Blankey Jet City
Encyclopedia
Blankey Jet City was a rock and roll
/rockabilly
trio from Japan
.
(born February 2, 1964) Bass
(born January 1, 1965) Drums
, Japan
. The band is famous for being called Blankey.
Their recording career began the following August, when they appeared on a popular TBS
television show for amateur bands, and attracted the attention of the major record labels. The band decided to sign a record contract with Toshiba EMI, who sent the band to London
to record their first album. Released in 1991, their memorable debut album "Red Guitar And The Truth" focused on topics such as juvenile delinquency, broken families, and the pain experienced by neglected children. Fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto
, used the album to promote his 1991 Paris collection.
The band embarked on their first nationwide tour and released their second album "Bang!" in 1992, which received numerous album of the year awards by music publications. Blankey Jet City gained a reputation for shows that portrayed their raw, emotional sound, and the label duly brought out a live album in the same year.
The next two years set the pace for the bands prodigious output. Releasing their third album "C.B. Jim" in 1993, they again received acclaim from critics, when each song on the album was about the same fictitious person. Enjoying success, they released their fourth album "Metal Moon" during the same year, and quickly followed in 1994 with the release of their fifth album, which was more Jazz
orientated than previous titles. Deciding the next step was to compile a selection of singles and re-recordings, they released a compilation titled "The Six" in 1995, and followed up with the album "Skunk" eight months later.
Taking a break from Blankey Jet City, Asai started his own indie
label "Sexy Stone Records" in 1996, and formed the dream pop
band "Sherbets" at the same time. Meanwhile, Nakamura started his own band "Losalios" with members from Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
. After extended disagreements with Toshiba EMI, Blankey Jet City left the label and signed with Polydor to release their new surf-rock sounding album "Love Flash Fever" in 1997.
In 1998, another compilation was released, along with their eighth album . After four more hit singles, they released their final studio album "Harlem Jets" in May, 2000, followed by their swan-song "Saturday Night" within the next month. Their final live performance was at the Fuji Rock Festival
on July 28, 2000, with the announcement that they wish to pursue indie careers.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
/rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
trio from 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...
.
Members
(born December 29, 1964) Vocals, Guitar- He also plays in Sherbets and Jude and was a part of AjicoAjicoAjico was a band, formed as a side project by Japanese singer Ua, and Kenichi Asai of Blankey Jet City. In the summer of 1999 after supplying music for two of Ua's songs, Asai and Ua decided to create a music group, and Ajico was born.-Singles:...
. He has furthermore released multiple albums under his own name.
(born February 2, 1964) Bass
- He belonged to RossoRosso (band)Rosso was a Japanese band formed as a side project by Chiba Yusuke, and former Blankey Jet City bassist Toshiyuki Terui.-Members:For BIRD* Yusuke Chiba - Guitar / Vocal * Toshiyuki Terui - Bass...
, Raven (Tatsuya Nakamura, Chiba Yusuke, etc.) and so on.
(born January 1, 1965) Drums
- He also played with The StalinThe Stalinwere an influential Japanese punk rock band formed in June 1980, by leader and vocalist Michiro Endo. After numerous member changes, he disbanded the group in February 1985. In May 1987 Michiro formed a group called Video Stalin, which mostly made videos instead of albums, they disbanded in 1988...
, Losalios (Takashi Kato, Tokie, and Shinji Takeda), Twin Tail (Toshiyuki Terui, Yuji KatsuiRovoRovo is a Japanese instrumental band founded in 1996 in Tokyo by former Boredoms guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto, Bondage Fruit electric violinist Yuji Katsui, and synthesizer/effects technician Tatsuki Masuko, and featuring Yasuhiro Yoshigaki on drums and percussion, Youichi Okabe on drums and...
) and so on.
History
Blankey Jet City was formed in February 1990, in TokyoTokyo
, ; 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...
, 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...
. The band is famous for being called Blankey.
Their recording career began the following August, when they appeared on a popular TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
television show for amateur bands, and attracted the attention of the major record labels. The band decided to sign a record contract with Toshiba EMI, who sent the band to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to record their first album. Released in 1991, their memorable debut album "Red Guitar And The Truth" focused on topics such as juvenile delinquency, broken families, and the pain experienced by neglected children. Fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji Yamamoto
Yōji Yamamoto , is an award winning Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. Yohji is considered to be among the master tailors whose work is thought to be of fashion genius and he has been described by Julie Gilhart, fashion director for Barney's New York as probably the only designer...
, used the album to promote his 1991 Paris collection.
The band embarked on their first nationwide tour and released their second album "Bang!" in 1992, which received numerous album of the year awards by music publications. Blankey Jet City gained a reputation for shows that portrayed their raw, emotional sound, and the label duly brought out a live album in the same year.
The next two years set the pace for the bands prodigious output. Releasing their third album "C.B. Jim" in 1993, they again received acclaim from critics, when each song on the album was about the same fictitious person. Enjoying success, they released their fourth album "Metal Moon" during the same year, and quickly followed in 1994 with the release of their fifth album, which was more Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
orientated than previous titles. Deciding the next step was to compile a selection of singles and re-recordings, they released a compilation titled "The Six" in 1995, and followed up with the album "Skunk" eight months later.
Taking a break from Blankey Jet City, Asai started his own indie
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
label "Sexy Stone Records" in 1996, and formed the dream pop
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
band "Sherbets" at the same time. Meanwhile, Nakamura started his own band "Losalios" with members from Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
, commonly abbreviated by fans as Skapara or TSPO, is a Japanese ska and jazz band officially formed in 1988 by the percussionist Asa-Chang, and initially composed of over 10 veterans of Tokyo's underground scene...
. After extended disagreements with Toshiba EMI, Blankey Jet City left the label and signed with Polydor to release their new surf-rock sounding album "Love Flash Fever" in 1997.
In 1998, another compilation was released, along with their eighth album . After four more hit singles, they released their final studio album "Harlem Jets" in May, 2000, followed by their swan-song "Saturday Night" within the next month. Their final live performance was at the Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan...
on July 28, 2000, with the announcement that they wish to pursue indie careers.
Singles
- "Huryō Shōnen no Uta (不良少年のうた)" (12 January 1991)
- "Texas" (5 July 1991)
- "Fuyu no sSweater (冬のセーター)" (11 December 1991)
- "Warui Hitotachi (悪いひとたち)" (9 November 1992)
- "Aoi Hana (青い花)" (20 April 1994)
- "Kaze ni Narumade (風になるまで)" (7 September 1994)
- "Girl/Jiyū (Girl/自由)" (25 January 1995)
- "Kuchizuke (くちづけ)" (25 October 1995)
- "Gasoline no Yurekata (ガソリンの揺れかた)" (28 May 1997)
- "Hidarikiki no Baby (左ききのBaby)" (3 September 1997)
- "Akai Tambourine (赤いタンバリン)" (21 January 1998)
- "Chiisana Koi no Melody (小さな恋のメロディ)" (10 June 1998)
- "Dandelion" (26 August 1998)
- "Sweet Days" (18 November 1998)
- "Pepin" (2 June 1999)
- "Sea Side Jet City" (12 April 2000)
- "Saturday Night" (5 July 2000)
Albums
- Red Guitar and the Truth (12 April 1991)
- Bang! (22 January 1992)
- Live!!! (30 September 1992)
- C.B. Jim (24 February 1993)
- Metal Moon (1 December 1993)
- Shiawase no Kane ga Narihibiki: Boku wa Tada Kanashii Furi o Suru (幸せの鐘が鳴り響き 僕はただ悲しい振りをする) (25 May 1994)
- The Six (1 March 1995)
- Skunk (22 November 1995)
- Love Flash Fever (18 June 1997)
- Kokkyōsenjō no Ari (国境線上の蟻) (21 January 1998)
- Romeo no Shinzō (ロメオの心臓) (24 June 1998)
- Harlem Jets (10 May 2000)
- Last Dance (20 September 2000)
- Blankey Jet City 1990-1995 (25 October 2000)
- Blankey Jet City 1997-2000 (25 October 2000)
Video
- Dog Food (22 April 1992)
- Monkey Strip (28 September 1994)
- Are You Happy? (13 December 1995)
- Blankey Jet City Solo Works (28 August 1995)
- Babyface President (7 October 1998)
- Barracuda: Tokyo Six Days (2 December 1998)
- Solo Works II (10 November 1999)
- Candy or Hell (26 July 2000)
- Last Dance (20 September 2000)
DVD
- Last Dance (20 September 2000)
- Dog Food (27 March 2002)
- Are You Happy? (27 March 2002)
- Solo Works (27 March 2002)
- Angel Fish Complete edition (16 May 2002)
- Monkey Strip (16 May 2002)
- Clips (16 May 2002)
- Barracuda: Tokyo Six Days (16 May 2002)
- Solo Works II (16 May 2002)