It does sound like an April’s fool but it is just an odd starting date for a real event: for the first time ever, Sony Music Entertainment Japan is hosting an “International Audition”. What it means is that the Japanese branch of Sony Music is looking for foreigners to spice up their catalog. Not just models, they are actually open to all kinds of talents, from musicians, to bands, to TV talents. It seems everyone is invited to apply and try their chance to become a star.”Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” meets Show Business!It isn’t rare for Japanese entertainment companies and music labels to host big public auditions like that, and many successful artists have been found through these. Not only interpreters, but also composers, writers, and all-round music artists. What makes this audition different however is that this time, Sony Music is targetting gaijin! And not just fluent Japanese-speakers either: English speakers, Chinese, Koreans, the scope is large and the possibilities seem infinite. Participants from any nationality, sex and age are welcome.

Because of its size, Sony Music is interested in all kinds of profiles, and any musical genres. And the best part is that you can enter from anywhere, inside or outside from Japan.

If you don’t have any recordings, you can apply without sending a demo. You can also submit your homepage’s URL if it has your music and profile online. In fact, you can even enter if you don’t have any musical experience (“we welcome applications from anyone wishing to become a musical artist”). Cover songs are ok too, and to make sure every singer has a chance to get noticed, they even accept submission of demos recorded at a karaoke…

Models are welcome too (“we have some model management groups within Sony so models are also welcome”), but fear not: someone with a better look will not be given priority (“it is important for those who want to become a model or TV talent to have charisma and a unique look. However, for musical artists, the look won’t affect our decision”).

Also notable are the facts that the audition is free (“no fees required for application, screening, or any matters thereafter”), and if you get chosen, you don’t have to worry about money either (“Sony Music will bear all the costs involved in developing you career. If you need lessons, for example, Sony Music will take care of all the lesson fees.”).

Regarding copyright issues, Sony Music will not re-use your original content afterwards (“application materials will not be used for any purposes other than screening”). You will also keep the rights of your songs (“If Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc wants to release one of your songs, we will discuss and make a contract with you before releasing it”).

The audition starts today and end on May 31st, 2005.

More details on the requirements, address etc. on the official Sony Music Japan website

Cocco is a female Japanese pop singer who debuted in 1997 with a single "Kauntodaun" ("Countdown"). After producing her 4th album in 2001, she stopped her work as a musician.

Discography

Singles

• Kauntodaun (3/21/1997)
• Tsuyoku Hakanaimonotachi (11/21/1997)
• Raining (3/21/1998)
• Yukiji no Hate (10/7/1998)
• Jukai no Ito (4/14/1999)
• Poromeria (10/14/1999)
• Mizukagami (4/26/2000)
• Kemonomichi (6/28/2000)
• Hoshi ni Negai wo (7/26/2000)
• Hane : lay down my arms (2/21/2001)
• Yakenogahara (4/18/2001)

Albums

• Bugenbiria (Bougainvillea) (5/21/1997)
• Kumuiuta (Lullaby) (5/13/1998)
• Rapuntsueru (Rapunzel) (6/14/2000)
• Sangurozu (Sungu Rose) (4/18/2001)

Books

• Star Sands in the South Ocean
• Love Songs from the South Ocean (8/15/2004)

Featured

Her song Raining can be heard at the end of Hideaki Anno’s Shiki Jitsu (Ceremonial Day).

External Links

• Cocco official site
• Discography

(Source: Wikipedia)

Cornelius (born Keigo Oyamada (小山田圭吾) Jan 27, 1969 in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese recording artist and producer. Oyamada’s first claim to fame was as a member of the pop duo, Flipper’s Guitar, one of the key groups of the Tokyo Shibuya-kei scene. Following the disbandment of Flipper’s Guitar in 1991, Oyamada donned the "Cornelius" moniker and embarked on a successful solo career.

Cornelius’s musical style is often described as being similar to Beck’s, whom he acknowledges influenced him along with The Beatles , The Beach Boys. The Jesus and Mary Chain and Primal Scream among others.

He chose his pseudonym in tribute to the character of the same name from the movie Planet of the Apes. He commissioned a song, about himself, on Momus’ 1999 album Stars Forever (although he later described the song as "embarrassing").

Oyamada married fellow musician and collaborator Takako Minekawa in 2000.

Discography

• Holidays in the Sun (1993), EP
• The First Question Award (1994)
• 69/96 (1995)
  • 96/69 (1996), remix LP
• Fantasma (1997)
• CM and FM (1999), remix collections
• Point (2002)
• CM2 (2003), a remix collection
• Five Point One (2003), a DVD of music videos and a remix collection

External Links

Cornelius’s homepage (in Japanese and English)

(Source: Wikipedia)

Gackt M.S. Camui (ガクト, but most often written in English, even in Japan, pronounced “ga-ku-to”) is a song writer, vocalist, and multi-talented instrumentalist — (trumpet, tuba, horn, trombone, piano, guitar, drums, bass), all other standard orchestral instruments, and most traditional Japanese instruments — as well as a beloved celebrity amongst females, both in Japan and the international JPop fan community. Gackt claims to be a Norwegian vampire. He was also vocalist of Cains:Feel and Malice Mizer. Thanks to him, Malice Mizer became well-known.

Gackt can speak Japanese, English, French, Mandarin, and Korean.

Life

Early life

Camui does not release his birth date, maintaining a biography fit for a member of Malice Mizer. His given birthdate is July 4, 1540, but some sources say that he was born July 4, 1973. He has never revealed his real name, and various rumors about what it might be (Okabe Satoru?) are pure conjecture.

Born in Okinawa, Japan, he was raised by unusually strict parents who regulated his life. His television viewing was restricted to national or educational programming. At age seven, Gackt nearly drowned in the Sea of Okinawa. After being saved, he claimed to be able to see things that normal people couldn’t and was then sent into isolation in a mental hospital.

Gackt was a very competitive person, saying, "It’s not that I want to win, it’s just that I don’t want to lose." As a child, he had always wanted to be better than anyone else and continues to learn new skills and practice existing skills to become better. He was also very ambitious as well he is now.

His interest in music was a rough one; his parents, both musicians, forced him to learn the piano when he was three. He was too small to actually play, but he had to sit in front of the piano for two hours. Later, his competitive nature made him master the piano after seeing his friend play better than him. Then, Gackt’s interest changed to brass instruments after seeing his father play trumpet. Again, his competitive nature resulted in non-stop practice and mastery of several instruments of the brass category, but it all ended when his parents worried it would damage his teeth and forbade him to play. This prompted him to consider becoming a music conductor.

When Gackt turned 17, his music life changed when his mother told him that she regretted forcing him to learn piano. Then he changed his tastes in music from classical to rock (after becoming very interested in it because he had never heard it in his childhood) and moved him to learn band instruments.

Early Career

Gackt started as a drum technician for a recording studio and drummer for an unknown band. Later on, he met lifelong friends and fellow performers Ren and You and formed a band, Cains:Feel, with Gackt as the vocalist, although he felt his deep voice wasn’t suited for the trend at the time.

Days with Malice Mizer

Gackt’s popularity began to rise after joining the visual kei band Malice Mizer on October 1995 as their new vocalist. His contributions to the band led it in a new stylistic direction, bringing a soft romantic touch to their music as well as their appearance. During Gackt’s time with the band Malice Mizer met its greatest popularity, releasing two albums (Voyage ~sans retour~ on Mana’s Midi:Nette label and their first and only major release, Merveilles on Nippon Columbia) as well as a number of singles.

Gackt left in 1998 after the end of the "Merveilles" Tour. He has variously cited personal, artistic, and financial differences as reasons for leaving. Also, in his autobiography, Gackt said that he was asked by Malice Mizer to leave, although he wished to stay.

Solo career

After leaving Malice Mizer, Gackt started a solo career with a group of people called GacktJOB, consisting of several members including You (violin / rhythm guitar), Yukihiro Chachamaru Fujimura (lead guitar/effects), Masa (rhythm guitar), Ren (bass), Toshi (drums), Yosh (choreographer/dancer), and Igao (keyboards) (and much later Ryuichi Ryu Nishida on drums, and Ju-ken on bass). His live shows often include homoerotic play with these members. His solo career has been a great success as he continues to maintain a level of popularity far greater than when he was still with Malice Mizer. His fans (whom he calls "dears") span several countries.

In addition to music, Gackt has been involved as an actor in various TV commercials, the Japanese drama Hero’s Hero, and co-writing and co-starring in the movie Moon Child with Hyde, vocalist of L’Arc~en~Ciel.

He has also written a book, Moonchild: Requiem, and several as-yet unpublished short stories, worked as a runway model for his favorite designer, Yoshiyuki Konishi, designed his own stage-wear and clothing line, and opened his own private, members only restaurant/bar, Tamaly Bar, complete with his own personal and family recipies.

Gackt was also involved in the PlayStation 2 game Bujingai, where he performed voice work as well as doing motion capture for the game’s protagonist. Other voice-over work Gackt has done includes the character ‘Seiji’ from the anime New Fist of the North Star (Shin Hokuto no Ken). He also performed the ending theme (Tsuki no Uta) for the anime Texhnolyze.

Discography
(In several cases, the Japanese titles are given first, followed by the romaji titles in square brackets.)

Singles

• 1999
  • Mizérable (7/9)
  • Vanilla (8/11)
  • Remix of Gackt EP (11/3)
• 2000
  • Mirror (2/9)
  • OASIS (2/16)
  • 鶺鴒〜seki-ray〜 [Sekirei—seki-ray—] (3/8)
  • 再会〜Story〜 [Saikai—Story—] (8/30)
  • Secret Garden (11/16)
• 2001
  • 君のためにできること [Kimi no tameni dekiru koto] (3/14)
  • ANOTHER WORLD (9/5)
  • 12月のLove song [Juunigatsu no Love Song] (12/16)
• 2002
  • Vanilla (3/20) - re-release with video on first prints
  • 忘れないから [Wasurenai kara] (4/24)
  • 12月のLove song (11/27) - with English version "December Love"
• 2003
  • 君が追いかけた夢 [Kimi ga oikaketa yume] (3/19)
  • 月の詩 [TSUKI no UTA] (6/11)
  • Lu:na/OASIS (6/25)
  • Last Song (11/12)
  • 12月のLove song (12/3) - with Chinese version
• 2004
  • 君に逢いたくて [Kimi ni ai takute] (10/27)
  • 12月のLove song (12/14) - with Korean version
  • 2005
  • ありったけの愛で [arittake no ai de] (1/26)

Albums

• Mizerable (5/12/1999)
• MARS (4/26/2000)
• Rebirth (4/25/2001)
• Rebirth (6/27/2001) - A special pre-order edition
• MOON (6/19/2002)
• Crescent (12/3/2003)
• THE SIXTH DAY 〜SINGLE COLLECTION〜 (2/25/2004)
• THE SEVENTH NIGHT 〜UNPLUGGED〜 (5/26/2004)
• Love Letter (2/14/2005)

VHS

• Mizérable Single Box (6/30/1999)
• Video Vanilla (12/8/1999)
• Video Mirror.OASIS (6/18/2000)
• MARS 空からの訪問者〜回想〜 [MARS Sora Kara No Homounsha—Kaisou— ] (10/4/2000)
• MARS 空からの訪問者〜回想〜 (Lawson Special Backstage Report) (11/27/2000)
• PLATINUM BOX 〜Ⅰ〜 (12/16/2000) - contains special interview footage plus live CD of the MARS Tour
• 再生と終焉 [Saisei to Shuen] (6/21/2001)
  contains the videos/makings-of for Secret Garden and 君のためにできること
• Requiem et Réminiscence〜終焉と静寂〜 [Requiem et Réminiscence—Shuen to Seijaku—] (9/28/2001)
• Requiem et Réminiscence〜終焉と静寂〜 (Lawson Special Backstage Report) (10/24/2001)
• seven (2001) - exclusive Dears-only content
• 微風 [Soyokaze] (3/1/2002)
  contains the videos/makings-of for ANOTHER WORLD and 12月のLove song plus the short film, Life
• 心海 2002.6.6〜7.10 LIVE TOUR DOCUMENTS [Shinkai] (11/27/2002)
• Gackt Live Tour 2002 下弦の⽉〜聖夜の調〜 [Kagen no Tsuki —Seiya no Shirabe—] (3/19/2003)
• ⽉光 [Gekkou] (8/6/2003)
  contains the videos/makings-of for 君が追いかけた夢 and ⽉の詩
• Gackt Live Tour 2003 上弦の⽉〜最終章〜 [Jogen no Tsuki —Saishusho—] (9/18/2003)
• Gackt Live Tour 2004 THE SIXTH DAY & SEVENTH NIGHT 〜FINAL〜 (9/15/2004)

DVD

• MARS 空からの訪問者〜回想〜 特別編 [MARS Sora Kara No Homounsha—Kaisou— Tokubetsuhen] (11/20/2000)
• Requiem et Réminiscence〜終焉と静寂〜 特別編 [Requiem et Réminiscence—Shuen to Seijaku— Tokubetsuhen] (11/30/2001)
• PLATINUM BOX 〜Ⅱ〜 (12/21/2001)
  contains the videos for Mizérable, Vanilla, Mirror, OASIS, 鶺鴒〜seki-ray〜, 再会〜Story〜, Secret Garden, and 君のためにできること plus a special VHS interview, Recollections
• PLATINUM BOX 〜Ⅲ〜 (12/21/2002)
  contains the videos for ANOTHER WORLD, 12月のLove song, and 忘れないから, plus special footage of Gackt’s concert in Beijing
• Gackt Live Tour 2002 下弦の⽉〜聖夜の調〜 [Kagen no Tsuki —Seiya no Shirabe—] (3/19/2003)
• ⽉光 [Gekkou] (8/6/2003)
  contains the videos/makings-of for 君が追いかけた夢 and ⽉の詩, plus special footage of Gackt’s joke for Ren’s birthday on the Dears FC trip to Hawaii
• Gackt Live Tour 2003 上弦の⽉〜最終章〜 [Jogen no Tsuki —Saishusho—] (9/18/2003)
• PLATINUM BOX 〜Ⅳ〜 (12/16/2003)
  contains special footage of Gackt’s 2004 L.A. calendar photoshoot, the Crescent album photobook shoot, and 12月のLove song (Chinese vers.) recording with Wang Lee Hom in Hong Kong
• Gackt Live Tour 2004 THE SIXTH DAY & SEVENTH NIGHT 〜FINAL〜 (9/15/2004)
• PLATINUM BOX 〜Ⅴ〜 (12/14/2004)

All PLATINUM BOX first editions have a velvet hardcover; subsequent editions have a plastic hardcase.

External links

• Gackt ~Dears~ (official site/fan club)
• Nippon Crown Records
• cool like plastic
• Latest News
• Bye Bye Reality
• Project J’s Gackt Page
• Gackt US Fanclub:Muse
• Russian Malice mizer & Gackt Page
• Sawasdee Gackt
• Reminiscence Gackt

(Source: Wikipedia)

Cibo Matto was a New York City-based band formed by Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda in the 1990s. Their musical style contained elements of hip-hop, rock, and latin music. Cibo Matto is an Italian phrase that translates to "crazy food."

History

After working together in the noise rock band Leitoh Lychee, Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda formed Cibo Matto around 1994. While recording tracks for their first album, Viva! La Woman, they collaborated with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s Russell Simins and others, on a side project called Butter 08. Viva! La Woman was released in 1996.

They later added band members Sean Lennon on guitar, and Timo Ellis on drums to record Stereo Type A. While Viva! La Woman had a stronger hip-hop element, the new album contained more rock and latin inflected songs. Stereo Type A, released in 1999, would be their last studio album. The group continued to play live concerts until disbanding near the end of 2001. Yuka Honda went on to release solo albums, while Miho Hatori worked on latin music, teaming up with guitarist Smokey Hormel.

Discography

Albums

• Viva! La Woman (1996)
• Stereo Type A (1999)

EPs

• Cibo Matto (1995)
• Super Relax (1997)

External link

• Cibo Matto Warners Brothers page

(Source: Wikipedia)

L’Arc~en~Ciel (ラルク アン シエル), also known as Laruku (ラルク) or L’Arc to their fans, is a popular Japanese rock band consisting of four members. The name means “Arc in the Sky”, or “rainbow” in French.

Biography

Early days

In February of 1991, Tetsu and Hyde, along with Hiro (guitar) and Pero (drums) formed the band named after a movie that Tetsu had seen. After a year of gaining notoriety in their hometown of Osaka, Hiro left the band on June 12, 1992. Pero soon followed on December 30 of that same year, supposedly to join up with his buddy hiro again. Tetsu convinced his friend Ken to quit his studies in architectural design and join the band. A new drummer, Sakura, was recruited after Tetsu saw him play. In 1993, the band released their debut album, DUNE under the indies label Danger Crue, which was met with plenty of success, managing to be #1 on the Oricon indies charts.

Sakura Days

This caught the attention of some major labels, so in 1994, they signed for Sony’s Ki/oon division, releasing their 2nd album, Tierra, that same year. heavenly followed in 1995 and True, their first million seller, in 1996.

Yukihiro days

In 1997, sakura was arrested for heroin possession and quit the band. Their popularity was growing too rapidly to quit, so a new tour was organized and yukihiro joined the band. The first concert date of the new tour in Tokyo Dome had an attendance of 56,000 and sold out in four minutes, a testament to their popularity. Their next album was HEART, in 1998.

L’Arc~en~Ciel released three more albums of new material during the next few years: ark and ray which were released simultaneously in 1999, followed by REAL in 2000, which, for the longest time, was the last CD of new material, although many more compilation and remix albums would follow. L’Arc~en~Ciel also composed several theme songs for various anime series, including DNA², Rurouni Kenshin, Great Teacher Onizuka and Fullmetal Alchemist. They also created the ending theme song to the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

After a while, however, the various members began working on various solo projects. Hyde released several solo albums, ken founded SONS OF ALL PUSSYS, tetsu started TETSU69 and yukihiro played with Acid Android. The band seemed close to calling it quits.

Post-Hiatus days

In June 2003, Laruku came back to play a series of seven concerts in Tokyo called the "Shibuya Seven Days" and announced a new album for release in the following year. So, in February 2004, their first single in more than three years came out, followed by another one in early March. Finally, their long-awaited new album, SMILE, was released on March 31.

Shortly after, on June 2, 2004, the single 自由への招待 (Jiyuu e no Shoutai) introduced "P’UNK~EN~CIEL", a part change, for the first time on CD with "milky way". In the past, the band also played a P’UNK version of "Round and Round" live.

On July 31, 2004, L’Arc~en~Ciel made their first U.S. concert debut at Otakon 2004. Approximately 12,000 Otakon attendees attended the concert which was held at a outside venue for the first time in Otakon’s musical guests history, the 1st Mariner Arena located near the Baltimore Convention Center.

In October 2004, it was revealed by Sony Music Japan that they will release a DVD of the Otakon 2004 concert on December 8, 2004 in Japan for 4,515 yen, approximately $40 USD. Tofu Records, who handles L’Arc’s U.S. releases, was scheduled to release of the DVD in America on January 25, 2005, but it has been postponed indefinitely. At the concert, Sony Music Japan had people filming the concert but Otakon believed it was for archival purposes.

The single ‘Killing Me’ was released with another P’UNK track on January 13, 2005.

Looking ahead, the band will do the opening and ending themes for the Fullmetal Alchemist movie. Whether or not the song(s) will be a single is currently open to speculation. In addition, "L’Arc~en~Ciel TOUR 2005" has been announced but information pending.

Line-up

Current

• hyde (vocals) (solo hyde)
• tetsu (bass, backup vocals) (solo TETSU69)
• ken (guitar) (solo S.O.A.P.)
• yukihiro (drums) (solo Acid Android)

Former

• sakura (drums 1992-1997)
• hiro (guitar 1991-1992)
• pero (drums 1991-1992)

D’ARC~EN~CIEL

• Dark Tetsu (vocal)
• HYDE DARK (guitar)
• Suck D’ark La (bass)
• k:en D’Arc (drums)

P’UNK~EN~CIEL

• TETSU P’UNK(guitar, vocals)
• HYDE P’UNK (guitar)
• YUKIHIRO P’UNK (bass)
• KEN P’UNK (drums)

Discography
Highest chart positions and units sold:

Albums

• DUNE (1993)
• Tierra (1994) #7 - 161,000
• heavenly (1995) #3 - 391,000
• True (1996) #1 - 1,428,000
• HEART (1998) #1 - 1,551,000
• Ark and Ray (1999) #1 & #2 - 2,275,000 & 2,138,000
• REAL (2000) #1 - 1,098,000
• SMILE (2004) #2 - 378,748

Compilations & Remixes

• ectomorphed works (2000) #3 - 228,000
• Clicked Singles Best 13 (2001) #1 - 1,337,830
• The Best of L’Arc~en~Ciel 1994-1998 (2003) 195,500
• The Best of L’Arc~en~Ciel 1998-2000 (2003) 190,800

Singles

• 1992
  • Flood of tears |indie single| 1,000 (limited edition)
• 1994
  • Blurry Eyes |major debut single| #22 - 52,000
• 1995
  • Vivid Colors c/w Brilliant Years #16 - 118,000
  • 夏の憂鬱 (natsu no yuuutsu) [time to say goodbye] c/w あなたのために (anata no tame ni) #15 - 67,000
• 1996
  • 風にきえないで　 (kaze ni kienaide) c/w I’m so happy #4 - 196,000
  • flower c/w さようなら (sayounara) #5 - 320,000
  • Lies and Truth c/w　賽は投げられた (sai wa nagarareta) #6 - 285,000
• 1997
  • 虹 (niji) c/w THE GHOST IN MY ROOM #3 - 708,000
• 1998
  • winter fall c/w metropolis #1 - 835,000
  • DIVE TO BLUE c/w Peeping Tom #1 - 845,000
  • HONEY #1 - 1,224,000
  • 花葬 (kasou) #4 - 1,036,000
  • 侵食 (shinshoku)~lose control~ #2 - 926,000
  • snow drop c/w a swell in the sun #1 - 1,132,000
  • forbidden lover c/w 花葬 (kasou) -1014 mix- #1 - 826,000
• 1999
  • HEAVEN’S DRIVE c/w metropolis -android goes to sleep mix- #1 - 1,124,000
  • Pieces c/w fate -fake fate mix- #1 - 735,000
  • Driver’s High c/w Cradle -down to the earth mix- #2 - 340,000
  • LOVE FLIES c/w shinjitsu to gensou to -out of reality mix- #1 - 514,000
• 2000
  • NEO UNIVERSE/finale c/w hole #1 - 1,104,000
  • STAY AWAY c/w get out from the shell #2 - 734,000
• 2001
  • Spirit dreams inside -another dream- c/w Spirit dreams inside #1 - 340,770
• 2004
  • READY STEADY GO #1 - 365,500
  • 瞳の住人 (hitomi no juunin) #1 - 194,600
  • 自由への招待 (jiyuu e no shoutai) c/w milky way by P’UNK~EN~CIEL #1 - 232,900
• 2005
  • Killing Me c/w Round and Round 2005 by P’UNK~EN~CIEL #1 - 120,

Videos

• 1992
  • L’Arc~en~Ciel (VHS/concert)
• 1993
  • Touch of DUNE (VHS)
• 1994
  • 眠りによせて (VHS/video single)
  • Siesta~Film of Dreams (VHS)
• 1995
  • and She Said (VHS/video single)
• 1996
  • heavenly ~films~ (VHS/concert)
• 1998
  • A PIECE OF REINCARNATION (VHS/concert)
  • ハートに火をつけろ！ Light My Fire (VHS/concert)

  1999

  • CHRONICLE (VHS+DVD/PV collection)
  • ハートに火をつけろ！ Light My Fire (DVD/concert)
  • A PIECE OF REINCARNATION (DVD/concert)
  • 1999 GRAND CROSS CONCLUSION (VHS+DVD/concert)

  2001

  • CHRONICLE 2 (VHS+DVD/PV collection)
  • CLUB CIRCUIT 2000 REALIVE - NO CUT - (VHS+DVD/concert)

  2003

  • heavenly ~films~ (DVD/concert)
  • and She Said (DVD/video single)
  • Siesta ~Film of Dreams~ (DVD)
  • 眠りによせて (DVD/video single)
  • 7 (DVD/concert)
• 2004
  • LIVE IN U.S.A. ~at 1st Mariner Arena July 31, 2004~ (DVD/concert)

External links

Official Sites

• L’Arc~en~Ciel Official Site
• L’Arc~en~Ciel Official Sony Site
• L’Arc~en~Ciel Official English Site
• Tofu Records Official Site
• Danger Crue Records Official Site
• hyde Official Site
• Sons of All Pussys Official Site (ken solo)
• TETSU69 Official Site (tetsu solo)
• Acid Android Official Site (yukihiro solo)

Fan sites

• Fourth Avenue Cafe, an English Fan Site
• L’Arc Europe - European Fan Base
• Bye Bye Reality
• Sunrise

(Source: Wikipedia)

The all-female band Shonen Knife is a Japanese alternative rock trio that has found some success in the United States, counting among their fans Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Redd Kross. They cite as their main influences 1960s girl groups and punk rock.

Shonen Knife formed in December 1981 with Michie Nakatani on vocals and bass, Naoko Yamano on vocals and guitar, and Atsuko Yamano on drums. Michie Nakatani left the band in December of 1999 and Atsuko Yamano now peforms on bass. New member, Mana Nishiura, has taken over on drums. Mana Nishiura played her first live show with the band in May of 2001.

Because of the great following of those American Bands Sub Pop Records released a Shonen Knife tribute album in early 1992. This is known for its double vinyl edition that contained a Nirvana song. The regular album features Sub Pop Records staples Redd Kross, Sonic Youth, L7 and other Seattle bands. Kurt Cobain was so obsessed with them that he insisted they open for Nirvana on New Years Eve 1993, Live on MTV.

External links

• Shonen Knife Official Site (in Japanese)
• Shonen Knife Official Site (in English)
• The Shonen Knife Nexus 2004 (in English)

(Source: Wikipedia)

Tokyo Jihen (東京事変) (can translate to The Tokyo Incidents) is a Japanese band created by Shiina Ringo, after leaving her original solo career. While this is a new band, Shiina has worked with the band members in the final months of her original career, especially Kameda who has worked with her for a long time.

Their debut single was Gunjo Biyori.

Members

• Shiina Ringo (vocals, guitar)
• HZM (Masayuki Hiizumi) (keyboard)
• Seiji Kameda (bass)
• Toshiki Hata (drums)
• Mikio Hirama (guitar)

Origins

The career of Shina Ringo created for the artist an image of a strange woman that people had taken seriously to the point that she could tell them "Shut up, I’m not like that!". In addition to the difficult to control image and the complexity of her career, Shina soon gathered her band together after recording her last album. She had wished to be in a band since her debut and has finally achieved it.

External Links

• Tokyo Jihen’s official site (in Japanese)
• kronekodow.com (in Japanese)

(Source: Wikipedia)

Homegrown Japanese rock had developed by the late 1960s. Artists like Happy End are considered to have virtually developed the genre. During the 1970s, it grew more popular. The Okinawan band Champloose, along with Carol, RC Succession and Harada Shinji were especially famous and helped define the genre’s sound. In the 1980s, the Southern All Stars became the biggest band in Japanese rock’s history, and inspired alternative rock bands like Shonen Knife & the Boredoms and Tama & Little Creatures. Most influentially, the 1980s spawned Yellow Magic Orchestra, which was inspired by developing electronic music, led by Hosono Haruomi.

In 1980, Huruoma and Ry Cooder, an American musician, collaborated on a rock album with Shoukichi Kina, driving force behind the aforementioned Okinawan band Champloose. They were followed by Sandii & the Sunsetz, who further mixed Japanese and Okinawan influences. At the same time, singer-songwriters like Yuming became extremely popular. Other forms of music, from Indonesia, Jamaica and elsewhere, were assimilated. Soukous and Latin music was popular as was Jamaican reggae and ska, exemplified by Rankin’ Taxi and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra.

(Source: Wikipedia)