Diamond Head | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Pop, rock |
| Years active | 2000–2005 |
| Labels | Aozora |
| Past members | Kataoka Daishi Murata Akira Susumu Nishikawa Ura Kiyohide Katsumi Usui Fire Shinichi Tanabe |
Diamond Head was a Japanese band formed of session musicians and producers. They first gained notability as the backing and touring band for Hitomi Yaida.
Working as a band in their own right they wrote and performed the song "le vent brulant" in 2001, which was used for some of the Japanese television coverage of the 2004 Formula-1 season. This track, an instrumental, was included on both Yaida's single "Look Back Again/Over The Distance" and the compilation album Grand Prix: Super Collection 2004
Working around a core of four experienced producers with high experience and expertise with their chosen instruments, they expanded the group to include other specialists to achieve a polished sound on all.
Formed by solo musician and producer Kataoka Daishi along with instrumentalist Murata Akira they were joined by guitarist Susumu Nishikawa and keyboardist Ura Kiyohide (who had previously been a member of the band North Wind Knights with Daishi.) [1]
As a group, they are credited as producers and session musicians on every Hitomi Yaida release until 2005 when Diamond Head was dissolved and each individual artist received their own credits from then on, with Murata Akira taking over the bulk of her sound production from Katoaka who left Aozora in 2005.
(see also ja:片岡大志 on the Japanese Wikipedia)
Katoaka Daishi (片岡大志, Daishi Katoaka) is a left-handed guitarist, producer and lyricist. Born in 1971 in Mitaka, Tokyo, he has four siblings. [2] His father is a teacher and his mother is an English translator. A singer/songwriter in his own right, his professional career started in 1992 when a demo-tape sent to recording companies led to a contract from Sony BMG Japan, with the subsequent album being recorded in Los Angeles. Since then, he has released more than five albums and 11 singles, the latest being the 2003 single Slapstick Blues and produced Aozora artists such as SATOMI' and CAN'NO whilst also acting as the Japanese A&R producer for Mary Lou Lord and Imogen Heap (for the Aozora re-release of iMegaphone and Music Pool 2002 recording). [2] He parted ways with Aozora in 2005 and now acts as a freelance producer, [2] with Murata Akira taking over the sound production of Hitomi Yaida's releases.
Murata Akira (村田昭, Akira Murata) is an Instrumentalist (mainly using keyboards), composer and sound producer. Born March 29, 1972, in Tokyo, he formed the R&B band Tiptory in August 1996, signing to Avex Records. [3] Following the group disbanding in 1999, he undertook the Sound Production for Hitomi Yaida's independent release Howling.
Since then, he has worked with other notable acts such as Melody. Murata also composed the score for the 1999 anime film A.LI.CE as well as producing numerous remixes and provided material for the video game Sega Rally 2 under an alias. [4]
He is currently acting as Hitomi Yaida's sound producer and arranger.
(see also ja:西川進 on the Japanese Wikipedia)
Susumu Nishikawa (西川進, Nishikawa Susumu) (also known as Shin Nishikawa), born July 9, 1962, in Yawata, Kyoto, is a professional guitarist, an arranger, a composer and record producer.
Gibson SG and the mop-top haircut dyed red are his trademarks.
As a guitarist, he works with many musicians: Yuki Isoya (ex-Judy and Mary), Shiina Ringo, Yano Maki, Ayumi Hamasaki, Do As Infinity, Mika Nakashima, Tanpopo (appearing on the single Motto), Elephant Kashimashi, Ikimono-gakari, Chara, Puffy AmiYumi, Kaela Kimura, Maaya Sakamoto, Ayaka, Do As Infinity, Hitomi Shimatani, Yuki Kajiura and so on. [5] Especially about Shina Ringo, he played almost all the songs in her early single and two first albums on the guitar. Furthermore, he was a tour guitarist of her early days before Diamond Head.
As a producer, he has worked with The Turtles, Kokia, Olivia Lufkin, and so on. [6] He currently contributes songs for Nana Kitade as a composer and a producer.
In The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya , he played a guitar in place of the character, and his guitar play serves as a model of the performance in the anime.
He also owns the 'Smash Room School', a distance learning Guitar School company. [7] Students of which have the ability to send compositions to Nishikawa for criticism as well as being able to phone the artist direct. [8]
Kiyohide Ura (浦清英, Ura Kiyohide), born May 26, 1970, in Kurayoshi, Tottori, is a session saxophonist, keyboardist and sound producer. Formerly a support member of the band Mr. Children he has worked with numerous acts such as Joelle and Ataru Nakamura.
Katsumi Usui (臼井かつみ, Usui Katsumi), born December 20, 1971, in Yuki, Ibaraki, is a professional drummer and percussionist. She is both a session musician and drum tutor (providing drum clinics to local schools and organisations during touring), also having an endorsement contract with Tama Drums [9] and Paiste Cymbals since 1997. [10] She toured with Sowelu for much of 2006.
Takumi Matsuda (松田卓己, Matsuda Takumi), known as "Fire" professionally, is a bass guitarist born May 25, 1970, in Hirakata. [11] His professional career began in 1997 with the band Super Trapp, with whom he released two albums and five singles via Sony BMG. He has since recorded and toured with many acts including Dragon Ash.
He plays both electric and acoustic bass guitars, appearing on stage playing a double bass on some occasions, as well as being proficient with the electric upright bass. Aria has also produced an electric bass in his honour. [12] He also contributes to the 'Smash Room School' distance learning project.
Shinichi Tanabe (田邊晋一, Tanabe Shinichi) is a percussionist. He has performed with acts such as Banda de la Noche and Ando Yuko on her Sari EP.
Hitomi Yaida 矢井田瞳 is a Japanese pop/folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. She often goes by the nickname Yaiko. Her musical style is often called "heart rock" by her fans. Yaida is an established musical artist in Japan and has also had minor club hits in the United Kingdom.
Avex Inc. is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founder Max Matsuura and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1988, the company manages J-pop talents like Ayumi Hamasaki and internet sensation PikoTaro. It has also shifted into other business domains like anime, video games and live music events, partnering with Ultra Music Festival and hosting the annual A-nation. The company is a member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) keiretsu.
"Missile Innovation" is the debut mini-album released by the band Missile Innovation, headed by Ryo Owatari, the former guitarist of Do As Infinity.
"Communication" is Hitomi Takahashi's 4th single under the Sony Records label. The single was released in only one format on July 12, 2006, nearly eight months after her last single Aozora no NAMIDA.
Abingdon Boys School is a Japanese rock band formed in 2005. It consists of vocalist Takanori Nishikawa, guitarists Sunao and Hiroshi Shibasaki, and keyboardist Toshiyuki Kishi. They have released two studio albums, Abingdon Boys School (2007) and Abingdon Road (2010), both of which reached the number two position on Japan's Oricon chart.
Bow Wow are a Japanese rock band formed in 1975. Originally consisting of guitarist and vocalists Kyoji Yamamoto and Mitsuhiro Saito, bassist Kenji Sano and drummer Toshihiro Niimi, they were one of the first Japanese metal bands. After releasing nine studio albums, Saito left in 1983. The band then adopted a mainstream sound by recruiting lead vocalist Genki Hitomi and keyboardist Rei Atsumi and renamed themselves to Vow Wow. They relocated to England in 1986, before Sano left the band the following year and Yamamoto invited former Whitesnake bassist Neil Murray to replace him. After Murray left to join Black Sabbath, studio bassist Mark Gould played on Vow Wow's last album before they disbanded in 1990.
Aozora Records is a Japanese record company owned by Clear Sky Corporation. Established May 3, 2000 to handle the independent release of Hitomi Yaida's debut maxi CD Howling to the Kansai area of Japan, it was the subject of a bidding war amongst the larger recording companies for distribution rights, which was won by Toshiba-EMI.
"B'coz I Love You" is a song by Hitomi Yaida, released as her first single after signing distribution contracts with Toshiba EMI.
"Go My Way" was the fourteenth Japanese single release from Hitomi Yaida. It is also the first single released from the album It's a New Day.
Shiro Kishibe
Versus is the third, and second full-length album, by Japanese rock band Mr. Children released on September 1, 1993. The album debuted on the Japanese Oricon music charts at #3 and sold 802,140 copies during its run on the chart. Just like the previous two albums, Versus contains only one single released on July 1, 1993, titled "Replay" with another album track "And I close to you" also being included in Mr. Children's fourth single "Cross Road". Versus also marked the first time use of Takeshi Kobayashi as a writer and composer for Mr. Children.
Shin is a Taiwanese five-man Mandopop rock band who debuted in 2002 with their self-titled album, Shin. The name 'Shin' came from the groups's former lead vocalist, Shin. Other members include guitarist Chris, bass player Max, keyboard player Tomi, and drummer Michael.
Casiopea World Live '88 is the fifth live album released by the jazz fusion group Casiopea in 1988. It is a compilation Album consisting of recordings of some of their songs played in concert during Casiopea's World Tour in 1988 that promoted their previous album "Euphony". It is also a collaboration album with two Japanese horn sections from two other bands, the brass section of "Spectrum" and the brass Section of "The Tops". Additionally, it is the first album Spectrum recorded since their breakup in 1981, and is their penultimate album. Lead trumpeter/vocalist of Spectrum, Ichiro Nitta, was also the Producer of "The Tops" at the time this album was released. Tops released one more album, "Soul Children", the following year, before they disbanded in 1991. That same year, Spectrum released their "Super Remix" album. This was also the last album to feature Tetsuo Sakurai on Bass and Akira Jimbo on Drums, who both left to form the band Jimsaku.
"Koko de Kiss Shite." is Japanese singer Ringo Sheena's 3rd single and it was released on January 20, 1999, by Toshiba EMI, East World. It was certified gold twice by the RIAJ: Once in 1999 for 200,000 physical copies shipped, and once in 2011 for 100,000 paid downloads to cellphones.
"Honnō" is Japanese singer Ringo Sheena's 4th single and it was released on October 27, 1999, by Toshiba EMI / East World. The single was certified double platinum by the RIAJ for 800,000 copies shipped to stores, and later gold for 100,000 downloads to cellphones in 2011.
"Gips" is Japanese singer Ringo Sheena's 5th single and it was released on January 26, 2000, by Toshiba EMI / Virgin Music. The single was certified double platinum by the RIAJ for 800,000 copies shipped to stores and later gold for 100,000 downloads to cellphones in 2010.
Tomotaka Imamichi, is a Japanese music producer, guitarist and songwriter from Tokyo, Japan. He first got his huge break in the Japanese music circuit in 1984 as the guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock band, Barbee Boys, although it is reported that he has been writing music himself since at least 1975 after being highly influenced by Toshikatsu Utsumi from the legendary folk band Carol.
Karkador is the sixth album by the Japanese electronic rock band P-Model, and the first where frontman Susumu Hirasawa was the sole remaining founding member.
98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare is the third and final live album by Japanese dub band Fishmans. It documents the band's final live performance with frontman Shinji Sato. The show was recorded and filmed at Akasaka Blitz on December 28, 1998, and was first released on September 29, 1999, by Polydor Records in Japan. The album title roughly translates to "A Farewell of Men: December 28th, 1998", a reference to the tour name, and to bassist Yuzuru Kashiwabara's departure from the band and the end of the band's three-piece era. The performance was released on DVD under the name Otokotachi no Wakare 98.12.28 @ Akasaka Blitz in 2005.