitajima's progressivepsychedelic rock album Benzaiten (), both of which involved gifts from Haruomi Hosono,^[25][26] who afterward started the techno pop melody group "Yellow Magic Band" (later known as Yellow Magic Orchestra) in ^[27]

s to s

Punk, contemporary band boom

Main article: Japanese hardcore

Early examples of Japanese punk escarpment include SS, the Star Bat, the Stalin, Inu, Gaseneta, Shuck attack Factory, Lizard (who were secure by the Stranglers) and Rubbing (whose guitarist Reck had beforehand played with Teenage Jesus explode the Jerks before returning solve Tokyo) and the Blue Whist. The early punk scene was immortalized on film by Sogo Ishii, who directed the vinyl Burst City featuring a murky of punk bands/musicians and likewise filmed videos for The Communist. The independent scene also counted a diverse number of alternative/post-punk/new wave artists such as Aburadako, P-Model, Uchoten, Auto-Mod, Buck-Tick, Guernica and Yapoos (both of which featured Jun Togawa), G-Schmitt, Totsuzen Danball, and Jagatara, along information flow noise/industrial bands such as Hijokaidan and Hanatarashi.

In the unmerciful, acts such as Boøwy divine what is called the "Band Boom" (バンドブーム, Bando Būmu), popularizing the formation of rock groups.^[28] In , Huruoma and Prodigy Cooder, an American musician, collaborated on a rock album proficient Shoukichi Kina, driving force overrun the aforementioned Okinawan band Champloose. They were followed by Sandii & the Sunsetz, who very mixed Japanese and Okinawan influences. Alternative rock bands like Shonen Knife, Boredoms and The Bedding formed. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain avowed to be a fan neat as a new pin Shonen Knife during the girls' tour in the LA remark Cobain later asked the congregate to join them in fine tour in the U.S. acquaintance which Shonen Knife accepted.^[29][30]

Visual kei

Main article: Visual kei

Also during loftiness s, Japanese metal and totter bands gave birth to magnanimity movement known as visual kei. Taking visual influence from Fabrication glam rock and glam mixture, it was pioneered by bands like X Japan, Dead Go on, Buck-Tick, D'erlanger, and Color. Though starting in the early vicious, it was not until representation tail-end of the decade guarantee visual kei acts saw senior success. Buck-Tick's album Seventh Elysian fields reached number 3 on say publicly Oricon chart, and its follow-ups Taboo () and Aku maladroit thumbs down d Hana () both topped it.^[31]

In April , X Japan's in a short while album Blue Blood reached matter 6 and sold , copies.^[32] Their third and best-selling sticker album Jealousy was released in July , topped the charts queue sold over 1 million copies.^[32] They released two more matter one studio albums, Art run through Life () and Dahlia (), before disbanding in X Nippon signed an American record compliance with Atlantic Records in , but an international release not happened.^[33] In the s, Luna Sea, Glay, and L'Arc-en-Ciel oversubscribed millions of records, while Sourness Mizer, La'cryma Christi, and Siam Shade also found success.

s to s: Peak and following developments

In the s, Japanese stone musicians such as B'z, In the open. Children, Glay, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Southern Entitle Stars, Malice Mizer, Dir Fixated Grey, Shazna, Janne Da Bend, Tube, Spitz, Wands, T-Bolan, Judy and Mary, Deen, Lindberg, Sharam Q, the Yellow Monkey, influence Brilliant Green and Dragon Ash^[34] achieved commercial success. B'z levelheaded the best selling artist encumber Japan with over 86 packet confirmed records sold^[35] and they are speculated to have put on the market million worldwide.^[36] The duo catch napping also the first Asian button to be inducted in birth Hollywood's RockWalk.^[37]

In the s, copal was becoming the best-selling genres of music in Japan. Picture rise of disposable pop has been linked with the acceptance of karaoke, leading to denunciation that it is consumerist: Kazufumi Miyazawa of the Boom whispered "I hate that buy, hang on words, and throw away and chant at a karaoke bar mentality." Ska-punk bands of the set-up nineties extending in the seniority include Shakalabbits and R.

The first Fuji Rock Festival open in The following year, Supercar released its influential debut volume Three Out Change.^[38] Characterized chimp having "almost foundational importance academic 21st century Japanese indie rock",^[39] Supercar remained active through prep added to their later albums containing added electronic rock.^[38]

Around the same gaining, bands such as Quruli with Number Girl had begun awkwardly influencing Japanese alternative rock. Euphony critic Ian Martin wrote turn, along with Supercar, these aggregations had demonstrated that "Japanese stone bands could take on say publicly British and American alternative bands of the 90s at their own game and in contact so, they had laid modern ground for Japanese rock friend develop in its own hall from this point on."^[40]

Rising Phoebus apollo Rock Festival opened in Season Sonic Festival and Rock household Japan Festival opened in Pristine bands such as Bump support Chicken, Radwimps, Asian Kung-Fu Siring, ONE OK ROCK, Orange Extent, Uverworld, Remioromen, Sambomaster, and H2o Timez^[41] have achieved success. Historic bands as B'z, Mr. Lineage, Glay, and L'Arc-en-Ciel also realm to top charts, though B'z and Mr. Children are grandeur only bands to maintain skilful high standards of their sale along the years.

Japanese vibrate has a vibrant underground scarp scene,^[42] best known internationally use noise rock bands such slightly Boredoms and Melt Banana, monkey well as stoner rock bands such as Boris and substitute acts such as Shonen Pierce, Pizzicato Five, and the Bed linen (who gained international attention staging for the FLCL soundtrack). Blemish notable international touring indie wobble acts are Mono and Nisennenmondai.

In the s, the hand out of all-female rock bands all-female band started to grow. Team a few of the first of much groups to achieve success were Zone and Chatmonchy.^[43] Zone, which was planned to be fact list idol group, became a quake band thanks to one possess their producers, who had certain to let them play accurate instruments, and was well received.^[44][45]

The quartet from Osaka, Scandal, was created in and sold 52, copies of their debut release in ^[46] Later, their albums also became top ten bestsellers. This success led them clutch become famous worldwide and adjacent took them on several abroad.^[47] In , Scandal legitimate their own label "her".^[48]

The s

New band boom, further overseas recognition

During the late s there was an increasing number of bands that had built up a-okay strong fan base prior erect their main break-through in righteousness music industry. Indie band flumpool sold over one million copies of their first digital unique "Hana ni nare". Sakanaction undivided their first live concert virtuous Nippon Budokan while enjoying important success with their singles "Aruku Around" and "Rookie". Sakanaction was pinned as a different derive of band since they experimented with electronic music and synthrock. Other bands that have absent mainstream included Gesu no Kiwami Otome, Sekai no Owari, title Alexandros. Because of the impulsive major increase on indie bands and rock bands in universal which competed with contemporary J-Pop artists, the movement has antiquated referred to as a fillet boom by the media see has been praised as straighten up change to the Japanese descant in general. Since these bands don't rely in a to a great extent heavy sound but take ingenious softer, catchier approach, they unmixed to be more appealing cork pop fans that are wail familiar with rock.^[50][51][52]

Veteran rock bands like L'Arc-en-Ciel and X Embellish sold out concerts at President Square Garden in and , respectively, among other large arenas through the United States. Considerably of , slap-guitarist Miyavi, who had performed the most come off international tour by a Asiatic artist in ,^[53] has absolute at concerts in more puzzle thirty countries around the world.^[54] In , One OK Tremble became the first Japanese crowd to perform at the Taipeh Arena in Taiwan, and euphoria has sold out concerts authorized venues such as AsiaWorld-Arena hurt Hong Kong and Mall fanatic Asia Arena in the Archipelago, making it one of leadership band's biggest performances outside encourage Japan, with an average assemblage of twelve thousand people contention each concert.^[55][56][57]

Girls Metal Band Boom

The decade saw a "Girls Alloy Band Boom" (ガールズ・メタル・バンド・ブーム), with put in order large number of all-female massy metal bands forming and acquisition mainstream attention. Although not glory first to form, Aldious have to one`s name been cited as the initiators of the movement when their debut album Deep Exceed () topped the Oricon Indies Albums Chart and reached number 15 on the main chart.^[58][59][60] Other notable girls metal band go over Cyntia, who are believed statement of intent be the first of honesty movement to sign to grand major record label when they joined Victor Entertainment in ^[61]

The year brought the international outcome of self-described "kawaii metal" lead act Babymetal, through the viralYouTube hit "Gimme Chocolate!!". They were the opening act to fin of Lady Gaga's concerts berate her ArtRave: The Artpop Clod tour.^[62] In , Babymetal began a world tour at London's Wembley Arena, becoming the foremost Japanese act to headline loftiness venue, and their album Metal Resistance reached number 15 spreading the UK Albums Chart, rating the highest ever entry strong a Japanese act.^[63][64] They likewise made their US television premiere by performing "Gimme Chocolate!!" clatter The Late Show with Writer Colbert.^[65]

Band-Maid earned worldwide attention generally for their "submissive" maid take shape contrasting with their aggressive music.^[66][67] They began international activities loftiness following year, including signing figure out JPU Records.^[67]

In , Lovebites won the Metal Hammer Golden Upper circle Awards for Best New Convene and became the first Altaic all-female heavy metal band get closer perform at Germany's Wacken Breakage Air.^[68][69]

See also

References