Keiko Terada
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese rock singer. She was the lead singer of the Japanese female heavy metal band Show-Ya from 1982 to 1991, before going solo.
Terada's trademark was a fake rose tattoo she wore above her right breast. She was inspired by Bette Midler
's film The Rose
, in which Midler played a Janis Joplin
-like character.
She expanded from hard rock
and heavy metal
to blues
, pop
and soul
on her solo albums.
She maintained over the years a relevant presence in both Japanese TV and Radio, both alone and as member of other bands. She is now member of the reformed Show-Ya and of the special group Nishidera Minoru.
), she released songs for the anime Sonic Soldier Borgman
. She left Show-Ya to pursue a solo career in 1991.
In 1992 the song "Paradise Wind", taken from her album Body & Soul, was chosen as the official theme for NHK
broadcasting of the Barcelona Olympic Games
. Other solo songs have been used as TV themes or for commercials.
In 1994 she joined the Classic Rock Jam show and she has performed every year, visiting many Japanese cities until 2009.
In 1995 she was on stage for the 'Rock On Kobe' charity show after the Great Hanshin earthquake
.
In 1996 she worked with former Red Warriors guitarist Shake’s project Psychodelicious and released the song "Thank You, Love", final theme for the anime You're Under Arrest!.
In 1998 she sang in the Cozy Powell Forever
album produced by Munetaka Higuchi
and worked again with Higuchi for his SuperRock Summit project in 1999. In 1998, she formed with Miki “sun-go” Igarashi (guitars, former Show-Ya), Atsuko Watanabe (bass, former Princess Princess
), Kyoko Tomita (drums, former Princess Princess
) and Rie Chikaraishi (keyboards) the 'All Japan Women's Pro Band', which performed live and for TV shows for a couple of years. The same year she started a radio broadcast called 'Spirit of Rock' and is a regular radio host for NHK
.
In 2002 she sang with the band Rider Chips
the theme song for the TV show Kamen Rider Ryuki
. She also sang the theme song for the anime Area 88
in 2004. She continued to perform until 2005, when Show-Ya reformed.
In 2008 she formed a parallel band called Nishidera Minoru, with Loudness
singer Minoru Niihara
and Masafumi Nishida. This new band released an album and organized the HARD NA YAON 2009 festival.
Terada's trademark was a fake rose tattoo she wore above her right breast. She was inspired by Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
's film The Rose
The Rose (film)
The Rose is a 1979 American musical drama film which tells the story of a self-destructive 1960s rock star who struggles to cope with the constant pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager...
, in which Midler played a Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
-like character.
She expanded from hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
to blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
on her solo albums.
She maintained over the years a relevant presence in both Japanese TV and Radio, both alone and as member of other bands. She is now member of the reformed Show-Ya and of the special group Nishidera Minoru.
Biography
She started singing professionally in 1981 and founded in 1982 the band Show-Ya, with Miki Nakamura. They briefly enjoyed popularity in Japan and attempted to break into the international market. In 1988 as HIPS together with Masafumi ”Marcy” Nishida, (EarthshakerEarthshaker (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...
), she released songs for the anime Sonic Soldier Borgman
Sonic Soldier Borgman
is a science fiction anime. It features a Super Sentai-like three member team that fight an organization known as Youma. Featuring three main characters: Chuck, Ryo and Anise. Ryo is the leader, while Chuck and Anise are teachers at a public school. Sometimes, the students help or make troubles to...
. She left Show-Ya to pursue a solo career in 1991.
In 1992 the song "Paradise Wind", taken from her album Body & Soul, was chosen as the official theme for NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
broadcasting of the Barcelona Olympic Games
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. Other solo songs have been used as TV themes or for commercials.
In 1994 she joined the Classic Rock Jam show and she has performed every year, visiting many Japanese cities until 2009.
In 1995 she was on stage for the 'Rock On Kobe' charity show after the Great Hanshin earthquake
Great Hanshin earthquake
The Great Hanshin earthquake, or Kobe earthquake, was an earthquake that occurred on Tuesday, January 17, 1995, at 05:46 JST in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It measured 6.8 on the moment magnitude scale , and Mj7.3 on JMA magnitude scale. The tremors lasted for approximately 20...
.
In 1996 she worked with former Red Warriors guitarist Shake’s project Psychodelicious and released the song "Thank You, Love", final theme for the anime You're Under Arrest!.
In 1998 she sang in the Cozy Powell Forever
Cozy Powell Forever
Cozy Powell Forever is a tribute album dedicated to the British rock drummer Cozy Powell, deceased a few months before the album release. The album was produced by Japanese drummer Munetaka Higuchi, with the contribution of many prominent Japanese rock and metal musicians coming from bands such as...
album produced by Munetaka Higuchi
Munetaka Higuchi
was the original drummer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.Since very young, he was considered a talented drummer. During his high school years, Higuchi played in seven bands. But he was not happy with this situation, wanting to focus his time on only one band...
and worked again with Higuchi for his SuperRock Summit project in 1999. In 1998, she formed with Miki “sun-go” Igarashi (guitars, former Show-Ya), Atsuko Watanabe (bass, former Princess Princess
Princess Princess (band)
was a five-piece Japanese Rock/Pop girl band from 1983-1996. They were previously known as "Julian Mama" and "Akasaka Komachi" ....
), Kyoko Tomita (drums, former Princess Princess
Princess Princess (band)
was a five-piece Japanese Rock/Pop girl band from 1983-1996. They were previously known as "Julian Mama" and "Akasaka Komachi" ....
) and Rie Chikaraishi (keyboards) the 'All Japan Women's Pro Band', which performed live and for TV shows for a couple of years. The same year she started a radio broadcast called 'Spirit of Rock' and is a regular radio host for NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
.
In 2002 she sang with the band Rider Chips
RIDER CHIPS
is a Japanese hard rock band started in 2000 on the Avex Mode label. Originally, it consisted of only three instrumentalists who invited different vocalists periodically...
the theme song for the TV show Kamen Rider Ryuki
Kamen Rider Ryuki
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the twelfth installment in the Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and it was shown on TV Asahi from February 3, 2002 to January 19, 2003. The catchphrase for the series is...
. She also sang the theme song for the anime Area 88
Area 88
is a Japanese manga series by Kaoru Shintani serialized between 1979 and 1986. The story is about a young pilot named Shin Kazama and his experiences at Area 88, a mercenary air force base secluded in the desert of a war torn country...
in 2004. She continued to perform until 2005, when Show-Ya reformed.
In 2008 she formed a parallel band called Nishidera Minoru, with Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
singer Minoru Niihara
Minoru Niihara
is the original and current lead singer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act...
and Masafumi Nishida. This new band released an album and organized the HARD NA YAON 2009 festival.
Albums
- Body & Soul (08/05/1992)
- Invisible (03/24/1993)
- Out of Bounds (04/21/1994)
- Warui Yume (悪い夢) (11/23/1994)
- End of the World (02/21/1996)
- Wonderground (03/26/2003)
Singles
- "Paradise Wind" (07/21/1992)
- "Dream Again" (01/21/1993)
- "Open Your Heart" (05/21/1993)
- "Tengoku no Deguchi" (天国の出口) (04/21/1994)
- "Sorae" (空へ) (11/23/1994)
- "Dead or Alive" (09/26/1997)
Collaborations
- Hips : "Yoru o Buttobase" (夜をぶっとばせ) / "Tender" (11/30/1988)
- SuperRock Summit - Stairway to Heaven (03/17/1999)
- SuperRock Summit - Rainbow Eyes (06/30/1999)
- Rider Chips featuring Keiko Terada: "Hateshinai Honō no Naka E" (果てしない炎の中へ) (06/18/2002)
- エリア88 (Area 88): "Mission (Fuga) (by Angels)" / "Senjō no Dance" (戦場のダンス) - Dance in the Battlefield (02/25/2004)