Wag (band)

Last updated
Wag
Origin Japan
Genres Rock
Years active1998–2006
LabelsGarage Indies Zapping Association (1999)
Giza Studio (1999-2006)
Past membersShinya Hirayama
Yuuji Hirayama
Keisuke Yanagida
Tetsuya Oguro
Kousuke Minami
Website http://www.giza.co.jp/wag/ (WebArchive)

Wag was a Japanese rock band under the Giza Studio label, active from 1998 to 2006.

Contents

Members

Members consisted of siblings, cousins and their childhood friends.

Biography

1998-2001

The formation of the band began in autumn 1998 by the Hirayama siblings, later other members joined the band.

In July 1999, under Giza Studio label they released their first single Odyssey. The single was used as an image song for Sanyo's radio recorder U4.

On 3 September 1999, the first mini album Waggish Tricks was released which includes previously released single Odyssey. Minami Kousuke wrote all the lyrics in English for their indie releases. [1]

On 13 September 1999, they launched their fanclub Wag-On with a monthly fanclub magazine Go For it! [2]

On 2 October 1999, they started broadcasting their own radio program Future Paradise Wag-On on Kiss-Fm radio station. On their official site under section Radio section they shared for listeners the complete radio talk and list of power-played songs. [3] The final program was broadcast on 27 December 2003. [4]

On 14 October 1999, they made a major debut with single Free Magic composed by Makoto Miyoshi from Rumania Montevideo and written by Nana Azuki from Garnet Crow. The on-air version of this song was broadcast from 19 July. [5] In media, it was used as an ending theme for popular Anime television series Detective Conan. On the weekly Oricon Charts it reached #33 rank and charted for 3 weeks. [6]

In December 1999, they held a mini-live performance in Saison group Shibuya Club Quattro. [7]

In February 2000, there were plans to release another mini album Ri-Ra (GZCA-1018) however due to unknown reason the release was canceled.

In October 2001, they released their first studio album WAG.

In December 2001, their single Kanashimi no Ame was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2001. [8]

2002-2006

From September 2002 to March 2003, they held seven Friend Man-three Live events Whisky a Go go! in Osaka Muse Hall. [9]

On 21 December 2002, their single All For Your Love was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2002. This single was exclusively released for this album, and does not appear in any of their studio albums. [10]

In July 2003, Wag held a live performance Hills Pan Koujou GIZA studio presents THURSDAY LIVE "ROCK NIGHT" with guest Ami Matsunaga from The Tambourines [11] and on October with indies band Elf. [12]

In November 2003, they renewed and changed their website domain from giza.co.jp/wag into wag-net.com. [13]

In December 2003, their single Fight Song was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2003. [14]

In February 2004, their single Fukisusabu Kaze no Naka de appeared on the Oricon Weekly charts for the first time since 1999. The single was composed by Akihito Tokunaga and written by Yuka Saegusa from U-ka Saegusa in dB. In media it was used as an ending theme for Anime television series Saiyuki Reload .

In March 2004, Kousuke left the band. [15]

In May 2005, the band released their final single Don't look back again. In media, it was used as an opening theme for Anime television series Saiyuki Reload Gunlock . [16]

In November 2005, through official fanclub Wag-On they announced the. band's disbandment on 31 December 2006, a year after their official website was removed by Giza staff.

Discography

Indies singles

Release DayTitleCD Code
1st1999/07/10OdysseyICR-009

Singles

Release DayTitleRankCD code
1st1999/10/14Free Magic33 [17] GZDA-1013
2nd2000/7/19Don't Think Twice, It's All RightXGZCA-1040
3rd2001/5/16Just wanna beXGZCA-1075
4th2001/8/29Kanashimi no Ame (悲しみの雨)XGZCA-2012
5th2001/11/21Time Waits For No OneXGZCA-2021
6th2002/2/27All For Your LoveXGZCA-2029
7th2002/12/18Rollin' ManXGZCA-7009
8th2003/5/28Fight SongXGZCA-7017
9th2003/8/6Soshite Kyou mo Dokoka de (そして今日も何処かで)XGZCA-7028
10th2004/2/25Fukisusabu Kaze no Naka de (吹きすさぶ風の中で)64 [18] GZCA-7041
11th2004/5/26Don't look back again104 [19] GZCA-7052

Studio albums

Release DayTitleRankCD code
1st2001/10/3WAGXGZCA-5004
2nd2003/11/19Point DepotXGZCA-5039

Indies albums

Release DayTitleCD code
1st1999/9/3Waggish TricksICR-010
1st1999/10/3Baggot InICR-012

Magazine appearances

From Music Freak Magazine:

From J-Rock Magazine:

From Digital Creators DGCR

From J-Groove Magazine:

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