Flower Travellin' Band
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese heavy
psych
outfit that was first active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They reunited in 2007. Vocalist Joe Yamanaka
died on August 7, 2011 after a battle with lung cancer.
when he returned to Japan after visiting his friend John Lennon
in England in the mid 60s, where he was introduced to various upcoming artists such as Cream
and Jimi Hendrix
. Yuya wanted to introduce a similar sound to the Japanese, and formed the "Flowers" as a cover band with various group sounds
musicians, and two vocalists; male singer Chiba Hiroshi and female singer Remi Aso. They released the album Challenge!
in 1968, featuring covers of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Jefferson Airplane
and Big Brother and the Holding Company
, in addition to an original song. The cover caused a stir in the Japanese media as it depicted each member posing naked.
In 1969, after the release of the album; Remi Aso and guitarist Katsuhiko Kobayashi relocated to the United States. Later that year, Yuya dropped all the remaining members, except George Wada, and recruited Hideki Ishima
, Joe Yamanaka
and Jun Kobayashi, and formed the Flower Travellin' Band as a way to produce and explore a new musical direction outside his own career. Their first release was the mini-album Anywhere
in 1970, made to emulate the Flowers' release by means of cover songs and a nude cover. Their first original album Satori was being produced that same year, and was released in 1971.
They became friends with the Canadian band Lighthouse
and in December relocated to Toronto
, Canada, where they performed with artists such as Dr. John
and Emerson, Lake & Palmer
. While there they recorded their second original album Made in Japan
and signed a deal with Atlantic Records
. They returned to Japan for a show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
, and in 1973 were billed to perform with the Rolling Stones throughout their Japanese tour, however all concerts were canceled when Mick Jagger
s visa
was rejected due to a drug conviction. Rescheduling, they released a half-studio, half-live album titled Make Up
and in April performed at Maruyama Park
in Kyoto.
It would be their last concert, as at this time Yuya became involved in numerous projects and the band went on a long hiatus, with each member going onto individual careers. Joe Yamanaka recorded numerous solo albums, and collaborated with the iconic reggae band The Wailers
in the 1980s. Guitarist Hideki Ishima moved to India
and studied the sitar
under Indian classical musician Pandit Manilal Nag, and in 2000 invented the sitarla
, which combines the qualities of a solid-body electric guitar
and the sitar.
On November 25, 2007, the members officially reunited and formally recruited keyboardist Nobuhiko Shinohara, who had previously worked with the band. In 2008, 35 years after their last, they released the album We Are Here. In March 2010, future tours and productions were halted when it was announced that Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer
. Joe died from his cancer on August 7, 2011 at the age of 64.
, guitar
, sitar
– bass
– drums
– keyboards
– vocals – guitar – bass – backing vocals, percussion, producer – vocals, harmonica
as Flower Travellin' Band
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
psych
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
outfit that was first active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They reunited in 2007. Vocalist Joe Yamanaka
Joe Yamanaka
, better known as Joe Yamanaka, was a half Japanese and half African American singer, known for both his work with Flower Travellin' Band and as a solo musician. He was also an actor and appeared in many movies, such as Takashi Miike's Deadly Outlaw: Rekka and the 1989 version of Zatoichi...
died on August 7, 2011 after a battle with lung cancer.
History
The band was initially started as a side-project by Yuya UchidaYuya Uchida
is a Japanese actor and singer, who is regarded as a major figure in Japanese popular music.He began his music career in 1957, and became one of Japan's pivotal rock and roll figures. He became good friends with John Lennon after touring with The Beatles in 1966...
when he returned to Japan after visiting his friend John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
in England in the mid 60s, where he was introduced to various upcoming artists such as Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. Yuya wanted to introduce a similar sound to the Japanese, and formed the "Flowers" as a cover band with various group sounds
Group Sounds
Group Sounds is a genre of Japanese rock music. Inspired by The Beatles, Group Sounds became popular in the mid to late 1960s. Group Sounds initiated fusion of Japanese kayōkyoku music and rock music...
musicians, and two vocalists; male singer Chiba Hiroshi and female singer Remi Aso. They released the album Challenge!
Challenge (album)
Challenge is a 1969 album by Flower Travellin' Band . It featured mainly cover songs, and was a means for producer Yuya Uchida to explore the emerging psychedelic rock movement outside his own career, and to introduce the work of upcoming bands such as Cream to a Japanese audience.This album also...
in 1968, featuring covers of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
and Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. They are best known as the band that featured Janis Joplin as their...
, in addition to an original song. The cover caused a stir in the Japanese media as it depicted each member posing naked.
In 1969, after the release of the album; Remi Aso and guitarist Katsuhiko Kobayashi relocated to the United States. Later that year, Yuya dropped all the remaining members, except George Wada, and recruited Hideki Ishima
Hideki Ishima
Hideki Ishima is a Japanese guitarist, known primarily for his work with Flower Travellin' Band. He also plays an instrument he invented, the sitarla, which is a combination of a sitar and an electric guitar....
, Joe Yamanaka
Joe Yamanaka
, better known as Joe Yamanaka, was a half Japanese and half African American singer, known for both his work with Flower Travellin' Band and as a solo musician. He was also an actor and appeared in many movies, such as Takashi Miike's Deadly Outlaw: Rekka and the 1989 version of Zatoichi...
and Jun Kobayashi, and formed the Flower Travellin' Band as a way to produce and explore a new musical direction outside his own career. Their first release was the mini-album Anywhere
Anywhere (Flower Travellin' Band album)
Anywhere is a 1970 album by Flower Travellin' Band. It was their first release under the Flower Travellin' Band name and the first to feature the classic line-up of Joe Yamanaka, Hideki Ishima, Jun Kozuki and Joji Wada...
in 1970, made to emulate the Flowers' release by means of cover songs and a nude cover. Their first original album Satori was being produced that same year, and was released in 1971.
They became friends with the Canadian band Lighthouse
Lighthouse (band)
Lighthouse is a Canadian rock band formed in 1968 in Toronto which included horns, string instruments, and vibraphone; their music reflected elements of rock music, jazz, classical music and swing...
and in December relocated to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada, where they performed with artists such as Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
and Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
. While there they recorded their second original album Made in Japan
Made in Japan (Flower Travellin' Band album)
Made In Japan is a 1972 album by Flower Travellin' Band.-Background:After meeting Paul Hoffert of Lighthouse at the Expo 70 festival in Osaka, Flower Travellin' Band were invited by Hoffert to come visit Canada to record an album....
and signed a deal with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. They returned to Japan for a show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
is a world-class sporting complex in Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1954 for the World Wrestling Championship, it was also used as the venue for gymnastics events at the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, and in 1973 were billed to perform with the Rolling Stones throughout their Japanese tour, however all concerts were canceled when Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
s visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
was rejected due to a drug conviction. Rescheduling, they released a half-studio, half-live album titled Make Up
Make Up (album)
Make Up is a 1973 album by Flower Travellin' Band. It was a double-LP, featuring some live recordings and some studio recordings. It features a guest appearance of Yuya Uchida. Tracks 1, 2, 5, 7 and 8 were recorded live at Yokosuka Bunka Kaikan, Yokusuka, September 16, 1972. On the 2004 Double-CD...
and in April performed at Maruyama Park
Maruyama Park
' is the main center for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, Japan, and can get extremely crowded at that time of year . It also becomes busy in the New Years Eve Festivals. The park's star attraction is a weeping cherry tree which becomes lit up at night...
in Kyoto.
It would be their last concert, as at this time Yuya became involved in numerous projects and the band went on a long hiatus, with each member going onto individual careers. Joe Yamanaka recorded numerous solo albums, and collaborated with the iconic reggae band The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Cherry Smith and Aston and Carlton Barrett...
in the 1980s. Guitarist Hideki Ishima moved to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and studied the sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
under Indian classical musician Pandit Manilal Nag, and in 2000 invented the sitarla
Sitarla
The sitarla is an instrument invented by Hideki Ishima and Kenichi Hagiwara which combines aspects of the sitar with the solid body electric guitar.. It is a hollow-bodied instrument, and currently only two exist in the world. Ishima now plays the instrument exclusively, and it has replaced his...
, which combines the qualities of a solid-body electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and the sitar.
On November 25, 2007, the members officially reunited and formally recruited keyboardist Nobuhiko Shinohara, who had previously worked with the band. In 2008, 35 years after their last, they released the album We Are Here. In March 2010, future tours and productions were halted when it was announced that Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. Joe died from his cancer on August 7, 2011 at the age of 64.
Members
– sitarlaSitarla
The sitarla is an instrument invented by Hideki Ishima and Kenichi Hagiwara which combines aspects of the sitar with the solid body electric guitar.. It is a hollow-bodied instrument, and currently only two exist in the world. Ishima now plays the instrument exclusively, and it has replaced his...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
– bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
– drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
– keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
Former members
– vocalsSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
– vocals – guitar – bass – backing vocals, percussion, producer – vocals, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
Discography
as Yuya Uchida and the Flowers- Challenge!Challenge (album)Challenge is a 1969 album by Flower Travellin' Band . It featured mainly cover songs, and was a means for producer Yuya Uchida to explore the emerging psychedelic rock movement outside his own career, and to introduce the work of upcoming bands such as Cream to a Japanese audience.This album also...
(1968) - "Last Chance" b/w "Flower Boy" (1969) – Single.
- "Flower Boy" b/w "Last Chance" (1969) – Single.
- "Fantastic Girl" b/w "Yogiri no Trumpet" (1969) – Single.
as Flower Travellin' Band
- "Crash" b/w "Dhoop" (1970) – Single recorded with trumpeter Terumasa HinoTerumasa Hinois a Japanese jazz trumpeter. Currently based in New York, Hino is widely acknowledged as one of Japan's finest jazz musicians. His instruments include the trumpet, cornet and flügelhorn.-Biography:...
, and the first recording credited to Flower Travellin' Band. - AnywhereAnywhere (Flower Travellin' Band album)Anywhere is a 1970 album by Flower Travellin' Band. It was their first release under the Flower Travellin' Band name and the first to feature the classic line-up of Joe Yamanaka, Hideki Ishima, Jun Kozuki and Joji Wada...
(1970) – Debut album. - KirikyogenKirikyogenKirikyogen is a 1970 album by Kuni Kawachi and the Flower Travellin' Band. It showcases the growing doom sound that Flower Travellin' Band were honing, as well as Kuni Kawachi's progressive rock influences...
(1970) – With Kuni KawachiKuni KawachiKuni Kawachi is a famous Japanese keyboardist. His first musical act was in The Happenings Four, and also performed writing contributions to Tokyo Kid Brothers’ version of Throw Away the Books, We're Going Out On the Streets...
. - "Map" b/w "Machine Gun Kelly" (1971) – Split single with Jo Mama.
- Satori (1971) – First original studio album.
- "Satori Pt. 1" (1971) – Canada only single.
- SatoriSatori (Canadian album)Satori was the title of an LP released by Flower Travellin' Band in Canada. It featured tracks from the original Japanese release of Satori, Made In Japan, and an additional track only available on the Canadian single release of Satori. The songs featured from Satori were remixed and edited...
(1971) – Canada only compilation album. - Made in JapanMade in Japan (Flower Travellin' Band album)Made In Japan is a 1972 album by Flower Travellin' Band.-Background:After meeting Paul Hoffert of Lighthouse at the Expo 70 festival in Osaka, Flower Travellin' Band were invited by Hoffert to come visit Canada to record an album....
(1972) – Second original studio album. - Make Up (1973) – Double album, consisting of both live and studio recordings. Featuring keyboardist Nobuhiko Shinohara.
- Times (1975) – A best-of album.
- We Are Here (2008) – First album after reuniting without Yuya Uchida.
- ResurrectionResurrection (DVD)Resurrection is a 2008 live DVD released only in Japan by Flower Travellin' Band. It commemorates their reunion in the 21st century, and features two discs. The first disc features an entire concert, while the second features interviews and other special features...
(2008) – DVD.