The Star Club
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
punk rock
band that was formed in Nagoya in 1977 and has been based in Tokyo
since 1987. The band has had a long career with numerous lineup changes centred on original vocalist HIKAGE. The band is considered representative of Japanese punk.
band in Nagoya, Japan
, when they formed in April 1977. Their first release was a live 7-inch vinyl record in 1978 which was "heavily English influenced punk with a rock and roll edge". Into the early 1980s, the band went through several lineup changes while releasing a string of singles, gradually increasing in popularity, with singer Hikage becoming an icon of Japanese punk. The group released their first full-length album in 1983, the live Hot & Cool.
By 1984, the group was topping the independent charts, and signed to the independent Tokuma label, with whom they released the LP
s Hello New Punks in 1984 and "Punk! Punk! Punk!" in 1985. The records sold well, and the band was signed to the major label Victor
.
The band has been productive over the years, releasing an album of new material every year or so, sometimes dabbling in hardcore punk
, sometimes returning to their punk rock roots. The Star Club is still active today, with Hikage as the sole remaining original member.
(in Japanese
)
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...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band that was formed in Nagoya in 1977 and has been based in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
since 1987. The band has had a long career with numerous lineup changes centred on original vocalist HIKAGE. The band is considered representative of Japanese punk.
Biography
The Star Club was the first punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band in Nagoya, Japan
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...
, when they formed in April 1977. Their first release was a live 7-inch vinyl record in 1978 which was "heavily English influenced punk with a rock and roll edge". Into the early 1980s, the band went through several lineup changes while releasing a string of singles, gradually increasing in popularity, with singer Hikage becoming an icon of Japanese punk. The group released their first full-length album in 1983, the live Hot & Cool.
By 1984, the group was topping the independent charts, and signed to the independent Tokuma label, with whom they released the LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s Hello New Punks in 1984 and "Punk! Punk! Punk!" in 1985. The records sold well, and the band was signed to the major label Victor
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
.
The band has been productive over the years, releasing an album of new material every year or so, sometimes dabbling in hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, sometimes returning to their punk rock roots. The Star Club is still active today, with Hikage as the sole remaining original member.
Current members
- HIKAGE（1977–）Vocals
- MITOME（2001–）9th guitarist
- HIROSHI（2003–）6th bassist
- RYO（2001–）9th Drummer
External links
Fan site (in English)(in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
)