Surf Coasters
Encyclopedia
The Surf Coasters are a Japanese
surf band
, started by Shigeo Naka in 1994.
television program
, Ebisu-Onsen, a show very similar in concept to the American
program, Star Search
), on which the winning band would receive a recording contract
.
Although the Surf Coasters did not win the competition, their success on the show led to a loyal fan following. They succeeded to make it into the final round of the competition, where they finished in second place; however, they still received a record deal, which led to the release of their debut CD, Surf Panic '95, which, despite being an instrumental
album, sold well. The band also played that year with surf music legend and "King of the Surf Guitar", Dick Dale
, who was on his first tour of Japan. Reportedly, after the tour Dale referred to Naka as the "Prince of the Surf Guitar.".
Since then, the band has released upwards of twenty records, for the Columbia
, Victor
and BMG
record label
s, and have become the number one instrumental band across Japan. Their sound has varied since 1995, including dancehall
, acoustic
arrangements, blues
, ethereal
, and heavy metal
. Naka has also gone on to record, with and without the rest of the band, on other musical projects, including soundtracks
for film and video games.
Though the group has not officially disbanded, they played their last shows together in November 2005. Kurita has been playing bass with his band Chill.
Music of Japan
The music of Japan includes a wide array of performers in distinct styles both traditional and modern. The word for music in Japanese is 音楽 , combining the kanji 音 with the kanji 楽...
surf band
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
, started by Shigeo Naka in 1994.
History
The band became known with their stint on the talent showTalent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, Ebisu-Onsen, a show very similar in concept to the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
program, Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
), on which the winning band would receive a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
.
Although the Surf Coasters did not win the competition, their success on the show led to a loyal fan following. They succeeded to make it into the final round of the competition, where they finished in second place; however, they still received a record deal, which led to the release of their debut CD, Surf Panic '95, which, despite being an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
album, sold well. The band also played that year with surf music legend and "King of the Surf Guitar", Dick Dale
Dick Dale
Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
, who was on his first tour of Japan. Reportedly, after the tour Dale referred to Naka as the "Prince of the Surf Guitar.".
Since then, the band has released upwards of twenty records, for the Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Victor
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
and BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s, and have become the number one instrumental band across Japan. Their sound has varied since 1995, including dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
, acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
arrangements, 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...
, ethereal
Ethereal Wave
Ethereal Wave, also called ethereal darkwave in Europe and ethereal goth or simply ethereal in the US, is a term that describes a subgenre of Dark Wave music...
, 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...
. Naka has also gone on to record, with and without the rest of the band, on other musical projects, including soundtracks
Soundtracks
Soundtracks may refer to:* The plural of soundtrack* Soundtracks * Soundtracks , an album by Tony Banks of Genesis...
for film and video games.
Though the group has not officially disbanded, they played their last shows together in November 2005. Kurita has been playing bass with his band Chill.
Other band members
- Nobuhiro Kurita, who joined the band on bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
in 1997. During the band's first AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour, Kurita was dubbed "Zen Punk" for his cartoonCartoonA cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
ish presence. He began playing the bass after being encouraged to do so by a friend in junior high school. - Naotaka Seki, a drummerDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
who was recruited by Naka into the band in 2001, while touring with Ryouchi Endo. He began drumming after seeing Munetaka Higuchi, drummer for the band LoudnessLoudness (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...
, and deciding that he looked cool.
Discography
- SURF PANIC '95 (1995)
- Surfside Village (1995)
- WAITIN' 4 THE SURF (1995)
- SURFACE IMPRESSION (1996)
- Surfdelicious (1996)
- Surfin' ELVIS / THE PELVIS (1997)
- SURFDELIC (1998)
- NAKA SHIGEO plays PAUL MAURIAT (1999)
- THE SURF COASTERS (1999)
- SURF is Dead (2000)
- 六人ノ刺客 (2000)
- EASTER!! (2001)
- L'esprit (2002)
- Surf Attack (2003)
- p.m. (2003)
- PRIVATE RECORDINGS vol.1 / THE SURF COASTERS featuring 中シゲヲ (2004)
- SAMURAI STRUCK (U.S.A. ISSUE) (2005)
- SAMURAI STRUCK (JAPAN ISSUE) (2005)
Best Of compilations
- FLY UP!! ～Best of The Surf Coasters Vol.1～ (2000)
- MISIRLOU 10th ANNIVERSARY BEST (2004)
Video game soundtracks
- Soundtrack from "RUNABOUT" (1997)
- SUPER RUNABOUT (1999)
- RUNABOUT3 neoAGE (2002)
External links
- Surf Coasters collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive