Guitar Vader
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese underground indie rock
band. Formed in 1998, the band is best known for their contributions to the soundtracks of Sega
's Jet Set Radio
and Jet Set Radio Future
games.
Like The Beatles
and Pixies, Guitar Vader had two lead vocalists and songwriters, Miki Tanabe and Ujuan Shozo, who also played guitar and bass, respectively. Miki's child-like voice and Ujuan's tenor are often used in harmony and call and response, but many songs are sung exclusively by one or the other. Their music generally features pop-oriented melodies, often coupled with aggressive power chords and hard rock influences, and sometimes playfully shifts between genres in mid-song. Nirvana
, The Beatles
, The Pixies and the Ramones
have been cited as primary influences by the band's members, as well as lesser influences like Air and Guitar Wolf
. Others have likened their sound to bands as disparate as The B-52's
and Smashing Pumpkins.
while the two were in different bands. The two became friends, and after their other bands bands broke up, they decided to collaborate. Yuki Takumiya joined them as the band's drummer. The trio began recording at Berry Records soon after, and during October 1998, they released their first cassette tape, a collection of four songs titled Guitar Vader Vol. 1. The tapes, sold at an independent record store in Tokyo called "High-Line", managed to sell more than 1000 units; a considerable amount for a single store. The release was followed by another release, which sold another 1000 units. Empowered by their success, the two volumes were compiled along with new material and one remix onto the two tape set, Die Happy!. The album gained distribution in Tower Records
and HMV
stores, but was never released officially on CD. This gave the band, who only performed live shows irregularly, their first real exposure to a larger audience. Later that year, they released one more tape, containing three new songs, including the exclusive rarity "Generation Revolution".
Following Die Happy!, Guitar Vader was asked to contribute original music to the Dreamcast game RoomMania #203, a life sim following a virtual college student. Guitar Vader contributed ten songs to the game's extensive soundtrack. The successful release of the game suddenly skyrocketed Guitar Vader's profile and the need for a proper CD release became increasingly apparent.
It was around this time that the band departed from the lo-fi recording sensibilities of their earlier work with their second album Wild at Honey (a reference to the Beach Boys album Wild Honey
) containing two songs from Guitar Vader Vol. 3 and new material. Shortly thereafter, the band released a single, Beach Panic, containing two songs. Following its completion, drummer Takumiya left the band.
Video game composer Hideki Naganuma
was among the many who discovered Guitar Vader through the Die Happy! tapes. A lover of underground music, Naganuma decided that they would be a perfect fit for the upcoming game, Jet Set Radio
, set in an alternate-reality version of Shinjuku, Tokyo. The game was widely praised for its unique soundtrack, which prominently featured Guitar Vader's song Magical Girl in the opening tutorial, and Super Brothers (another Die Happy! track) in a later stage.
In 2000, Guitar Vader began work on their third album, From Dusk. Joined by Suzuki Yoshifumi on drums, the album marked a major evolution for the band, particularly for its prominent use of keyboards, played by producer Taichi Ohira, as well as its more polished, melodic sound. The album was released in early 2001, and although it was not a big seller, the album remains Guitar Vader's commercial peak. Jet Set Radio Future
was released in 2001, and featured a song from the album, "Baby-T" as well as a remix of "I Love Love You," also released on the remix
album Remixes GVR.
After the acquisition of Berry Records by Sony Music, Guitar Vader became increasingly unhappy with their contract, in particular their lack of ownership of their music, low royalties, and inability to get a new album released. At the time, both members of the band still worked part-time jobs to earn their living. The band left Berry in 2003 and formed an independent label, Plugs House. They built their own studio and produced a fourth album, Dawn. The release marked a continued evolution of the band's sound, with synths and programming performed by Ujuan. During 2003, the band also played two shows in England
, hosted by Pixelsurgeon
, their only shows outside of Japan.
To replicate these songs in live performances, the band recruited American keyboardist Steve Laity. Although Laity was made an official member of the band, he has not appeared on their albums. In October 2004, Guitar Vader released their final album, Happy East. It continued the expanded sound of Dawn with an eclectic mix of songs, including an electronica
instrumental "Suspense" that marked the only song of its kind in the band's catalog. The album was a commercial disappointment, with Laity mentioning that it sold less than 1,000 copies, although this may have referred to albums sold through their international distributor, YesJapan.
In 2006, the band began work on another album, reaching near completion when Ujuan suffered a viral heart infection that left him hospitalized for months, with continuing health issues long after. The band cancelled their first scheduled concert in the United States
at that year's FanimeCon
. Although the album was either completed or close to completed, a falling out between Miki and Ujuan prevented its release, despite pressure from Suzuki and Laity to release it. In 2007, Laity confirmed on Guitar Vader's message board that the band had disbanded and a "very large rift" had formed between the band's two key members. No official announcement was ever made.
Miki Tanabe: Vocals/Guitar, born 2 December 1974 in Yokohama
, Japan
Suzuki Yoshifumi: Drums, born 22 August 1977 in Shizuoka, Japan
Steve Laity: Live Keyboards, born 11 March 1980 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese underground indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band. Formed in 1998, the band is best known for their contributions to the soundtracks of Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
's Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio
is a video game for the Dreamcast, developed by Smilebit and published by Sega on June 29, 2000. A 2D version of the game was later released for Game Boy Advance; this version was developed by Vicarious Visions and published by THQ. Its sequel, Jet Set Radio Future was released 2 years later for...
and Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future is a video game developed by Smilebit and the sequel to Jet Set Radio. The game is also known as Jet Grind Radio. It was published by Sega. It was released on February 25, 2002 in the United States, near the beginning of the Xbox's lifespan...
games.
Like The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Pixies, Guitar Vader had two lead vocalists and songwriters, Miki Tanabe and Ujuan Shozo, who also played guitar and bass, respectively. Miki's child-like voice and Ujuan's tenor are often used in harmony and call and response, but many songs are sung exclusively by one or the other. Their music generally features pop-oriented melodies, often coupled with aggressive power chords and hard rock influences, and sometimes playfully shifts between genres in mid-song. Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Pixies and the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
have been cited as primary influences by the band's members, as well as lesser influences like Air and Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf is a Japanese garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki, Nagasaki in 1987. The band is known for songs with piercing vocals and an extremely loud style of noise-influenced punk which emphasizes heavy distortion and feedback...
. Others have likened their sound to bands as disparate as The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
and Smashing Pumpkins.
History
Miki and Ujuan first met in Kawasaki, KanagawaKawasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
while the two were in different bands. The two became friends, and after their other bands bands broke up, they decided to collaborate. Yuki Takumiya joined them as the band's drummer. The trio began recording at Berry Records soon after, and during October 1998, they released their first cassette tape, a collection of four songs titled Guitar Vader Vol. 1. The tapes, sold at an independent record store in Tokyo called "High-Line", managed to sell more than 1000 units; a considerable amount for a single store. The release was followed by another release, which sold another 1000 units. Empowered by their success, the two volumes were compiled along with new material and one remix onto the two tape set, Die Happy!. The album gained distribution in Tower Records
Tower Records
Tower Records was a retail music chain that was based in Sacramento, California. It currently exists as an international franchise and an online music store....
and HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
stores, but was never released officially on CD. This gave the band, who only performed live shows irregularly, their first real exposure to a larger audience. Later that year, they released one more tape, containing three new songs, including the exclusive rarity "Generation Revolution".
Following Die Happy!, Guitar Vader was asked to contribute original music to the Dreamcast game RoomMania #203, a life sim following a virtual college student. Guitar Vader contributed ten songs to the game's extensive soundtrack. The successful release of the game suddenly skyrocketed Guitar Vader's profile and the need for a proper CD release became increasingly apparent.
It was around this time that the band departed from the lo-fi recording sensibilities of their earlier work with their second album Wild at Honey (a reference to the Beach Boys album Wild Honey
Wild Honey (album)
-Singles:* "Wild Honey" b/w "Wind Chimes" , 23 October 1967 US #31; UK #29* "Darlin'" b/w "Here Today" , 18 December 1967 US #19; UK #11....
) containing two songs from Guitar Vader Vol. 3 and new material. Shortly thereafter, the band released a single, Beach Panic, containing two songs. Following its completion, drummer Takumiya left the band.
Video game composer Hideki Naganuma
Hideki Naganuma
is a Japanese music composer who primarily does work for video game soundtracks.His style is one that primarily mixes Japanese techno, funk, soul, and hip-hop elements to create a unique and vivid sound. Naganuma is most famous for his original compositions used in the Dreamcast game Jet Set Radio...
was among the many who discovered Guitar Vader through the Die Happy! tapes. A lover of underground music, Naganuma decided that they would be a perfect fit for the upcoming game, Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio
is a video game for the Dreamcast, developed by Smilebit and published by Sega on June 29, 2000. A 2D version of the game was later released for Game Boy Advance; this version was developed by Vicarious Visions and published by THQ. Its sequel, Jet Set Radio Future was released 2 years later for...
, set in an alternate-reality version of Shinjuku, Tokyo. The game was widely praised for its unique soundtrack, which prominently featured Guitar Vader's song Magical Girl in the opening tutorial, and Super Brothers (another Die Happy! track) in a later stage.
In 2000, Guitar Vader began work on their third album, From Dusk. Joined by Suzuki Yoshifumi on drums, the album marked a major evolution for the band, particularly for its prominent use of keyboards, played by producer Taichi Ohira, as well as its more polished, melodic sound. The album was released in early 2001, and although it was not a big seller, the album remains Guitar Vader's commercial peak. Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future is a video game developed by Smilebit and the sequel to Jet Set Radio. The game is also known as Jet Grind Radio. It was published by Sega. It was released on February 25, 2002 in the United States, near the beginning of the Xbox's lifespan...
was released in 2001, and featured a song from the album, "Baby-T" as well as a remix of "I Love Love You," also released on the remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
album Remixes GVR.
After the acquisition of Berry Records by Sony Music, Guitar Vader became increasingly unhappy with their contract, in particular their lack of ownership of their music, low royalties, and inability to get a new album released. At the time, both members of the band still worked part-time jobs to earn their living. The band left Berry in 2003 and formed an independent label, Plugs House. They built their own studio and produced a fourth album, Dawn. The release marked a continued evolution of the band's sound, with synths and programming performed by Ujuan. During 2003, the band also played two shows in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, hosted by Pixelsurgeon
Pixelsurgeon
Pixelsurgeon was an online design and culture magazine featuring news, reviews and interviews. It's a digest of the creative, strange and interesting from the internet with a growing readership and popular following....
, their only shows outside of Japan.
To replicate these songs in live performances, the band recruited American keyboardist Steve Laity. Although Laity was made an official member of the band, he has not appeared on their albums. In October 2004, Guitar Vader released their final album, Happy East. It continued the expanded sound of Dawn with an eclectic mix of songs, including an electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
instrumental "Suspense" that marked the only song of its kind in the band's catalog. The album was a commercial disappointment, with Laity mentioning that it sold less than 1,000 copies, although this may have referred to albums sold through their international distributor, YesJapan.
In 2006, the band began work on another album, reaching near completion when Ujuan suffered a viral heart infection that left him hospitalized for months, with continuing health issues long after. The band cancelled their first scheduled concert in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at that year's FanimeCon
FanimeCon
FanimeCon is an annual anime convention run by the Anime Resource Group . It is the largest anime convention in Northern California and one of the ten largest anime conventions in North America...
. Although the album was either completed or close to completed, a falling out between Miki and Ujuan prevented its release, despite pressure from Suzuki and Laity to release it. In 2007, Laity confirmed on Guitar Vader's message board that the band had disbanded and a "very large rift" had formed between the band's two key members. No official announcement was ever made.
Band members
Ujuan Shozo: Vocals/Bass/Programming, born 28 November 1974 in Kagoshima, JapanMiki Tanabe: Vocals/Guitar, born 2 December 1974 in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
Suzuki Yoshifumi: Drums, born 22 August 1977 in Shizuoka, Japan
Steve Laity: Live Keyboards, born 11 March 1980 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
EPs
- Guitar Vader Vol. 1 (1998)
- Guitar Vader Vol. 2 (1998)
- Guitar Vader Vol. 3 (1999)
Studio Albums
- Die Happy! (1999)
- Wild at HoneyWild at HoneyWild At Honey is the second studio album by Japanese Rock band Guitar Vader, released in 2000 . The album was their first release on compact disc, following an album and several short releases on cassette tape...
(2000) - From DuskFrom DuskFrom Dusk is the third studio album by Japanese Rock band Guitar Vader, released in 2001 .-Track listing:#"Perfect Bird" – 4:13#"Cutting Evil Smile" – 4:27#"Baby - T" - 1:42#"The Time Slips Away" - 3:38#"Goodness Happiness" - 3:02...
(2001) - DawnDawn (Guitar Vader album)Dawn is the fourth studio album by Japanese Rock band Guitar Vader, released in 2003 . The first track, "Satisfy," is notable for containing many lyrical references to "You Make It Easy" by Air.-Track listing:#"Satisfy" – 3:33...
(2003) - Happy East (2004)
External links
- Guitar Vader @ MySpace
- Keikaku - English Feature/interviews: Guitar Vader and Steve Laity.
- Guitar Vader - Guitar Vader's page on JapanFiles