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Plastic Tree

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Plastic Tree

Plastic Tree (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. Since forming, they have changed drummers 3 times.

Biography

Ryuutarou at an autograph session at Chibi Japan Expo 2007.

Plastic Tree (プラスティック トゥリー), also known as PuraTuri (プラトゥリ), 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- on GIO RECORDS (an indie label run by CLUB GIO) [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 debut and their first release on a major label.

In 2001, their contract with Warner Music Japan ended [3]. They switched to SWEET HEART RECORDS where they released the single 散りユク僕ラ (Chiriyuku Bokura). This is when Takashi left the band, being replaced by Sasabuchi Hiroshi on the then-upcoming Träumerei album.

In 2002, they had a short stint with ATMARK CORPORATION and released 蒼い鳥 (Aoi Tori) and トロイメライ (Träumerei)[5] with them.

A year later in 2003, they released both singles バカになったのに　(Baka ni Natta no ni) and もしもピアノが弾けたなら　(Moshimo Piano ga Hiketa Nara) only about a month apart from each other on the SWEET HEART RECORDS label. Then, in 2005, they transferred from SWEET HEART RECORDS to a sub-label of Universal Music, J-ROCK[6].

When they made this switch, their official website moved and their fanclub "Sickroom" was renamed to "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 [7] , named the Chandelier Tour, and performed concerts in France, Germany, and Finland. The tour also contained concerts in Mexico, but they unfortunately had to be canceled. The tour was so successful that they returned a year later to perform at a German anime convention, AnimagiC[8].

Sound

Early in their career, their music was dark and 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[9].

Plastic Tree has also stated that their sound has been considerably influenced by British bands such as Radiohead and The Cure[9], though the most recognizable signature of Plastic Tree is the melodic, child-like voice of Ryuutarou. It is often described as very 'ethereal', and adds to the unique quality of their music. Their sound is also aided by Ryuutarou's unique lyrics.

Plastic Tree's current sound ranges from hardcore rock to pop. Before the album Träumerei was released, Tadashi wrote nearly all the songs, usually with Ryuutarou writing lyrics. However, more recent releases have had Akira and Ryuutarou writing both lyrics and music more frequently.

Controversy Over Band Name

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 this song do not coincide properly.

In an interview with JaME[9], Ryuutarou explained the real meaning of their name.

Ryuutarou: When we had to name our band, Tadashi and I experimented with words. We said, ‘"Let’'s put 2 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.

Even though their name may not have come from the Radiohead song, Radiohead is still a major influence on the band. It is common knowledge that Plastic Tree's リラの樹 (Rira no Ki) is a "cover" of Radiohead's My Iron Lung.

Band Members

有村竜太朗 Arimura Ryuutarou

  • vocal
  • march 6, 1973
  • bloodtype AB

長谷川 正 Hasegawa Tadashi

  • bass
  • November 16, 1970
  • bloodtype O

ササブチ ヒロシ Sasabuchi Hiroshi "Bucchi"

  • drums
  • October 12, 1976
  • bloodtype A

ナカヤマ アキラ Nakayama Akira

  • guitar
  • January 16, 1971
  • bloodtype A

大正谷　隆　Osyoudani Takashi (ex-drummer)

  • drums
  • January 15, 1972
  • bloodtype B

Trivia

Discography

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)

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)

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)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plastic Tree.

References

  1. ^ "Interview With Plastic Tree". JaME (jame-world.com). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  2. ^ "Zy 38: Ryutaro Arimura (Interview)". JaME (jame-world.com). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  3. ^ a b "Plastic Tree". Kiraku.tv (kiraku.tv). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  4. ^ "Plastic Tree Disography". WARNER MUSIC JAPAN(wmg.jp). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  5. ^ "Plastic Tree". JaME (jame-world.com). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  6. ^ "Plastic Tree". Universal Music (universal-music.co.jp). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  7. ^ "Plastic Tree World Tour". JaME (jame-world.com). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  8. ^ "Plastic Tree at AnimagiC". JaME (jame-world.com). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  9. ^ a b c "Interview with Plastic Tree". JaME (jame-world.com). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
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