is a Japan

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 band founded in July 2006 by Hiroto Kōmoto

Hiroto Komoto

is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons. The official kanji for his name are 甲本 浩人, but katakana is used when writing his name in official publications.-Personal History:...

 (vocals) and Masatoshi Mashima

Masatoshi Mashima

is a guitarist who has performed with Japanese rock bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons. He was born in Hino and raised in Kodaira in Tokyo, Japan.His nickname while playing was "Marcy."-Solo albums:...

 (guitar), previously of The Blue Hearts

The Blue Hearts

was a popular Japanese punk rock band that performed from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s. In 2003, they were ranked by HMV Japan as number 19 on their list of 100 most important Japanese pop acts...

 and The High-Lows

The High-Lows

were a popular Japanese punk rock band that was formed in 1995. The band stopped all activities in November 2005 and broke up.-Members:* Hiroto Kōmoto – vocals* Masatoshi Mashima –guitar* Sakito Shirabe – bass* Kenji Ōshima – drums* Mikio Shirai – keyboards...

, with Masaru Kobayashi (bass) and Katsuji Kirita (drums).

History

After The High-Lows ceased activity in November 2005, Mashima proposed forming a new band to Kōmoto. Due to an introduction from a recording engineer named Satoshi Kawaguchi, known from the time of The Blue Hearts, Kobayashi and Kirita joined the formation of The Cro-Magnons.

With their album due to be finished in the winter of 2006, they appeared all over the country in summer music events without announcement and without a name. On the net, people blinked and
wondered "Is this Hiroto and Mashi's new band?" Before their live performance on Osaka's "Meet The World Beat 2006," news of their appearance was leaked and some of the crowd called out "Hiroto!", "Mashi!". With a bitter smile, the band members said "It wasn't a secret at all." At 1:41pm on July 23, The Cro-Magnons made their first official appearance as a band. Two months later, on September 20, the band began their first nationwide tour, "The Cro-Magnons Shutsuen Tour!!" (ザ・クロマニヨンズ出現ツアー!! The Cro-Magnons Appear Tour!!).

The band had a second tour in early 2007, entitled "Haru no Uraura Matsuri" (春のウラウラ祭り Spring Gently Shining Festival), with 16 performances nationwide.

Band members

Founders, Hiroto Kōmoto

Hiroto Komoto

is a Japanese rock singer who has fronted bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons. The official kanji for his name are 甲本 浩人, but katakana is used when writing his name in official publications.-Personal History:...

 and Masatoshi Mashima

Masatoshi Mashima

is a guitarist who has performed with Japanese rock bands such as The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows and The Cro-Magnons. He was born in Hino and raised in Kodaira in Tokyo, Japan.His nickname while playing was "Marcy."-Solo albums:...

, worked together in two previous bands—The Blue Hearts

The Blue Hearts

was a popular Japanese punk rock band that performed from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s. In 2003, they were ranked by HMV Japan as number 19 on their list of 100 most important Japanese pop acts...

 and The High-Lows

The High-Lows

were a popular Japanese punk rock band that was formed in 1995. The band stopped all activities in November 2005 and broke up.-Members:* Hiroto Kōmoto – vocals* Masatoshi Mashima –guitar* Sakito Shirabe – bass* Kenji Ōshima – drums* Mikio Shirai – keyboards...

. Bassist Masaru Kobayashi previously performed with Sads

SADS (band)

Sads is a post-punk and glam rock band formed in Japan in 1999. The band made its debut with the single "Tokyo". They released nine singles and four albums before their disbandment in 2003. In 2010, Sads reformed with a more metal sound and signed to the Avex label...

 and is currently involved in nil

Nil (Japanese band)

Nil is a Japanese rock band that was formed in 1998 by Tetsu Takano , Hiroyuki Kashimoto and Kyoshi Moro. The original intent of Nil was to become Tetsu's solo unit and even though it has become a full fledged band, all lyrics and songwriting has been solely handled by Tetsu...

. Drummer Katsuji Kirita also performs with Gargoyle.

Singles

1. "Tally Ho" (タリホー Tari Hō) (September 20, 2006)
2. "Kami Hikōki" (紙飛行機 Paper Airplane) (April 25, 2007)
3. "Giri Giri Gagangan" (ギリギリガガンガン) (August 15, 2007)
4. "Eight Beat" (エイトビート Eito Biito) (May 21, 2008)
5. "Speed and Knife" (スピードとナイフ Supiido to Naifu) (August 27, 2008)
6. "Glycerin Queen" (グリセリン・クイーン Guriserin Kuiin) (October 7, 2009)

Albums

1. The Cro-Magnons (ザ・クロマニヨンズ Za Kuromaniyonzu) (October 25, 2006)
2. Cave Party (ケイヴ　パーティ Keivu Paati) (September 12, 2007)
3. Fire Age (ファイヤー　エイジ Faiyaa eiji) (October 15, 2008)
4. Mondo Roccia (モンド　ロッチャ Mondo Roccha) (October 28, 2009)
5. Oi! Um bobo (November 10, 2010)

External links

• Official website