Kyosuke Himuro
Encyclopedia
is a popular Japanese singer. He was a member of the rock group Boøwy
from 1981 to 1988. After the group disbanded he started a successful solo career. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked Himuro at number 76 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California
, where he purchased a palatial residence in Beverly Hills
in 2004, which was previously owned by Shaquille O'Neal
.
He has frequently played music with Steve Stevens
, best known as the backing guitarist Billy Idol
. For example, Stevens participated in Himuro's album as a guitarist and his concert tour
after his album I·De·A.
On August 22, 2004, he held a concert, entitled "21st Century Boøwys VS Himuro", at the Tokyo Dome
. He sang many Boøwy
songs, the first time in sixteen years.
"Wild Romance" was used as the ending theme music
for the Japanese dubbed version of Van Helsing
.
Most recently, Himuro's song "Calling", from his 1989 album Neo Fascio, was used in the ending credits to the highly anticipated 2005 CG Film Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. The film's director Tetsuya Nomura
has noted that Himuro's music has been highly influential in his own work, and when asked about his contribution to the film, Himuro said that he was happy his work would be used in "the best CG movie ever made in Japan".
On August 5 and 6, 2006, he held a concert called "Kyosuke Himuro + Glay 2006 at Ajonomoto-Stadium "Swing Addition"" with Japanese band Glay
in Ajinomoto Stadium. In addition, Himuro released first collaborated single with Glay called "Answer" on August 2, 2006.
The Japanese release of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete features a new ending song by Himuro, replacing the original use of "Calling". "Safe and Sound" is the title and it features My Chemical Romance
lead singer Gerard Way
. "Safe and Sound" was released on iTunes store on April 29, 2009. However, the North American release does not contain "Safe and Sound", but instead continues to feature "Calling".
Himuro donated 669,220,940 yen (around 8.7 million USD) to Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate prefectures, for recovery after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
.
" was composed by Himuro himself.
Boøwy
Boøwy was a Japanese rock group consisting of Kyosuke Himuro , Tomoyasu Hotei , Tsunematsu Matsui and Makoto Takahashi . They were a rock band that reached legendary status in Japan during the 1980s...
from 1981 to 1988. After the group disbanded he started a successful solo career. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked Himuro at number 76 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where he purchased a palatial residence in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
in 2004, which was previously owned by Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
.
He has frequently played music with Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He...
, best known as the backing guitarist Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
. For example, Stevens participated in Himuro's album as a guitarist and his concert tour
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
after his album I·De·A.
On August 22, 2004, he held a concert, entitled "21st Century Boøwys VS Himuro", at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
. He sang many Boøwy
Boøwy
Boøwy was a Japanese rock group consisting of Kyosuke Himuro , Tomoyasu Hotei , Tsunematsu Matsui and Makoto Takahashi . They were a rock band that reached legendary status in Japan during the 1980s...
songs, the first time in sixteen years.
"Wild Romance" was used as the ending theme music
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
for the Japanese dubbed version of Van Helsing
Van Helsing (film)
Van Helsing is a 2004 American action horror film directed by Stephen Sommers. It stars Hugh Jackman as vigilante monster hunter Gabriel Van Helsing, and Kate Beckinsale...
.
Most recently, Himuro's song "Calling", from his 1989 album Neo Fascio, was used in the ending credits to the highly anticipated 2005 CG Film Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. The film's director Tetsuya Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura
is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix , best known for his work on both the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.-Time before Square:Nomura was born in Kōchi, Japan...
has noted that Himuro's music has been highly influential in his own work, and when asked about his contribution to the film, Himuro said that he was happy his work would be used in "the best CG movie ever made in Japan".
On August 5 and 6, 2006, he held a concert called "Kyosuke Himuro + Glay 2006 at Ajonomoto-Stadium "Swing Addition"" with Japanese band Glay
Glay
Glay is a rock/pop band from Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan formed by guitarist Takuro and vocalist Teru in high school in 1988. Glay primarily composes songs in the rock and pop genres, but they have also composed songs using elements of different styles such as reggae and gospel...
in Ajinomoto Stadium. In addition, Himuro released first collaborated single with Glay called "Answer" on August 2, 2006.
The Japanese release of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete features a new ending song by Himuro, replacing the original use of "Calling". "Safe and Sound" is the title and it features My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
lead singer Gerard Way
Gerard Way
Gerard Arthur Way is an American musician and comic book writer who has served as lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance since its formation in 2001...
. "Safe and Sound" was released on iTunes store on April 29, 2009. However, the North American release does not contain "Safe and Sound", but instead continues to feature "Calling".
Himuro donated 669,220,940 yen (around 8.7 million USD) to Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate prefectures, for recovery after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
.
Albums
- Flowers for AlgernonFLOWERS for ALGERNON (album)Flowers for Algernon is the first solo album by Japanese singer Kyosuke Himuro. Japanese rock group Boøwy, to which he once belonged, disbanded and this album was released as his solo debut five months later.-Track listing:#"Angel"#"Roxy"#"Love & Game"...
(September 1, 1988) - Neo Fascio (September 27, 1989)
- Higher SelfHigher Self (album)-Track listing:#Crime of Love#Black-List#Velvet Rose#Psychic Baby#Maximum 100 no Yūutsu #Wild at Night#Stormy Night#Climax#Cabaret in the Heaven#Moon#Jealousy wo Nemurasete #Lover's Day -Solitude-...
(April 6, 1991) - Memories of Blue (January 7, 1993)
- Shake the Fake (September 26, 1994)
- Missing Piece (September 30, 1996)
- I·De·A (December 10, 1997)
- Mellow (February 23, 2000)
- Beat Haze Odyssey (mini album) (October 18, 2000)
- Follow the Wind (August 20, 2003)
- In the Mood (December 20, 2006)
- "B"orderless (September 8, 2010)
Singles
- "Angel" (July 21, 1988)
- "Dear Algernon" (October 7, 1988)
- "Summer Game" (July 26, 1989)
- "Misty" (September 6, 1989)
- "Jealousy" (May 16, 1990)
- "Crime of Love" (February 27, 1991)
- "Urban Dance" (February 26, 1992)
- "Good Luck My Love" (November 7, 1992)
- "Kiss Me" (December 7, 1992)
- "Virgin Beat" (August 29, 1994)
- "Tamashii wo Daitekure" (魂を抱いてくれ) (literal translation: "Hug the Soul") (October 25, 1995)
- "Stay" (June 24, 1996)
- "Squall" (August 15, 1996)
- "Waltz" (January 15, 1997)
- "Native Stranger" (June 4, 1997)
- "Heat" (October 29, 1997)
- "Sleepless Night" (August 18, 1999)
- "Diamond Dust" (October 27, 1999)
- "Eternity" (February 23, 2000)
- "Girls Be Glamorous" (January 1, 2001)
- "Claudia" (July 20, 2003)
- "Wild Romance" (September 8, 2004)
- "Easy Love" (single of Fairness Angel Setsuna) (February 8, 2006)
- "Sweet Revolution" / "In the Nude ~Even Not in the Mood~" (October 4, 2006)
- "Safe And Sound" feat. Gerard WayGerard WayGerard Arthur Way is an American musician and comic book writer who has served as lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance since its formation in 2001...
(April 29, 2009) - "Bang The Beat" / "Safe And Sound" (July 14, 2010)
Compilations
- Singles (July 19, 1995)
- Collective Souls (June 24, 1998)
- Ballad ~ La Pluie (September 27, 2001)
- Case of Himuro (March 19, 2003)
- 20th Anniversary All Singles Complete Best Just Movin' on ~All The-S-Hit~ (June 11, 2008)
Others
- Lover's Day Double Happiness (August 21, 1991)
- Masterpiece #12 (April 25, 1992)
- "Tour Collective Souls" 1999 (December 9, 1998)
- Lover’s Day II (January 27, 1999)
- Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Original Soundtrack (September 28, 2005)
DVDs
- 100152 (February 23, 1999)
- Digital BeatNix Tower (October 18, 2000)
- Case of Himuro: 15th Anniversary Special Live (November 25, 2003)
- Kyosuke Himuro Tour 2003: "Higher Than Heaven" (August 18, 2004)
- 21st Century Boowys VS Himuro (December 24, 2004)
- SOUL STANDING BY〜 (2005)
- Kyosuke Himuro/Captured Clips 1988-2006 (2006)
- Kyosuke Himuro TOUR 2007"IN THE MOOD" (2008)
- L’EGOISTE (2009)
- KYOSUKE HIMURO COUNTDOWN LIVE CROSSOVER 05-06 1st STAGE/2nd STAGE (2009)
- 20th Anniversary TOUR 2008 JUST MOVIN' ON -MORAL～PRESENT- (2009)
Videos
- 88's-89's Turning Process ~King of Rock Show~ (June 28, 1989 / dvd 2009)
- Neo Fascio Turning Point (July 25, 1990 / dvd 2009)
- Birth of Lovers (December 1990)
- Over Soul Matrix (November 27, 1991 / dvd 2009)
- Captured Clips (April 28, 1993)
- Live at the Tokyo Dome Shake: the Fake Tour (December 25, 1995 / dvd 2009)
- Missing Piece (May 14, 1997)
- The One Night Stands - Tour "Collective Souls" 1998 (December 24, 1998 / dvd 2009)
- 100152 (December 24, 1999 / dvd 2000)
- Digital BeatNix Tower (October 18, 2000)
Cover songs
Himuro has covered several songs. Although "Keep the FaithKeep the Faith (KAT-TUN song)
"Keep the faith" is the fifth overall single by Japanese boy band, KAT-TUN, and the second from their third studio album, KAT-TUN III: Queen of Pirates...
" was composed by Himuro himself.
- "Suffragette CitySuffragette City“Suffragette City” is a song by David Bowie. Originally from the 1972 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album, it was later issued as a single in 1976 to promote the Changesonebowie compilation in the UK, with the US single edit of “Stay” on the B-side...
" by David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
on B-side of his 1988 single Dear Algernon. - "Accidents Will HappenAccidents Will Happen"Accidents Will Happen" is a song by Elvis Costello. It first appeared on the 1979 album Armed Forces, which he recorded with The Attractions. In reference to the song title, the cover of the single was printed inside-out...
" by Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
on B-side of his 1989 single Misty. - "Miss MurderMiss Murder"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. It was...
" by AFIAFI (band)AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
on his 2006 album In the Mood. - "PainPain (Jimmy Eat World song)"Pain" is a song by the American band Jimmy Eat World. It was released as the first single from their 2004 album Futures and became their second #1 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was featured on video games Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, Guitar...
" by Jimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
on his 2006 album In the Mood. - "Keep the FaithKeep the Faith (KAT-TUN song)"Keep the faith" is the fifth overall single by Japanese boy band, KAT-TUN, and the second from their third studio album, KAT-TUN III: Queen of Pirates...
" by KAT-TUNKAT-TUNKAT-TUN is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates in 2001. The group's name is an acronym based on the first letter of each member's family name until the departure of Jin Akanishi in 2010. As of 2010, KAT-TUN stands for Kazuya KAmenashi, Junnosuke Taguchi, Koki Tanaka, Tatsuya Ueda,...
on his 2008 compilation album 20th Anniversary All Singles Complete Best Just Movin' on ~All The-S-Hit~