Ellegarden

Ellegarden
Origin	Japan
Genres	Punk rock, Alternative rock, Rock
Years active	1998-2008.09 (on hiatus)
Labels	Growing Up Inc./Dynamord, Denka Secca, Nettwerk (North American label)
Website	http://www.ellegarden.jp
Members
Hirotaka Takahashi (高橋宏貴) Takeshi Hosomi (細美武士) Shinichi Ubukata (生形眞一) Yuichi Takada (高田雄一)

Ellegarden is a Japanese rock group formed in December 1998 in Chiba, Japan. Ellegarden consists of drummer Hirotaka Takahashi, vocalist/guitarist Takeshi Hosomi, guitarist Shinichi Ubukata, and bassist Yuichi Takada. In 2008, Ellegarden announced their indefinite hiatus.

Background

The English lyrics of the band's songs, which are mostly written by Hosomi, are usually grammatically sound and well pronounced.^{[citation needed]} In the Summer 2006 issue of the American J-Rock Magazine Purple Sky, Hosomi accredited this to the time he spent working as a computer engineer in Oakland, California and later in Japan, where he had English-speaking co-workers.

History

In 2006, Ellegarden performed in numerous Japanese Summer Music Festivals, such as Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic, Nano Mugen Festival and Rising Sun Rock Festival. Their final tour of the year featured the American band Allister, who they became acquainted with during SXSW 2006. In addition, they supported Foo Fighters in their concert at Osaka Castle Hall.

On May 2, 2008, it was announced that the band would be going on hiatus when the following message was posted on the band's official website:

Ellegarden has been in the process of creating a new album since last year, however, during the band’s activities, there arose a difference in opinion regarding the motivation for creating a new album. We no longer feel we are able to create an album that we would be satisfied with, and after much discussion we arrived at the conclusion to end the creation of the album and suspend the band’s activities indefinitely. All previously decided shows (including shows not yet announced) up until early September 2008 will still be performed.

We want to thank everyone who has supported Ellegarden from the bottom of our hearts. In order to once again create new music as Ellegarden, each of us wants to work on our own personal growth and development. Thank you for everything. -Ellegarden leader, Shinichi Ubukata

Following the recording hiatus announcement, the band has continued to perform live and recently announced a greatest hits album entitled "Ellegarden Best (1999-2008)". The album consists of 21 songs and was released on July 2, 2008. After appearances at several high-profile festivals (including Rock in Japan, Sky Jamboree, Nano Mugen Fes, and Treasure 05x: The Greatest Riot Returns), the band performed four one-man shows in early September to give its fans a send-off before the hiatus; two performances at Zepp Osaka followed by two performances at Shinkiba Studio Coast in Tokyo.

Band members

• 細美 武士 (Hosomi Takeshi) – vocalist, rhythm guitarist
  • Hatheway was the main songwriter. He wrote almost all the lyrics and music.
  • He announced in October 2008 that he was active as a solo artist on his official blog, and that he formed The Hiatus.

• Shin’ichi Ubukata (生形 真一, Ubukata Shin’ichi) – lead guitarist, backing vocals
  • Ubukata was the leader of the band.
  • He formed the new band, Nothing's Carved in Stone.

• Yuichi Takada (高田 雄一, Takada Yuichi) – bassist, backing vocals
  • Takada is presently part of the band Meaning.

• Hirotaka Takahashi (高橋 宏貴, Takahashi Hirotaka) – drummer, backing vocals
  • Takahashi was the godparent of the band.
  • He formed Scars Borough.

Albums

Studio Albums

• Don't Trust Anyone But Us (April 3, 2002)
• Bring Your Board!! (July 2, 2003)
• Pepperoni Quattro (May 26, 2004)
• Riot on the Grill (April 20, 2005) #3 227,000 copies sold
• Eleven Fire Crackers (November 8, 2006) #1 341,000 copies sold

Compilation Albums

• Synchronized Rockers (September 16, 2004)
• Figureheads Compilation (July 31, 2007)
• Ellegarden Best (1999-2008) (July 2, 2008) #2 277,886 copies sold

EP Albums

• Ellegarden (May 23, 2001)
• My Own Destruction (October 16, 2002)

Video and DVD

• My Own Destruction Tour Bootleg VHS - March 20, 2003
• Bring Your Board!! Tour Bootleg II DVD - May 26, 2004
• E.V.Junkie Lives 2004 - king of punk adventure - November 17, 2004
• Bad for Education Tour Bootleg III DVD - February 26, 2005
• Doggy Bags - August 9, 2006
• Eleven Fire Crackers Tour 06-07 - After Party - October 24, 2007

Maxi Singles

• Bare Foot - October 12, 2001
• Yubiwa - February 20, 2002
• Jitterbug - November 12, 2002
• Missing - November 3, 2004
• Space Sonic - December 7, 2005
• Salamander - August 9, 2006

Tours

Dates shown are announcement dates

• First tour - August 2002 - 20 stop tour through Japan
• My Own Destruction Tour - October 16, 2002 - 30 stops in Japan to promote album of same name
• Bring Your Board!! Tour - July 10, 2003 - 25 stops in Japan with one extra live performance
• Jitterbug Live Tour - November 12, 2003
• Pepperoni Quattro Tour - June 12, 2004 - Toured 19 cities in Japan
• Bad for Education Tour 2004 - November 2, 2004 - 15 cities
• Riot on the Grill Tour - May 5, 2005 - 39 stops
• Space Sonic Tour 2005-2006 - December 3, 2005 - 36 stops
• Japan Nite Tour 2006 - January 16, 2006 - First US tour with appearance at SXSW followed by 7 cities
• Ellegarden Tour 2006-2007 - October 12, 2006 - 54 stops, first half featuring Allister
• Supporting Act for Foo Fighters - December 5, 2006 - Osaka Castle Hall
• Ellegarden Tour 2007 - June 10, 2007 - 31 stops in Japan
• First Korean Show at Melon AX - October 7, 2007

Equipment

• Josh Hatheway (vocal & guitar)
  • Gibson Les Paul Std./ Gibson Historic Collection 1956 Les Paul Gold Top
  • Diezel Herbert/ Marshall JCM-800

• Shinichi Ubukata (guitar & chorus)
  • Gibson ES-335 Dot Export/ Gibson ES-335 Diamond F-Hole
  • VHT. Pittbull Hundred CLX/ Marshall JMP 2203

• Yuichi Takada (bass & chorus)
  • Fender Precision Bass/ Ampeg SVT-810 E

• Hirotaka Takahashi (drums & chorus)
  • Ludwig Classic Maple Drum Set/ SD Gretsch G4160
  • Paiste 2002 Series/ Stick Pearl Standard Hickory 190 STH

See also

• Synchronized Rockers - A tribute album to The Pillows featuring Ellegarden
• J-Rock
• Allister
• Weezer
• Asian Kung-Fu Generation
• The Pillows
• The Hiatus
• Nothing's Carved in Stone

External links

• (Japanese) Ellegarden's website
• Morning Scene Ellegarden interview
• Individual band members: