Plastic Tree

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Plastic Tree
Origin	Chiba, Japan
Genre(s)	Alternative rock
Years active	1993-present
Label(s)	Universal Music, JROCK, Akatsuki
Members
Arimura Ryutaro (有村竜太朗) Nakayama Akira (ナカヤマ アキラ) Hasegawa Tadashi (長谷川 正) Sato Kenken (佐藤ケンケン)
Former members
Shin (Drums) (left 1996) Takashi (Drums) (left 2001) Sasabuchi "Bucchi" Hiroshi (Drums) (left 2009)

Plastic Tree (Japanese: プラスティック トゥリー) is a Japanese rock band that formed in late 1993 in Chiba, Japan^[1]. They released their first mini-album in December of 1995 and in 1997 ^[2], they debuted by releasing their first single on a major label.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Sound and Style 3 Band Members 4 Ex-members 5 Trivia 6 Discography 6.1 Albums 6.2 Singles 6.3 DVD 7 External links 8 References

[edit] Biography

Plastic Tree (プラスティック トゥリー), also known as PuraTuri (プラトゥリ) or Pura (プラ) to fans, was formed in December 1993. Early in their career, they would frequently perform live and hand out free copies of their demotapes.

In 1995, they released their first mini-album Strange Fruits -奇妙な果実-^[3] after changing drummers twice.

Two years later, they would go on to release their first single 割れた窓 (Wareta Mado) with Warner Music Japan^[4], marking their official debut and their first release on a major label.

They are currently on the "JROCK" label, a sublabel of Universal Music.

Their fanclub is currently named "Jellyfish Breed". Because of this, their fans are often referred to as Kurage, which is Japanese for "jellyfish".

Plastic Tree planned their first overseas tour in 2006 ^[5] , named the Chandelier Tour, and performed concerts in France, Germany, and Finland. Since then, they have frequently toured Europe.

While it has been popularly speculated that the band's name was derived from Radiohead's song, Fake Plastic Trees, the formation of the band and the release of the song do not coincide.

In an interview with JaME^[6], Ryutaro explained:

Ryutaro: When we had to name our band, Tadashi and I experimented with words. We said, 'Let's put two words together!' and 'Why don't we make a combination of something artificial and something natural,' and said a variety of things like 'steel,' and 'stone,' 'river,' etc. Finally we said 'plastic' and 'tree,' then we said 'It's good,' and then it was decided.

On Feb. 23th 2009, Sasabuchi Hiroshi announced his resignation as the band's drummer after being with the band for 7 years. On July 3rd 2009, Sato Kenken was announced as the band's new drummer. Since forming, they have had 4 different drummers.

[edit] Sound and Style

Early in their career, their music had heavy visual kei influences. As time went on, their sound seemed to change and evolve with every album. Due to this, the band does not think that they should be placed into any certain genre^[6].

Plastic Tree has stated that their sound has been considerably influenced by British bands such as Radiohead and The Cure^[6]. These influences have become less apparent as of recent.

The most easily recognizable signature of Plastic Tree's music is the melodic, child-like voice of Ryutaro. It is often described as very 'ethereal', and adds to the unique quality of their music. Their sound is also aided by Ryutaro's unique and abstract lyrics. Even so, all three band members collaborate to write songs and lyrics.

Plastic Tree's current sound ranges from hardcore rock to pop, and newer releases have an easily accessible sound.

[edit] Band Members

有村竜太朗 (Arimura Ryutaro)
Vocalist
Born March 6, 1973
Blood type AB

長谷川 正 (Hasegawa Tadashi)
Bassist
Born November 16, 1970
Blood type O

ナカヤマ アキラ (Nakayama Akira)
Guitarist
Born January 16, 1971
Blood type A

佐藤 ケンケン (Sato Kenken)
Drummer
Born January 8, 1978
Blood type unknown

[edit] Ex-members

ササブチ ヒロシ (Sasabuchi Hiroshi) (ex-drummer)
Born October 12, 1976
Blood type A

大正谷　隆　(Osyoudani Takashi) (ex-drummer)
Born January 15, 1972
Blood type B

[edit] Trivia

• Akira Nakayama is the support guitarist for Coaltar of the Deepers.
• Plastic Tree's single Namida Drop was used as the first ending song for the anime Garasu no Kantai.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

• Kimyou na Kajitsu ~Strange Fruits~ (1995.12.11)
• Hide and Seek (1997.07.10)
• Puppet Show (1998.08.26)
• Parade (2000.08.23)
• Cut ~Early Songs Best Selection~ (2001.03.27)
• Plastic Tree Single Collection (2001.11.14)
• トロイメライ (TRÄUMEREI [toroimerai]) (2002.09.21)
• Best Album (Premium Best) (2002.11.07)
• シロクロニクル　(SHIRO CHRONICLE) (2003.10.22)
• cell (2004.8.25)
• 白盤 [shiro ban] (Greatest Hits) (2005.10.26)
• 黒盤 [kuro ban] (Greatest Hits) (2005.10.26)
• シャンデリア (CHANDELIER) (2006.06.28)
• 「ネガとポジ」(Nega to Poji) (2007.06.27)
• B面画報 (B-Men Gahou) (2007.09.05)
• ウツセミ (utsu semi) (2008.09.24)

[edit] Singles

• リラの樹　RIRA no ki (1996.09.25)
• 割れた窓　wareta mado (1997.06.25)
• 本当の嘘　hontou no uso (1998.02.15)
• 絶望の丘　zetsubou no oka (1998.06.25)
• トレモロ　Tremolo (1999.03.10)
• Sink (1999.08.25)
• ツメタイヒカリTSUMETAI HIKARI (1999.12.10)
• スライド　SLIDE (2000.04.19)
• ロケット　ROCKET (2000.07.12)
• プラネタリウム　PLANETARIUM (2001.01.07)
• 散りユク僕ラ　chiriyuku bokura (2001.09.14)
• 蒼い鳥　aoi tori (2002.06.26)
• バカになったのに　baka ni natta noni (2003.05.21)
• もしもピアノが弾げたなら　MOSHIMO PIANO GA HIKETA NARA (2003.06.25)
• 水色ガールフレンド　mizuiro GIRLFRIEND (2003.10.1)
• 雪蛍 yuki hotaru (2004.01.12)
• 春咲 センチメンタル harusaki SENTIMENTAL (2004.03.10)
• メランコリック　MELANCHOLIC (2004.07.28)
• 讚美歌 sanbika (2005.5.11)
• 名前のない花 namae no nai hana (2005.10.12)
• GHOST (2005.11.16)
• 空中ブランコ kuuchuu buranko (2005.12.14)
• ナミダ ドロップ namida doroppu (2006.05.10)
• スピカ spica (2007.01.23)
• 真っ赤な糸 makka na ito (2007.05.16)
• アローンアゲイン、ワンダフルワールド alone again, wonderful world (2008.04.09)
• リプレイ/DOLLY replay/dolly (2008.08.13)
• 梟 Fukurou (2009.6.10)

[edit] DVD

• 二次元ヲゴール③ nijigen orgel 3 (2004.12.22)
• 黒テント② kuro tent 2 (2002.12.18)
• 黒テント (2002.03.21)
• 二次元ヲゴール② nijigen orgel 2 (2000.11.22)
• 二次元ヲゴール nijigen orgel (2005.07.28)
• 花燃えて、亡霊の涙、天幕に堕ちる。- Live & Clips 2005 (2006.03.09)
• ZERO 10th Anniversary LIVE at budoukan (2007.09.08)
• Merry Go Around The World (2008.12.24)

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Plastic Tree

• Official website
• Official blog
• Old blog
• International Pura Forum
• Kurage - livejournal community
• schwarzes Zelt - unofficial site
• Fans Club Chilean Fans
• {{{artist}}} at Allmusic

[edit] References

1. ^ "Interview With Plastic Tree". JaME (jame-world.com). http://www.jame-world.com/us/article.php?id=77. Retrieved on 2008-07-13. 
2. ^ "Zy 38: Ryutaro Arimura (Interview)". JaME (jame-world.com). http://www.jame-world.com/us/article.php?id=3963. Retrieved on 2008-07-13. 
3. ^ "Plastic Tree". Kiraku.tv (kiraku.tv). http://wiki.kiraku.tv/wiki/Plastic_Tree. Retrieved on 2008-07-13. 
4. ^ "Plastic Tree Discography". WARNER MUSIC JAPAN(wmg.jp). http://wmg.jp/plastic_tree/disco1.html#1. Retrieved on 2008-07-13. 
5. ^ "Plastic Tree World Tour". JaME (jame-world.com). http://www.jame-world.com/us/theme.php?id=13. Retrieved on 2008-07-13. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Interview with Plastic Tree". JaME (jame-world.com). http://www.jmusiceuropa.com/uk/article.php?id=77. Retrieved on 2008-07-13.