Kyoji Yamamoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese musician
, singer-songwriter
and record producer
who is the leader of the hard rock/metal bands Bow Wow (known as Vow Wow for a period of time) and Wild Flag. He is known for his skillful guitar playing, and was the first hard rock guitarist to use the tapping
technique.
After entering Yamaha Music Shcool, Kyoji formed Bow Wow in 1975 and they released their debut album a year later . The following year they opened for Aerosmith
and Kiss
. In 1984, with the addition of two new members, the group renamed themselves Vow Wow and moved to England in 1987 before disbanding in 1990.
Kyoji began a solo career in 1980, and has appeared as a special guest performer for numerous musicians. In 1986 he was asked by producer Wilfried F. Rimensberger to participate in the supergroup Phenomena
, playing on their second album.
Kyoji was to perform his first solo show in the United States
on September 24, 2011, with Karl Wilcox from Diamond Head
supporting him on drums. However, the show was cancelled.
Kyoji has been married for 26 years and has a son, Maoki, who is also a musician.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
who is the leader of the hard rock/metal bands Bow Wow (known as Vow Wow for a period of time) and Wild Flag. He is known for his skillful guitar playing, and was the first hard rock guitarist to use the tapping
Tapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
technique.
After entering Yamaha Music Shcool, Kyoji formed Bow Wow in 1975 and they released their debut album a year later . The following year they opened for 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...
and Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. In 1984, with the addition of two new members, the group renamed themselves Vow Wow and moved to England in 1987 before disbanding in 1990.
Kyoji began a solo career in 1980, and has appeared as a special guest performer for numerous musicians. In 1986 he was asked by producer Wilfried F. Rimensberger to participate in the supergroup Phenomena
Phenomena (band)
Phenomena is a rock concept around a supergroup formed by record producer Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May, Tony Martin and John Wetton amongst...
, playing on their second album.
Kyoji was to perform his first solo show in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on September 24, 2011, with Karl Wilcox from Diamond Head
Diamond Head (band)
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is acknowledged by later bands like Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.-Early history:Formed by...
supporting him on drums. However, the show was cancelled.
Kyoji has been married for 26 years and has a son, Maoki, who is also a musician.
Albums
- Horizon (1980)
- Guitar Man (1982)
- Electric Cinema (1982)
- Mind Arc (1998)
- Requiem (1999)
- Time (2005)
- "Time"〜悠久の時を越えて〜 (2006)
- The Life Album (2010)
- Voyager: The Essential Kyoji Yamamoto (2010, US release)
Other work
- Silver Stars – Cluster of Silver (1979)
- Munetaka HiguchiMunetaka Higuchiwas the original drummer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.Since very young, he was considered a talented drummer. During his high school years, Higuchi played in seven bands. But he was not happy with this situation, wanting to focus his time on only one band...
– Destruction ~破壊凱旋録~ (1983) - Lumina Hayase – 甘い暴力〜 Violence Cat (1983)
- Takanori Jinnai – All Through the Night (1984)
- Mari HamadaMari Hamadais a Japanese female rock singer, songwriter and producer.- Biography :Mari Hamada started her professional singing career in 1983 as a heavy metal idol, produced by the late Munetaka Higuchi . Her records were successful in the Japanese rock market...
– Misty Lady (1984)