The Back Horn
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese alternative rock
band, formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1998.
and Radiohead
as inspiration for their musical style.
Following their first notable performance at the Fuji Rock Festival
in 1999, they released a mini-album Doko e Yuku
on Kando Records. Seven months after that, they released their first full-length, Yomigaeru Hi
. After this, the band got signed to a major label, Speedstar Records. Although they, to this day, still remain on Speedstar Records' roster, they're still often thought of as an indie band. It was also around this time when Hirabayashi decided to leave the band.
It was only after the release of their first album release on Speedstar Records, Ningen Program
, that they found a new bassist, Okamine Koushu, though he wasn't immediately made a full-time member. He was however involved in recording of the next album, Shinzou Orchestra
, and while touring for the album, the band announced that he was now an official member. In the period when The Back Horn were between bassists, vocalist Yamada overtook bass duties.
As the band was becoming increasingly popular, they were asked to provide music for 2 movies: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
's Bright Future
and Kazuaki Kiriya's Casshern
, releasing the album IKIRU SAINOU
in between them.
After a couple of tours, including a show at the Rock In Japan festival, a couple of single releases and the release of their first live DVD, they released their 5th full-length, Headphone Children
, considered by many to be a concept album. The song Kiseki from the album was used in the horror movie Zoo. The tour following Headphone Children was a huge success and the band decided to release a live album of it, entitled Ubugoe Chainsaw
which contained the best performances of songs from the tour. 2 months later, Back Horn played their first show in Europe, at a festival in Barcelona
, Spain.
The band then released several singles and did some shows, including an acoustic street tour with only Yamada and Suganami, where they performed on the streets of Japan for free. In April, 2006 they released their 6th full-length, Taiyou no Naka no Seikatsu
, and then their 7th album in May, 2007, self-titled THE BACK HORN
. Their 16th major single release, Wana, was used as the first ending theme to the 2007 anime series Mobile Suit Gundam 00
. In January, 2008, they released a compilation album Best The Back Horn
to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. Their 8th album titled Pulse
was released on September 3, 2008.
Former members
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 alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band, formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1998.
History
The band got started around April in 1998, when the original members all came to Tokyo from the countryside where they all lived, all for different reasons. They met, and decided to start a band. First called Gyorai, they soon changed their name to The Back Horn. This name was based on Matsuda's misreading of the "backhoe" he used in his construction work. From the beginning, one of the features of the band was a harsh sound and lyrics dealing with decadence and destruction, war, peace, isolation, love and death. In a 2005 interview, the band members listed NirvanaNirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
as inspiration for their musical style.
Following their first notable performance at the Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan...
in 1999, they released a mini-album Doko e Yuku
Doko e Yuku
is a mini-album released by the Japanese rock band The Back Horn on September 22, 1999. This was the band's first indie release.-Track list:#Pink Soda - 3:45#Crow - 4:54...
on Kando Records. Seven months after that, they released their first full-length, Yomigaeru Hi
Yomigaeru Hi
is the first full album released by the Japanese rock band, THE BACK HORN. It was released on April 24, 2000, and is the band's only full-length independent album.-Track list:#Circus – 4:50#Hashiru Oka – 5:35...
. After this, the band got signed to a major label, Speedstar Records. Although they, to this day, still remain on Speedstar Records' roster, they're still often thought of as an indie band. It was also around this time when Hirabayashi decided to leave the band.
It was only after the release of their first album release on Speedstar Records, Ningen Program
Ningen Program
is the first major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on October 17, 2001.-Track list:#Ikusen Kounen no Kodoku – 4:19#Serenade – 4:33#Sunny – 3:54#:First major single....
, that they found a new bassist, Okamine Koushu, though he wasn't immediately made a full-time member. He was however involved in recording of the next album, Shinzou Orchestra
Shinzou Orchestra
is the second major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on November 13, 2002.-Track listing:#WATABOUSHI – 4:58#Game – 3:56#Namida ga Koboretara – 4:44...
, and while touring for the album, the band announced that he was now an official member. In the period when The Back Horn were between bassists, vocalist Yamada overtook bass duties.
As the band was becoming increasingly popular, they were asked to provide music for 2 movies: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for his many contributions to the Japanese horror genre.-Biography:Born in Kobe on July 19, 1955, Kiyoshi Kurosawa is not related to director Akira Kurosawa...
's Bright Future
Bright Future
is a 2003 Japanese film written and directed by Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, starring Tadanobu Asano and Joe Odagiri. It was entered into the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.- Plot :...
and Kazuaki Kiriya's Casshern
Casshern
is a 2004 Japanese tokusatsu film adaptation of the anime series of the same name. It was written and directed by Kazuaki Kiriya. It stars Yusuke Iseya as Tetsuya Azuma/Casshern, Kumiko Aso as Luna Kozuki, Toshiaki Karasawa as Burai, Mayumi Sada as Saguree, and Jun Kaname as Barashin.-Plot:A...
, releasing the album IKIRU SAINOU
Ikiru Sainou
is the third major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on October 22, 2003.-Track list:#Wakusei Melancholy – 4:42#Hikari no Kesshō – 5:21#:Sixth major single....
in between them.
After a couple of tours, including a show at the Rock In Japan festival, a couple of single releases and the release of their first live DVD, they released their 5th full-length, Headphone Children
Headphone Children
is the fourth major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on March 16, 2005.-Track listing:#Tobira – 4:50#Unmei Fukuzatsukossetsu – 4:12#Cobalt Blue – 4:26...
, considered by many to be a concept album. The song Kiseki from the album was used in the horror movie Zoo. The tour following Headphone Children was a huge success and the band decided to release a live album of it, entitled Ubugoe Chainsaw
Ubugoe Chainsaw
is the first, and currently only live album of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on August 24, 2005.-Track list:#Kagi overture – 2:16#Tobira – 4:46#Unmei Fukuzatsukossetsu – 4:33...
which contained the best performances of songs from the tour. 2 months later, Back Horn played their first show in Europe, at a festival in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain.
The band then released several singles and did some shows, including an acoustic street tour with only Yamada and Suganami, where they performed on the streets of Japan for free. In April, 2006 they released their 6th full-length, Taiyou no Naka no Seikatsu
Taiyou no Naka no Seikatsu
is the fifth major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on April 19, 2006.-Track list:#Chaos Diver – 4:50#:Thirteenth major single.#Apoptosis – 4:51#Shōmei – 4:38...
, and then their 7th album in May, 2007, self-titled THE BACK HORN
The Back Horn (album)
The Back Horn is the sixth major label album release of the Japanese rock band of the same name. The album was released on May 23, 2007.-Track list:#Haisha no Kei – 5:34#Hello – 5:27#Utsukushii Namae – 5:26...
. Their 16th major single release, Wana, was used as the first ending theme to the 2007 anime series Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
is an anime TV series, the eleventh incarnation of Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise consisting of two seasons. It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The twenty-five episode season was officially announced by Sunrise...
. In January, 2008, they released a compilation album Best The Back Horn
Best The Back Horn
BEST THE BACK HORN is a compilation album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on January 23, 2008 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band.-Track list:Disc 1#Sunny – 3:55...
to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. Their 8th album titled Pulse
Pulse (The Back Horn album)
Pulse is the eighth major label album release of the Japanese rock band The Back Horn. The album was released on September 3, 2008.-Track list:#Sekai wo Ute - 'Shoot The World' – 4:02#Freude - 'Furoide' – 4:18...
was released on September 3, 2008.
Members
Current members- Yamada Masashi - vocals
- Suganami Eijun - guitar
- Okamine Koushu - bass
- Matsuda Shinji - drums
Former members
- Hirabayashi Naoki - bass
Major
- Sunny – 2001/04/252001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
- Sora, Hoshi, Umi no Yoru – 2001/08/222001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
- Sekaiju no Shita de – 2002/05/292002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
- Namida ga Koboretara – 2002/08/282002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
- Mirai – 2003/01/222003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
- Hikari no Kesshou – 2003/06/182003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
- Seimeisen – 2003/08/202003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
- Yume no Hana – 2004/07/212004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
- Cobalt Blue – 2004/11/032004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
- KIZUNA Song – 2005/01/262005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
- Black Hole Birthday – 2005/12/162005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
- Hajimete no Kokyuu de – 2006/02/082006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
- Chaos Diver – 2006/03/222006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
- Koe – 2006/12/202006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
- Utsukushii Namae – 2007/03/212007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
- Wana – 2007/11/142007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
- Kakusei – 2008/05/212008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
- Tatakau Kimi Yo – 2010/04/212010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
- Tozasareta Sekai – 2010/08/042010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
Indie
- Doko e YukuDoko e Yukuis a mini-album released by the Japanese rock band The Back Horn on September 22, 1999. This was the band's first indie release.-Track list:#Pink Soda - 3:45#Crow - 4:54...
(mini-album) – 1999/09/221999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia.... - Yomigaeru HiYomigaeru Hiis the first full album released by the Japanese rock band, THE BACK HORN. It was released on April 24, 2000, and is the band's only full-length independent album.-Track list:#Circus – 4:50#Hashiru Oka – 5:35...
– 2000/04/252000 in musicSee also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....
Major
- Ningen ProgramNingen Programis the first major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on October 17, 2001.-Track list:#Ikusen Kounen no Kodoku – 4:19#Serenade – 4:33#Sunny – 3:54#:First major single....
– 2001/10/172001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band.... - Shinzou OrchestraShinzou Orchestrais the second major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on November 13, 2002.-Track listing:#WATABOUSHI – 4:58#Game – 3:56#Namida ga Koboretara – 4:44...
– 2002/11/132002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... - IKIRU SAINOUIkiru Sainouis the third major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on October 22, 2003.-Track list:#Wakusei Melancholy – 4:42#Hikari no Kesshō – 5:21#:Sixth major single....
– 2003/10/222003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... - Headphone ChildrenHeadphone Childrenis the fourth major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on March 16, 2005.-Track listing:#Tobira – 4:50#Unmei Fukuzatsukossetsu – 4:12#Cobalt Blue – 4:26...
– 2005/03/162005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... - Taiyou no Naka no SeikatsuTaiyou no Naka no Seikatsuis the fifth major label album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on April 19, 2006.-Track list:#Chaos Diver – 4:50#:Thirteenth major single.#Apoptosis – 4:51#Shōmei – 4:38...
– 2006/04/192006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band.... - THE BACK HORNThe Back Horn (album)The Back Horn is the sixth major label album release of the Japanese rock band of the same name. The album was released on May 23, 2007.-Track list:#Haisha no Kei – 5:34#Hello – 5:27#Utsukushii Namae – 5:26...
– 2007/05/232007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame... - Best The Back HornBest The Back HornBEST THE BACK HORN is a compilation album release of the Japanese rock band, The Back Horn. The album was released on January 23, 2008 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band.-Track list:Disc 1#Sunny – 3:55...
– 2008/01/232007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame... - PulsePulse (The Back Horn album)Pulse is the eighth major label album release of the Japanese rock band The Back Horn. The album was released on September 3, 2008.-Track list:#Sekai wo Ute - 'Shoot The World' – 4:02#Freude - 'Furoide' – 4:18...
– 2008/09/032008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such... - AsylumAsylum (The Back Horn album)Asylum is the ninth major label album release of the Japanese rock band The Back Horn. The album was released on September 15, 2010.-Track list:#Raiden - 'Raiden'#Rafflesia - 'Rafflesia'#Tatakau Kimi yo - 'You will fight'...
– 2010/09/152010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...