The Pillows

LINE UP
Vocal, Guitar : Yamanaka Sawao
Drums : Sato Shinichiro
Guitar : Manabe Yoshiaki
Bass : Suzuki Jun [support member]
Bass : Ueda Kenji [gone : 1992]
Bass : Kashima Tatsuya [gone : 1999] [support member]

OFFICIAL LINKS
the pillows - official site
The Predators - official site

PROFILE
the pillows is a band that has seen huge success in Japan, but has also enjoyed ever increasing popularity overseas. Ensuring their success in the United States was the release of the soundtrack for the anime FLCL (furikuri), which consists of only songs by the pillows.Upbeat rock, catchy melodies, and Manabu's powerful guitar riffs paired with Sato's drumming and Yamanaka's unique vocals give the pillows a distinct sound in the J-music scene.

BIOGRAPHY
Founded in 1989 with Sawao Yamanaka on vocals, Shinichiro Sato on drums, Kenji Ueda on bass, and Yoshiaki Manabe on guitar, the pillows first toured under the name The Coinlocker Babies until they signed with the indies label Captain Records and released their debut album in 1990.Their first full-length album, Moon Gold was released the following year under the Pony Canyon label and Ueda left the band shortly after the completion of their second full-length album, White Incarnation, in pursuit of a solo career and work in production. Taking his place was Tetsuya Kishima, who was featured as a "support member" in respect for the original line-up, and the pillows made another label change after a short break. Their major debut album, Kool Spice was then released on King Records in 1994. In 1996 they began organizing live events called "Delicious Bump Show" and their commercial breakthrough came with the release of several hit singles the following year. Their style changed, swapping their often jazz-influenced songs for heavier sounds and they introduced a mascot, Buster-kun, who resembles a mix between a dog and a teddy bear, causing their followers to be known as "little busters."Sawao founded his own label, Delicious Label, in 1999 where alternative rock bands like noodles and monokuro were featured. That same year, Kashima left the band and was replaced by Jun Suzuki on bass.One of the most important events in the band's history is Studio Gainax's licensing of the pillows's last three albums for the anime series FLCL (furikuri). Additionally, the band produced two new singles, Ride on the shooting star and I think I can, for the anime, thus branching their reach outside of Japan and ensuring international recognition. In the following three years, Sawao continued work on his label and released solo works while Manabe released two solo albums as well. In 2003, the pillows's album, Penalty Life, was released in the United States almost two years later.Celebrating their 15th anniversary in 2004, a tribute album for the pillows was recorded and featured artists such as Ellegarden, noodles, Straightener, Bump of Chicken, and Mr. Children. This year also turned out to be one of the band's busiest.Their first live in the USA was held at the famous SXSW (South by Southwest) Festival in Austin, Texas in March of 2005. They played among other Japanese artists such as noodles and Bonnie Pink and followed their performance at the festival with a tour through several big cities in the United States.In 2005 Sawao began work with GLAY's bassist, Jiro and Straightener's drummer, Shinpei, on the project The Predators.the pillows kicked off 2006 with the release of an album entitled My Foot in January followed by two-date concert in Mexico that summer and, just a few months later, they made another trip to Mexico and toured the USA.This year has already been a productive one for this prolific band. Their DVD, LOSTMAN GO TO AMERICA, which contained footage from their sold-out US tour, as well as some from their lives in Mexico, hit stores in February and the title track from their first single of the year, Scarecrow, is being used as the ending theme for the anime MOONLIGHT MILE.With another full-length, Wake up!Wake up!Wake up! already released, a new single, Ladybird Girl, and another single planned for later this year, the pillows will certainly stay busy making music and entertaining fans through the rest of 2007.

PIED PIPER

June 25, 2008

1. PIED PIPER

2. New Animal

3. No Surrender

4. Last Holiday

5. Tokyo Zombie (The knock came at dead of night)

6. Across the metropolis

7. Purple Apple

8. Tokyo Bambi

9. Ladybird girl

10. That's a wonderful world (song for Hermit)

11. POISON ROCK’N’ROLL

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New Animal

May 28, 2008

1. New Animal
2. Finger post of magic
3. Mr.Droopy

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