Koshi Inaba
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese vocalist. His real name is . He graduated from the Faculty of Education at the Yokohama National University
, and has a degree in mathematics
.
for the Japanese hard rock
band B'z
. Their debut album, B'z
, was released in 1988, and he started his solo career in 1997 with album Magma. Whereas B'z songs are composed by Tak Matsumoto
, Koshi composed songs for his own solo albums.
His musical influences are Deep Purple
, Led Zeppelin
, Aerosmith
, Queen
, and Guns N' Roses
. He respects David Coverdale
, Robert Plant
, Axl Rose
, and especially Steven Tyler
as vocalists. He is a fan of Elvis Presley
.
As a vocalist, he is known for his wide vocal range, covering three and a half octaves. Subject matter of his lyrics include social issues ("Liar! Liar!
"), war ("Ai to Nikushimi no Hajimari"), peace ("ROOTS"), lost love, and loneliness ("Itsuka no Merry Christmas").
Inaba sang on the Steve Vai
song "Asian Sky" from the album The Ultra Zone
in 1999. He has played with overseas musicians such as Greg Upchurch (Puddle of Mudd
), Stevie Salas
, and others. On September 29, 2009, it was announced that he would be featured in Slash
's 2010 solo album, Slash. Inaba sang on the first single, "Sahara
", released on November 11, 2009 in Japan. The song Sahara was featured in the 15th track of the Japanese edition of the album. On February 24, 2010, it was announced that single "Sahara" won the Western single of the year 2010 at Japan Gold Disc Award
2010 held by RIAJ.
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...
ese vocalist. His real name is . He graduated from the Faculty of Education at the Yokohama National University
Yokohama National University
, or is a national university in Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It offers Doctoral degrees in education as part of a coalition with Tokyo Gakugei University, Saitama University, and Chiba University. It is noted for its Business Administration program.-History:The predecessor...
, and has a degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
Musical career
Inaba is the vocalist and lyricistLyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
for the Japanese hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band B'z
B'z
is a Japanese hard rock duo, composed of and .B'z has released 45 consecutive #1 singles, 24 #1 albums, and sold more than 79 million records in Japan alone...
. Their debut album, B'z
B'z (album)
B'z is the self-titled debut album for the Japanese rock duo B'z. It was released on September 21, 1988, and only reached #47 on the Japanese charts...
, was released in 1988, and he started his solo career in 1997 with album Magma. Whereas B'z songs are composed by Tak Matsumoto
Tak Matsumoto
is a Grammy Award-winning Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, singer and songwriter. In addition to guitarist and lead composer for the hard rock band B'z, he has also had a successful solo career.-Background:...
, Koshi composed songs for his own solo albums.
His musical influences are Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, and Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
. He respects David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
, and especially Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
as vocalists. He is a fan of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
.
As a vocalist, he is known for his wide vocal range, covering three and a half octaves. Subject matter of his lyrics include social issues ("Liar! Liar!
Liar! Liar!
"Liar! Liar!" is the twenty-third single by B'z, released on October 8, 1997. This song is one of B'z many number-one singles in Oricon chart."Liar! Liar!" was featured on the PlayStation 2 music video game GuitarFreaks...
"), war ("Ai to Nikushimi no Hajimari"), peace ("ROOTS"), lost love, and loneliness ("Itsuka no Merry Christmas").
Inaba sang on the Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
song "Asian Sky" from the album The Ultra Zone
The Ultra Zone
The Ultra Zone is a 1999 album from guitarist Steve Vai.The Ultra Zone is structurally similar to Vai's previous album, Fire Garden, in that the first half of the album consists mainly of instrumentals, and the second half mainly of vocal songs; however, unlike Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone is not...
in 1999. He has played with overseas musicians such as Greg Upchurch (Puddle of Mudd
Puddle of Mudd
Puddle Of Mudd is an American rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. To date the band has sold over 7 million albums, and have had a string of #1 mainstream rock singles in the United States. Their major-label debut Come Clean has sold over 5 million copies...
), Stevie Salas
Stevie Salas
Stevie Salas is a guitarist known for his work on George Clinton's albums, his collaborations with Koshi Inaba of B'z, and Hardware. He was in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, providing the fingerwork for George Carlin's guitar solo....
, and others. On September 29, 2009, it was announced that he would be featured in Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
's 2010 solo album, Slash. Inaba sang on the first single, "Sahara
Sahara (Slash song)
"Sahara" is the first single from Slash's self titled album. It was released as the first single of the album in Japan only. It has been awarded "Single of the Year" by the Japanese recording industry.-Information:...
", released on November 11, 2009 in Japan. The song Sahara was featured in the 15th track of the Japanese edition of the album. On February 24, 2010, it was announced that single "Sahara" won the Western single of the year 2010 at Japan Gold Disc Award
Japan Gold Disc Award
The Japan Gold Disc Awards for Music sales in the Recording Industry Association of Japan, is major music awards held annually in Japan also released as a CD.- List of the Artists of the Year :************...
2010 held by RIAJ.
Albums
- Magma (29 January 1997)
- Shian (9 October 2002)
- Peace of Mind (22 September 2004)
- Hadou (18 August 2010)
Singles
- "Tooku Made" (16 December 1998)
- "KI" (11 June 2003)
- "Wonderland" (14 July 2004)
- "Okay" (23 June 2010)
Guest appearances
- The Ultra ZoneThe Ultra ZoneThe Ultra Zone is a 1999 album from guitarist Steve Vai.The Ultra Zone is structurally similar to Vai's previous album, Fire Garden, in that the first half of the album consists mainly of instrumentals, and the second half mainly of vocal songs; however, unlike Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone is not...
(on the track "Asian Sky") — Steve Vai, 1999 - Slash (on the track SaharaSahara (Slash song)"Sahara" is the first single from Slash's self titled album. It was released as the first single of the album in Japan only. It has been awarded "Single of the Year" by the Japanese recording industry.-Information:...
) — Slash, 2010