Sadistic Mika Band
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese rock
group formed in 1972. Its name is a parody of the "Plastic Ono Band". Produced by Masatoshi Hashiba on Toshiba-EMI Records (now EMI Music Japan), the band was led by the then husband and wife team of guitarist Kazuhiko Kato
, and his wife, singer Mika Fukui. The word "sadistic" is reported to be inspired by her insensitive sense of humour.
scene led by T. Rex
and David Bowie
, he set about forming a new group in Japan to emulate the style. The original lineup of the band included Kato, Mika, drummer Hiro Tsunoda and lead guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka. This lineup recorded the single "Cycling Boogie" in 1973. Subsequently Tsunoda left the band, to be replaced by Yukihiro Takahashi
, and bassist Ray Ohara joined the band. This lineup completed the band's self-titled debut album, which was released on the Harvest
label in the United Kingdom.
Kato passed the album to Malcolm McLaren
who at the time had a shop with Vivienne Westwood
, and McLaren passed it on to Bryan Ferry
, whose band Roxy Music
would later support on a tour.
Their second album was recorded in England, produced by Chris Thomas
. Thomas also introduced Mika to Badfinger
while he produced their 1974 LP Wish You Were Here
. Her vocals can be heard on the track "Know One Knows" (translating Pete Ham's lyrics to Japanese). Keyboardist Yu Imai, who had worked as a supporting musician on the first album was promoted to full member status. The album sold well in Japan. In the UK, however, the album sold poorly, but received high praise from critics.
Ohara left the band, and was replaced by Tsugutoshi Goto. Chris Thomas also produced their third album Hot! Menu. The album, which featured tracks such as "Mada Mada Samba", is now quite rare though it was featured on Radio Four's Sounds Interesting. The band played live on BBC TV's Old Grey Whistle Test
during October 1975. The band performed two tracks: "Time to Noodle" and "Suki Suki Suki". When they appeared, a stagehand arranged for the name of the programme (usually shown hung from the back wall) to be spelt as The Old Gley Whistle Test as a joke on the Japanese mispronunciation of the letters L and R.
The band also made an appearance on BBC TV's Pebble Mill at One
and were interviewed by Jan Leeming
. Photographs from this appearance were published in the book S/M/B/2 (2006, Shinko Music) by Masayoshi Sukita, who was a close friend of the band.
The band played live in the United Kingdom supporting Roxy Music
including a show at Wembley Stadium
. It was the first ever tour by a Japanese rock band. Recordings from these concerts were released as their Live in London album. After this album was released, Kazuhiko Kato and Mika divorced, and both left the band. Mika later married Chris Thomas and moved to the UK
, where she worked as a food researcher.
and Imitation. All members continued to work with Kazuhiko Kato on his solo albums in the 1970s and 80s.
direction before acquiring interest in European experimental music. Most of his solo work exploited the talents of the other former Sadistic Mika Band members and other notable guest artists such as Ryuichi Sakamoto
, Haruomi Hosono
and Akiko Yano
. He released two acoustic albums with Kōnosuke Sakazaki of The Alfee
under the name Kazukoh in 2007 (Golden Hits) and 2009 (Happy End), and found time to form a new band called Vitamin-Q in 2008, releasing one album (VITAMIN-Q feat ANZA). Kato committed suicide by hanging on October 17, 2009 in Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Band producer Masatoshi Hashiba also produced the popular band Vodka Collins
.
Drummer Yukihiro Takahashi
went on to become part of Y.M.O. (Yellow Magic Orchestra
), and more recently has been working in the duo Sketch Show with his ex-YMO bandmate Haruomi Hosono
. He has also acted in a number of films and TV shows, usually in comedic roles. Ray Ohara was a regular member of Takahashi's band in the 1980s and 90s.
Mika released a self-produced album in 1994, where she wrote all songs and lyrics.
Tsugutoshi Goto has released a large number of albums both solo, and as a member of various bands.
Yu Imai went on to form the group Imitation and collaborated with members of Sandii & the Sunsetz
and Talking Heads
. He was also the chief musical collaborator with lyricist Chris Mosdell on three of his solo albums, Equasian (also with Kazuhiko Kato), The Oracles of Distraction, and Fingerprints of the Gods
- the latter being the sonic setting of the Graham Hancock
book of the same title.
Masayoshi Takanaka went on to become one of the most famous guitarists in Japan. He has been releasing studio albums and touring to this day.
In 1985, the band reunited as the Sadistic Yuming Band. Tsugutoshi Goto returned on bass. In addition, Ryuichi Sakamoto played keyboards and Yumi Matsutoya
, AKA Yuming, sang the female lead vocals.
In 1989, the band reunited as the Sadistic Mica Band with Ray Ohara on bass instead of Goto, and Karen Kirishima on vocals. Appare, an album featuring new material, was released, as well as the accompanying live album Seiten.
In 2006, the band reunited and became the Sadistic Mikaela Band, with 22-year-old pop
singer Kaela Kimura
on lead vocals. The lineup released the album Narkissos, featuring a track by renowned English lyricist Chris Mosdell
, which sold 92,568 copies and ranked number 147 in the yearly best selling chart. The group also completed a national tour culminating in a show at NHK Hall
in Shibuya, Tokyo.
In 2007, the band released a 3-disc live retrospective including material from 1975 and 2006, plus video clips.
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 rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group formed in 1972. Its name is a parody of the "Plastic Ono Band". Produced by Masatoshi Hashiba on Toshiba-EMI Records (now EMI Music Japan), the band was led by the then husband and wife team of guitarist Kazuhiko Kato
Kazuhiko Kato (musician)
, nicknamed , was a Japanese record producer, songwriter, and singer. He sometimes used the spelling of "Kazuhiko Katoh".As a member of the Folk Crusaders, Kato launched his recording career in the mid 1960s...
, and his wife, singer Mika Fukui. The word "sadistic" is reported to be inspired by her insensitive sense of humour.
Biography
Kazuhiko Kato moved to Kensington, London in 1972 and impressed by the burgeoning glam rockGlam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
scene led by T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, he set about forming a new group in Japan to emulate the style. The original lineup of the band included Kato, Mika, drummer Hiro Tsunoda and lead guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka. This lineup recorded the single "Cycling Boogie" in 1973. Subsequently Tsunoda left the band, to be replaced by Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi is a Japanese musician, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band.-Biography:...
, and bassist Ray Ohara joined the band. This lineup completed the band's self-titled debut album, which was released on the Harvest
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
label in the United Kingdom.
Kato passed the album to Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
who at the time had a shop with Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood, DBE, RDI is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.-Early life:...
, and McLaren passed it on to Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
, whose band Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
would later support on a tour.
Their second album was recorded in England, produced by Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas (record producer)
Chris Thomas is an English record producer who has worked extensively with The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Badfinger, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Pulp and The Pretenders. He has also produced breakthrough albums for The Sex Pistols and INXS.Thomas is quoted as saying -Early life:Thomas was...
. Thomas also introduced Mika to Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
while he produced their 1974 LP Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here (Badfinger album)
Wish You Were Here is the sixth album by rock band Badfinger and their third consecutive album produced by Chris Thomas. It was recorded in the spring of 1974 at Colorado's Caribou Ranch and released in November of that year on Warner Bros. Records...
. Her vocals can be heard on the track "Know One Knows" (translating Pete Ham's lyrics to Japanese). Keyboardist Yu Imai, who had worked as a supporting musician on the first album was promoted to full member status. The album sold well in Japan. In the UK, however, the album sold poorly, but received high praise from critics.
Ohara left the band, and was replaced by Tsugutoshi Goto. Chris Thomas also produced their third album Hot! Menu. The album, which featured tracks such as "Mada Mada Samba", is now quite rare though it was featured on Radio Four's Sounds Interesting. The band played live on BBC TV's Old Grey Whistle Test
Old Grey Whistle Test
The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
during October 1975. The band performed two tracks: "Time to Noodle" and "Suki Suki Suki". When they appeared, a stagehand arranged for the name of the programme (usually shown hung from the back wall) to be spelt as The Old Gley Whistle Test as a joke on the Japanese mispronunciation of the letters L and R.
The band also made an appearance on BBC TV's Pebble Mill at One
Pebble Mill at One
Pebble Mill at One was a popular British lunchtime chat show broadcast live originally on BBC2 before transferring to BBC1. It was produced from the Pebble Mill facilities of BBC Birmingham, and uniquely was hosted from the centre's main reception area rather than a traditional studio...
and were interviewed by Jan Leeming
Jan Leeming
Jan Leeming is a British TV presenter and newsreader.-Career:Born Janet Atkins in Kent, England, and educated at the St. Joseph's Convent Grammar School, she worked as an actress and presenter in Australia and New Zealand before becoming a well-known face on British television in regional and...
. Photographs from this appearance were published in the book S/M/B/2 (2006, Shinko Music) by Masayoshi Sukita, who was a close friend of the band.
The band played live in the United Kingdom supporting Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
including a show at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. It was the first ever tour by a Japanese rock band. Recordings from these concerts were released as their Live in London album. After this album was released, Kazuhiko Kato and Mika divorced, and both left the band. Mika later married Chris Thomas and moved to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where she worked as a food researcher.
The Sadistics
The remaining members - Takahashi, Takanaka, Imai, and Goto - continued for several years as The Sadistics. They released two studio albums and two live albums before the band eventually petered out in 1979 as the members became busy with their solo careers and other projects, such as the Yellow Magic OrchestraYellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
and Imitation. All members continued to work with Kazuhiko Kato on his solo albums in the 1970s and 80s.
Post-disbandment
Kazuhiko Kato became a radio show presenter and a television personality in Japan. He had a successful solo career after the Sadistic Mika Band broke up; pursuing a skaSka
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
direction before acquiring interest in European experimental music. Most of his solo work exploited the talents of the other former Sadistic Mika Band members and other notable guest artists such as Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
, Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono
, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese popular musician, best known internationally as a key member of the rock band Happy End and the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra.-Biography:...
and Akiko Yano
Akiko Yano
is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. She was born as Akiko Suzuki in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Aomori, and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s...
. He released two acoustic albums with Kōnosuke Sakazaki of The Alfee
The Alfee
The Alfee is a popular Japanese musical group composed of Masaru Sakurai , Kōnosuke Sakazaki and Toshihiko Takamizawa...
under the name Kazukoh in 2007 (Golden Hits) and 2009 (Happy End), and found time to form a new band called Vitamin-Q in 2008, releasing one album (VITAMIN-Q feat ANZA). Kato committed suicide by hanging on October 17, 2009 in Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Band producer Masatoshi Hashiba also produced the popular band Vodka Collins
Vodka Collins
Vodka Collins is a Tokyo based Japanese-American rock band, formed in 1971. The core band members are drummer Hiroshi Oguchi , singer-guitarist Alan Merrill, singer-guitarist Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu and bassist Take Yokouchi...
.
Drummer Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi is a Japanese musician, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band.-Biography:...
went on to become part of Y.M.O. (Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
), and more recently has been working in the duo Sketch Show with his ex-YMO bandmate Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono
, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese popular musician, best known internationally as a key member of the rock band Happy End and the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra.-Biography:...
. He has also acted in a number of films and TV shows, usually in comedic roles. Ray Ohara was a regular member of Takahashi's band in the 1980s and 90s.
Mika released a self-produced album in 1994, where she wrote all songs and lyrics.
Tsugutoshi Goto has released a large number of albums both solo, and as a member of various bands.
Yu Imai went on to form the group Imitation and collaborated with members of Sandii & the Sunsetz
Sandii & the Sunsetz
Sandii & the Sunsetz were a Japanese technopop band that collaborated from 1979 until the 1990s. The Sunsetz, led by Makoto Kubota, and Sandii started as separate artists, and each have a separate discography...
and Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
. He was also the chief musical collaborator with lyricist Chris Mosdell on three of his solo albums, Equasian (also with Kazuhiko Kato), The Oracles of Distraction, and Fingerprints of the Gods
Fingerprints of the Gods
Fingerprints of the Gods: The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization is a book first published in 1995 by Graham Hancock, in which he echoes nineteenth century writer Ignatius Donnelly, author of Atlantis: The Antediluvian World , in contending that some previously enigmatic ancient but...
- the latter being the sonic setting of the Graham Hancock
Graham Hancock
Graham Hancock is a British writer and journalist. Hancock specialises in unconventional theories involving ancient civilizations, stone monuments or megaliths, altered states of consciousness, ancient myths and astronomical/astrological data from the past...
book of the same title.
Masayoshi Takanaka went on to become one of the most famous guitarists in Japan. He has been releasing studio albums and touring to this day.
Reunions
The band has reunited three times. Each time Kazuhiko Kato, Yukihiro Takahashi and Masayoshi Takanaka have formed the core of the band, with a different female lead vocalist and supporting musicians.In 1985, the band reunited as the Sadistic Yuming Band. Tsugutoshi Goto returned on bass. In addition, Ryuichi Sakamoto played keyboards and Yumi Matsutoya
Yumi Matsutoya
', nicknamed , is an influential Japanese singer, composer, lyricist and pianist. She is renowned for her idiosyncratic voice, and live performances, and is an important figure in Japanese popular music....
, AKA Yuming, sang the female lead vocals.
In 1989, the band reunited as the Sadistic Mica Band with Ray Ohara on bass instead of Goto, and Karen Kirishima on vocals. Appare, an album featuring new material, was released, as well as the accompanying live album Seiten.
In 2006, the band reunited and became the Sadistic Mikaela Band, with 22-year-old pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer Kaela Kimura
Kaela Kimura
, born , is a Japanese pop rock singer, songwriter, model, and TV presenter.- Career :Born in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan to a British father and Japanese mother, Kaela started working as a model in 2002 for the Japanese magazine Seventeen...
on lead vocals. The lineup released the album Narkissos, featuring a track by renowned English lyricist Chris Mosdell
Chris Mosdell
Chris Mosdell is a British lyricist, poet, author, composer, vocalist and illustrator, based in Tokyo, Japan, and Boulder, Colorado, USA.He has worked with a wide range of Japanese musicians and artists—the documentary Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist bills him as the...
, which sold 92,568 copies and ranked number 147 in the yearly best selling chart. The group also completed a national tour culminating in a show at NHK Hall
NHK Hall
NHK Hall is a part of the NHK Broadcasting Center, located in Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Address is 2-2-1, Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-8001. This facility has a 3677-seat capacity.* 1955, NHK Hall opened in Tokyo's Uchisaiwai-cho district...
in Shibuya, Tokyo.
In 2007, the band released a 3-disc live retrospective including material from 1975 and 2006, plus video clips.