Laputa (band)

Last updated
Laputa
Origin Nagoya, Aichi, Japan [1]
Genres
Years active1993–2004 [1]
Labels
Membersaki
Kouichi
Junji
Tomoi
Past membersHiro
Hideno
Kusuba
Website laputa-all-burst.jp

Laputa was a Japanese Nagoya kei rock band, active from 1993 to 2004. [1] The band chose its name from the flying island in Gulliver's Travels and tried to portray a similar unrealistic view of the world with their performance. Their 1997 album Emadara was named one of the top albums from 1989 to 1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine Band Yarouze. [4]

Contents

History

Laputa was formed in July 1993 by aki and Tomoi, high school friends who were previously in the band Ai SICK FACE together. Laputa recorded their two demos "Saddist no Yume" and "Naraku no Soko"(Okazaki Yukito from Eternal Elysium worked as an engineer.) in later 1993. [5] They met some success in 1995 in the visual indie scene with their first indie album Memai, and shot a music video for Vertigo. They released a mini-album (Kurumeku Haijin) in 1996, and also released a live video (Hakoniwa) featuring performances from the concert at SHIBUYA ON AIR WEST from the Paradoxical Reality TOUR IV.

With their increasing popularity in the visual indie scene, Laputa caught the attention of big record companies and signed to the major label Toshiba-EMI in August 1996. Laputa released their first major single GARASU NO SHOUZOU in September 1996, which peaked at #34 on the Oricon singles chart. In October Laputa's first major album KAGEROU was released. Laputa released 4 more albums and several videos in the following 4 years.

In 2000, Laputa released a collection of their B-sides (c/w songs) "Coupling Collection + xxxk [1996-1999 singles]". They also released a three-disc best-of album "3DISC BEST ~1995-1999 except Coupling Collection~", which featured 32 songs in all including Laputa's eight major singles and 24 other songs. After these releases, Laputa left Toshiba-EMI and signed to a smaller major label Nippon-Crown.

While on Nippon Crown Laputa released 4 albums/mini-albums and 3 singles which made it on to the top 50 of the Oriocon charts. Glitter, a mini-album which was released in 2002, had a more electronic-oriented direction.

Laputa's lead songwriter Kouichi was reportedly in a hospital or clinic for much of 2002. Because of this, he wrote only two songs on the New Temptation album, and Laputa's tour for the album consisted of less than ten concert dates. Junji wrote more of the songs on 誘～New Temptation～惑 than any other member, and would remain Laputa's lead songwriter for the rest of their career. Tomoi also began to contribute more in writing songs and lyrics.

In May 2004 Laputa announced through their fanclub that they were disbanding, citing a desire for each of them to evolve. They released a best-of CD+DVD of their material from their years on the Nippon-Crown label titled "BEST AL+CLIPS 2000~2004" on July 28, 2004, toured from August to September, and played their last live on September 5, 2004, at Shibuya Koukaido. A DVD of the last live titled "ALL BURST" was released on December 15, 2004.

After Laputa's disbanding all four musicians stayed in the music business and three of them started solo projects. Aki began to release material under his own name, while Kouichi started Everlasting-K and Junji started HALATION. On the other hand, Tomoi first joined MILK FUDGE, and then played support for JILS. After JILS disbanded, he formed a new band, called C4 in 2008, together with Junji, JILS' guitarist Shunsuke and singer Toki, formerly of 90s' visual kei band Kill=slayd.

On August 29, 2023, Aki passed away due to a sudden illness at the age of 52. [6]

Members

Former members

Musical style and influence

Musically the essence of the band sound was extracted from "Dark, Hard, and Melodious". [8] Their sound is characterized by Kouichi's unique chord progressions and aki's high-pitched vocals.

Influence

aki

aki cited Morrie from Dead End as a main influence on his vocal style. [9] He covered Japanese metal bands in his high school days, such as Dead End, Loudness, 44 Magnum, Gastunk, Reaction, Marino, Sniper and Tilt. [10]

Kouichi

Kouichi stated he was influenced by Yngwie Malmsteen [11] [12] and Takeshi Tsuji from Justy-Nasty. [12] As a solo artist, Everlasting-K, he admired hide, describing him as "my eternal goal". [13]

When asked what bands he listened to in his high school days, Kouichi mentioned Vow Wow, Anthem and Earthshaker. [14]

Junji

His early influences included Duran Duran, [15] Bon Jovi, [15] Bauhaus, [16] Dead Can Dance [17] and The Cure. [17] Junji was later into electronic dance music and trip hop. [18]

Tomoi

His style was mostly influenced by Masafumi Minato from Dead End and Akira Ōta from Kinniku Shōjo Tai. [19] He stated that he was into bands such as Duran Duran, Toto and Journey, [20] and covered Seikima-II and glam metal in his high school days. [21]

Legacy

Laputa is credited with "creating the early nagoya kei style along with Kuroyume", [22] combining the sounds of heavy metal music and gothic rock.

Musicians that have cited Kouichi as an influence include Ruiza and Hide-Zou from D, [23] Kei from Diaura [24] and Tsurugi from Sadie. [25]

Takayoshi Ohmura from Babymetal stated that "I love Laputa so much." [26] and later joined C4. Umi from vistlip said that Laputa's major first single "硝子の肖像 (Glass no Shouzou)" got him into visual kei and started playing in the band. [27] Yomi from Nightmare covered Laputa in his high school days. [28] Kaya covered their song "揺れながら… (Yurenagara...)" on the compilation album "CRUSH!-90’s V-Rock best hit cover songs-". [29] [30]

Discography

Demos

  1. Saddistの夢 (Saddist no Yume) (Sep 4, 1993) [5]
  2. 奈落の底 (Naraku no Soko) (Dec 20, 1993) [5]

Singles

DateTitleAlbumOricon Singles Chart
May 5, 1994私が消える (Watashi ga Kieru)––
Sep 9, 1996ガラスの肖像 (Glass no Shouzou)蜉～かげろう～蝣 (Kagerō)34
May 28, 1997eve～Last night for you～絵～エマダラ～斑 (Emadara)33
Nov 12, 1997Meet Again麝～ジャコウ～香 (Jakō)20
Feb 4, 1998揺れながら… (Yurenagara...)麝～ジャコウ～香 (Jakō)25
Sep 23, 1998Feelin' the sky翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera)15
Jan 1, 1999Breath翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera)29
Mar 17, 1999Chimes翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera)25
May 19, 1999Virgin Cry翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera)23
Oct 25, 2000Shape～in the shape of wing～楽～ヘブン～園 (Heaven)26
Feb 21, 2001Silent on-looker楽～ヘブン～園 (Heaven)43
June 21, 2002深海/Brand-new color (Shinkai/Brand new color)–58

Albums

DateAlbumLabelOriocon Albums Chart
Feb 24, 1995眩～めまい～暈 (Memai)––
Feb 25, 1996眩めく廃人 (Kurumeku Haijin)––
Oct 23, 1996蜉～かげろう～蝣 (Kagerō)Toshiba-EMI24
Jun 25, 1997絵～エマダラ～斑 (Emadara)Toshiba-EMI24
Feb 4, 1998麝～ジャコウ～香 (Jakō)Toshiba-EMI10
Jun 9, 1999翔～カケラ～裸 (Kakera)Toshiba-EMI10
Feb 23, 2000Laputa Coupling Collection+×××kToshiba-EMI43
Oct 25, 2000Laputa 3DISC BEST～1995-1999 except Coupling Collection～Toshiba-EMI41
Mar 16, 2001楽～ヘブン～園 (Heaven)Nippon-Crown50
Mar 21, 2002glitterNippon-Crown66
Jul 24, 2002誘～New Temptation～惑Nippon-Crown50
Apr 23, 2003Sparks MonkeyNippon-Crown75
Mar 17, 2004Material PleasuresNippon-Crown89
Jul 28, 2004Best AL+CLIPS 2000～2004Nippon-Crown–

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L'Arc-en-Ciel</span> Japanese rock band

L'Arc-en-Ciel, stylized as L'Arc〜en〜Ciel and abbreviated as Laruku, is a Japanese rock band formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist Tetsuya and vocalist Hyde. Following the departure of original members Hiro and Pero, guitarist Ken and drummer Sakura were recruited to replace them in 1992 and 1993, respectively. While they first got their start as a visual kei band, L'Arc-en-Ciel have not had any association with the movement since their major label debut in 1994. Sakura left the band in 1997 and was replaced by Yukihiro in January 1998, completing the current line-up.

J-pop, natively also known simply as pops, is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in traditional music of Japan, and significantly in 1960s pop and rock music. J-pop replaced kayōkyoku, a term for Japanese popular music from the 1920s to the 1980s in the Japanese music scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malice Mizer</span> Japanese rock band

Malice Mizer was a Japanese visual kei rock band active from 1992 to 2001. The band was notable for their music and their live shows, featuring lavish historical costumes and stage sets, short silent theater pieces preluding various songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visual kei</span> Category of Japanese musicians

Visual kei, abbreviated v-kei, is a category of Japanese musicians that have a strong focus on extravagant stage costumes that originated in Japan during the early 1980s. Koji Dejima of Bounce wrote that visual kei is not a specific sound, but rather it "revolves around the creation of a band's unique worldview and/or stylistic beauty through visual expressions in the form of makeup and fashion". While visual kei acts can be of any music genre, it originated with bands influenced by glam rock, heavy metal, punk rock and gothic rock.

Kuroyume was a Japanese rock band formed in Nagoya in May 1991. They quickly achieved success with their 1994 major label debut album Mayoeru Yuritachi, which reached number three on the Oricon Albums Chart. Following the departure of guitarist Shin in 1995, vocalist Kiyoharu and bassist Hitoki remained the only official members. Each of their five subsequent albums reached the top seven on the chart, with Feminism (1995) and Fake Star (1996) both topping it. Their 1996 single "Pistol" earned them an MTV Video Music Award. Kuroyume had a definite influence on the visual kei scene, being credited as inspiration to many bands of the late 1990s and as one of the creators of Nagoya kei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mucc</span> Japanese visual kei rock band

Mucc is a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1997. The classic line up of Tatsuro on vocals, Miya on guitar, Yukke on bass, and Satochi on drums was solidified in 1999 following the departure of original bassist Hiro. After 24 years, Satochi retired from the music industry in October 2021, leaving Mucc a trio. They have released 16 studio albums, with 2020's Aku being their highest-charting. Although predominately a heavy band both lyrically and musically, Mucc is known for switching between music genres and styles frequently. Kerrang! included their fourth studio album Kuchiki no Tō (2004) on a list of 13 essential Japanese rock and metal albums.

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.

Sophia is a Japanese rock band formed in 1994 by vocalist Mitsuru Matsuoka, guitarist Kazutaka Toyota, bassist Yoshio Kuroyanagi, drummer Yoshitomo Akamatsu and keyboardist Keiichi Miyako. Currently signed to Avex Trax since 2011, they made their major debut in 1995 on Toy's Factory. They changed over to Toshiba EMI in 2004, and Universal Music Japan in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaya (Japanese musician)</span> Japanese visual kei musician

Kaya (迦夜) is a Japanese visual kei musician, a vocalist of the electro/darkwave duo Schwarz Stein, and a former vocalist of the bands Meties and Isola under the alias of Hime. He is also known for his androgynous appearance.

La'cryma Christi was a Japanese visual kei rock band originally active from 1991 to 2007. At their peak, they were considered one of "the big four of visual kei" alongside Fanatic Crisis, Malice Mizer and Shazna. They reunited for a concert in 2009 at the V-Rock Festival, for their short reunion tour in 2010, and for a 15th anniversary tour in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadie (band)</span> Japanese visual kei rock band

Sadie(サディ) is a visual kei rock band from Japan, formed in 2005. Sadie is signed to Face Music and Mijinko Records.

Tadashi Matsuura, known exclusively by his stage name Kisaki (きさき), is a Japanese musician, record producer and businessman, whose career in the visual kei scene spans more than 30 years. He is best known for having been the bassist of several bands, including La:Sadie's, Mirage, Syndrome, Kisaki Project, and Phantasmagoria. When Phantasmagoria disbanded in 2007, Kisaki announced his retirement as an active musician. However, in 2010, he ended his retirement and formed the band Lin -The End of Corruption World-.

Takashi Higuchi, known exclusively by his stage name Toll Yagami, is a Japanese musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1985. He is the older brother of Yutaka Higuchi, Buck-Tick's bassist.

Nogod is a Japanese visual kei heavy metal band formed in 2005 by vocalist Dancho. Originally named Shinko Shukyo Gakudan Nogod, the band has been using simply Nogod since signing to the major label King Records in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1/3 no Junjō na Kanjō</span> Single by Siam Shade

"1/3 no Junjō na Kanjō" is a song by the Japanese rock band Siam Shade, released in 1997. The song was first released as their sixth single on November 27, 1997, and also featured on their fourth studio album Siam Shade IV - Zero, released on January 21, 1998.

Gastunk is an influential Japanese rock band, first active from 1983 to 1988. Initially a hardcore punk band, guitarist Tatsu later recalled that when Gastunk made their major label debut they were dubbed heavy metal by the media. They reunited for one-off concerts in 1999 and 2006, before fully restarting activities in 2010.

Diaura is a four-member Japanese visual kei rock band, currently signed to their own record label, called NDG, they were formerly under Galaxy Inc. and then Ains. The band formed in December 2009 by yo-ka, Kei (ex-Valluna), Yuu (ex-Valluna), and later recruited Shoya. Their current fourth member and then-support drummer, Tatsuya, was later on added to the group as an official member after ex-drummer Yuu's departure from the group due to tendinitis. Their debut single "Shitsuyoku no Seiiki" was released on January 19, 2011. Diaura released their first full studio album Genesis on March 21, 2012 and their second full studio album Focus on December 4, 2013.

<i>Definition</i> (Diaura EP) 2019 EP by Diaura

Definition is the fourth mini album by Japanese visual kei band Diaura, released on 13 February 2019, by NDG. It debuted on Oricon's weekly chart at the 43rd place, and was 6th on the Indies chart. On October 24, 2018, a single titled "Malice" was released off the album. A music video was made for the song "Dantōdai kara ai o komete (断頭台から愛を込めて)".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlequin (band)</span> Japanese rock band

Arlequin are a five-piece Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Tokyo in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiryū (band)</span> Japanese band

Kiryū (己龍) is a Japanese visual kei metal band founded in 2007 with the concept of "Japanese terror" and "painful nostalgia". Formed by vocalist Mahiro Kurosaki, guitarists Takemasa Kujō and Mitsuki Sakai, bassist Hiyori Isshiki and drummer Junji Tokai, each member is represented by a color. They have been part of the independent label B.P Records since 2009.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Silver-Rose was one of the most influential group in the early nagoya kei scene. [7]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 ラピュータの解説 - SOCKETS人物データベース (in Japanese). ソケッツ株式会社. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  2. 1 2 3 ラピュータ. cdjournal.com (in Japanese). CDジャーナル. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  3. ↑ 市川哲史(ICHIKAWA Tetsushi)、藤谷千明(FUJITANI Chiaki) (2018-08-26). すべての道はV系へ通ず。[Every Road Leads to the V Kei.]. Shinko Music. p. 366. ISBN   978-4-401-64639-5.
  4. ↑ "Top 44 Albums from 1989 - 1998". jame-world.com. 2004-05-09. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  5. 1 2 3 extrax Laputa(1999) p.104
  6. ↑ "元Laputaボーカルakiさん、急病により死去 52歳【報告全文】". Oricon (in Japanese). 2023-09-01. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  7. ↑ Shun (2015-01-27). SHUN.'S FAVORITE THINGS Vol.30 ９０年代名古屋系 (in Japanese). Visulog. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  8. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.105
  9. ↑ "COMMENT". avex . Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  10. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.54
  11. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.8
  12. 1 2 荒川れいこ (1997-07-27). Kouichi (Laputa) & HIRO, KOJI (La'cryma Christi) ニューエイジ・ギタリストによる対談が実現！！. 月刊 ロッキンf. 262. 立東社: 18–24.
  13. ↑ "hide Memorial Part Two". jame-world.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  14. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.62
  15. 1 2 extrax Laputa(1999) p.74
  16. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.76
  17. 1 2 Yusuke Kato (1998-09-01). V-SELECTION Rockin' Talk ーアーティストが選んだ、思い出のあの曲ーLa'cryma Christi SHUSE x Junji Laputa. Vicious. 30. シンコーミュージック: 64–65.
  18. ↑ 『SHOXX Vol. 52』、YUKI SUGIE (インタビュー)、音楽専科社 , 1997, p.133
  19. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.88
  20. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.83
  21. ↑ extrax Laputa(1999) p.84
  22. ↑ ラピュータ. cdjournal.com (in Japanese). CDジャーナル. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  23. ↑ "MTPM05 Special Program! SPECIAL TALK BATTLE Everlasting-K x Ruiza & HIDE-ZOU". Mad Tea Party MAGAZINE (in Japanese). 5: 63–67. 2006-07-01.
  24. ↑ 【インタビュー】DIAURA、2ndフルアルバム『FOCUS』完成「"常識を疑え"っていうコンセプト自体がこのバンドを表している」 (in Japanese). BARKS. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  25. ↑ "Sadie 剣のツイート". 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  26. ↑ エクストリーム・テクニック・マイスター 第二回 大村孝佳. ヘドバン(Headbang) (in Japanese). 5. Shinko Music: 145. 2014-11-18.
  27. ↑ ～Road of the 海(vistlip)～. ロフトプロジェクト . Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  28. ↑ Nightmare (2008). Nightmare revelation mokushiroku photographs and history book - 2 historyRevelation［黙示録］photographs and history (in Japanese). Vol. BOOK-2 history. ぴあ. p. 8. ISBN   978-4-8356-1704-6.
  29. ↑ 大ヒットV-ROCKカヴァー・コンピ『CRUSH!』第3弾発売決定！今作限りのスペシャル・コラボも実現 (in Japanese). BARKS. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  30. ↑ V-ROCKカヴァーコンピの本家！ 「CRUSH!-90’s V-Rock best hit cover songs-」第3弾発売大決定!!!! 今作限りのスペシャルコラボも実現!!!!!! (in Japanese). universal music. 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2018-09-09.

Further reading

Japanese

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.