The Pillows
The Pillows |
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The Pillows (or the pillows) are a Japanese rock band, best known internationally for the soundtrack of the anime series FLCL.[1] During its long-running career, the group has released more than a dozen original studio albums, along with several EPs, singles and compilations. The Pillows are currently signed to the Avex Trax label.
History
The Pillows were formed on September 16, 1989 by Sawao Yamanaka, Yoshiaki Manabe, Kenji Ueda and Shinichirou Sato in Hokkaidō. Bassist Kenji Ueda would leave three years later and was never officially replaced.[1]
Following Ueda's departure, the band recruited Tatsuya Kashima as the replacement on bass, but out of respect for Ueda, was only labeled as a guest musician on releases he performed on. He would stay in the band through 1999 and the release of Runners High, being replaced by Jun Suzuki who is still with the band today.
In 1999, The Pillows were approached by Gainax, an anime studio. Gainax licensed The Pillows' three previous albums for the soundtrack of their then latest anime FLCL. The Pillows also composed two new songs for the show, the singles "Ride on Shooting Star" and "I Think I Can".[1]
In March 2005, The Pillows played their first show in the United States at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas,[2] followed by concerts in New York City and San Francisco.[3] In the following year, The Pillows returned to North America during their tour in support of the album My Foot, with several more dates in the U.S. and a show in Mexico City.[4]
The group's latest album Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! was published on May 2, 2007, their first on the Avex Trax label. A new single, Ladybird Girl, was released on August 15, 2007, and is being used in the Japanese version of the hit children's show Ben 10 as its theme song.
They returned to the US in 2008 starting with Los Angeles, followed by another appearance at SXSW, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City.[5] They were one of the main attractions at Anime Boston 2008, playing at the Hynes Convention Center on March 22, just a day after their show in New York.
Buster-kun
Buster-kun has been The Pillows' mascot since about 1998, when on a visit to London, they saw a doll of a "grotesque and creepy-looking teddy bear" (which can be seen in their video "Hybrid Rainbow") and subsequently used it for the artwork of the album Little Busters and on t-shirts sold during the following tour. Buster-kun was named after the album and the group also uses the term "little busters" for its fans.[6]
Lineup
- Sawao Yamanaka (山中さわお, Yamanaka Sawao) – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Yoshiaki Manabe (真鍋吉明, Manabe Yoshiaki) – lead guitar
- Shinichirou Sato (佐藤シンイチロウ, Sato Shinichirou) – drums
- Jun Suzuki (鈴木淳, Suzuki Jun) – bass (support member,[1][7] since 1999)
Former members
- Kenji Ueda (上田ケンジ, Ueda Kenji) – bass (1989–1992)
- Tatsuya Kashima (鹿島達也, Kashima Tatsuya) – bass (1992–1999)
Discography
Interviews
- Alchemy's Jennifer Ho speaks to Sawao Yamanaka on the Asian Pop Show SBS Radio in English 2008
- Alchemy's Jennifer Ho speaks to Sawao Yamanaka on the Asian Pop Show SBS Radio in Japanese 2008
References
- ^ a b c d
Osueke, Austin (2006-07-07). ""J-Pop Is the Quiet Storm in American Culture"". asianweek.com. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "SXSW 2005 Showcasing Artists: The Pillows". sxsw.com. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
- ^
""More Pillows Concerts"". animenewsnetwork.com. 2005-02-28. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^
""The Pillows Tour North America in June"". animenewsnetwork.com. 2006-05-24. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "SXSW 2008 Showcasing Artists: The Pillows". sxsw.com. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- ^
Mays, Jonathan (2006-07-02). ""Sound Decision"". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "The Pillows profile". pillows.jp. Retrieved 2007-08-05.