LAZY (band)
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese rock band founded in 1977 by the young classmates Hironobu Kageyama
, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Akira Takasaki
. The three founders soon found in their own school the drummer Munetaka Higuchi
and the keyboard player Shunji Inoue to complete the line-up. The name Lazy was taken from Deep Purple
's song with the same name and the music the new band wanted to play was orientated towards hard rock
. Managers and producers instead envisioned the young musicians as ideal prototypes for pop icons and created, through the use of monikers, costumes and well-balanced singles, a successful boy band
for the Japanese market of teen-agers. In contrast with these decisions, the band members started writing and recording their own music, slowly changing the sound of the band from easy-listening pop-rock to hard rock. A growing dissatisfaction for the direction the band had taken and the need to express their musical ability brought anyway to a split-up in 1981. All former members became known on their own, mainly in the soundtrack recording business, or formed other bands like Loudness
. They reformed in 1997 for a new album and a tour and again in the following years to do several projects together. In September 2006 bassist Tanaka died of heart failure. Their most recent joint-project, along with Kageyama's JAM Project
, is the single , for the anime
Shin Mazinger Shogeki! Z Hen, performed under the name Ultimate Lazy for Mazinger. On November 30, 2008, also drummer Higuchi died at the age of 49.
Hironobu Kageyama
is a Japanese musical artist prominent in the soundtracks for anime, video game, and tokusatsu productions. He is sometimes called Kami by his fans. Kageyama got his big break at age 16, as lead singer of the pop group Lazy. By the early '80s, the band split and Kageyama went solo...
, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Akira Takasaki
Akira Takasaki
is the lead guitarist and founding member of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.-Career:He started his career as a guitarist, winning a TV contest for young music talents at the age of 14. He was rapidly put under contract to be part of the pop-rock band Lazy, of which drummer Munetaka Higuchi...
. The three founders soon found in their own school the drummer Munetaka Higuchi
Munetaka Higuchi
was 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...
and the keyboard player Shunji Inoue to complete the line-up. The name Lazy was taken from 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...
's song with the same name and the music the new band wanted to play was orientated towards 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...
. Managers and producers instead envisioned the young musicians as ideal prototypes for pop icons and created, through the use of monikers, costumes and well-balanced singles, a successful boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
for the Japanese market of teen-agers. In contrast with these decisions, the band members started writing and recording their own music, slowly changing the sound of the band from easy-listening pop-rock to hard rock. A growing dissatisfaction for the direction the band had taken and the need to express their musical ability brought anyway to a split-up in 1981. All former members became known on their own, mainly in the soundtrack recording business, or formed other bands like Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
. They reformed in 1997 for a new album and a tour and again in the following years to do several projects together. In September 2006 bassist Tanaka died of heart failure. Their most recent joint-project, along with Kageyama's JAM Project
JAM Project
JAM Project is an anime music genre "supergroup" based in Japan, originally founded on July 19, 2000 by famous 1970s theme song artist Ichirou Mizuki...
, is the single , for the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
Shin Mazinger Shogeki! Z Hen, performed under the name Ultimate Lazy for Mazinger. On November 30, 2008, also drummer Higuchi died at the age of 49.
Original members
- Vocal: Hironobu KageyamaHironobu Kageyamais a Japanese musical artist prominent in the soundtracks for anime, video game, and tokusatsu productions. He is sometimes called Kami by his fans. Kageyama got his big break at age 16, as lead singer of the pop group Lazy. By the early '80s, the band split and Kageyama went solo...
"Michell" - GuitarGuitarThe 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...
: Akira TakasakiAkira Takasakiis the lead guitarist and founding member of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.-Career:He started his career as a guitarist, winning a TV contest for young music talents at the age of 14. He was rapidly put under contract to be part of the pop-rock band Lazy, of which drummer Munetaka Higuchi...
"Suzy" - Bass: Hiroyuki Tanaka "Funny" (deceased)
- KeyboardKeyboard instrumentA 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...
: Shunji Inoue "Pocky" - Drums: 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...
"Davy" (deceased)
Other members
- Tamio OkudaTamio Okudais a singer, songwriter, and producer. He started his career in 1986 as a member of the band Unicorn. After Unicorn broke up, Okuda moved on to a solo career in 1994 with the single "Ai no Tame ni." He has written and composed many songs for various artists, particularly Puffy...
has participated in some Lazy projects since the deaths of Hiroyuki Tanaka and Munetaka Higuchi. - Kazuyoshi Saito has participated in some Lazy projects since the deaths of Hiroyuki Tanaka and Munetaka Higuchi.
Studio albums
- This Is the Lazy (1978/03/05)
- Dream a Dream (1978/12/05)
- Rock Diamond (1979/09/05)
- Lazy V (1980/04/05)
- Earth Ark (Uchuusen Chikyuugou) (1980/12/16)
- Happy Time (1998/07/21)
- Earth Ark II (Uchuusen Chikyuugou II) (2002/11/06)
Live albums
- Lazy wo Oikakero (1978/05/06)
- Moetsukita Seishun(1981/04/05)
- Happy Time Tour '98: Kuro Tokin no Nasu ga Mama (1998/04/21)
Compilation albums
- Collection - Jounetsu no Seishun (1979/03/21)
- Best Hit Lazy (1980/12/01)
- Best (1981)
- Best Collection 1977-1981 (1999/02/21)
- Hit Collection (1999/11/20)
- Golden Best (2004/12/22)
Singles
| Title | Release date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hey! I Love You! | Single Single (music) In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear... |
|
| Camouflage | Single | |
| Akazukin Chan Goyoujin | Single | |
| Moeru Rock 'n' Roll Fire | Single | |
| Jigoku no Tenshi | Single | |
| Hello Hello Hello | Single | |
| Ai ni wa Ai wo | Single | |
| Baby I Make a Motion | Single | |
| Midnight Boxer | Single | |
| Kanashimi wo Buttobase | Single | |
| Kanjite Night | Single | |
| Glass no Heart | Single | |
| Ultra High | Single | |
| Pray | Single | |
| Angelique ~Eien no yakusoku~ | Single | |
| Zone of the Enders | Single | |
| Kanjite Knight (feat. Tamio Okuda, Saito Kazuyoshi & JAM Project) | Single | |
| Reckless | Single |
Videography
- Happy Time Tour '98 ~Kuro Tokin no Nasu ga Mama~ (1998/10/21)
- Lazy Live 2002 Uchuusen Chikyuugou II ~Regenerate of a Lasting Worth~ (2002/06/04)
External links
- LAZY at Anison Generation database
- ULTIMATE LAZY for MAZINGER at Anison Generation database
- LAZY at J-Metal Brasil