Japan (band)

Japan
Japan in summer 1981: Sylvian, Jansen, Karn, Barbieri
Japan in summer 1981: Sylvian, Jansen, Karn, Barbieri
Background information
Also known asRain Tree Crow (1989–1991)
OriginCatford, South London, England
Genres
Years active1974–1982, 1989–1991
Labels
Past membersDavid Sylvian
Mick Karn
Steve Jansen
Richard Barbieri
Rob Dean

Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn (bass guitar), joined the following year by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean (lead guitar). Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate art rock,[6] electronic music and foreign influences.

Japan achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, releasing nine UK top 40 hits, including the 1982 top 5 hit single "Ghosts", and scoring a UK top 5 with the live album Oil on Canvas (1983). Six of the band's albums have achieved Gold status in the UK. The band split in December 1982, just as they were beginning to experience commercial success in the UK and abroad. Its members went on to pursue other musical projects, though they reformed briefly in the early 1990s under the name Rain Tree Crow, releasing an album in 1991.

  1. ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. p. 264. ISBN 1-84353-105-4.
  2. ^ Fisher, Mark. Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures. Zero Books, May 30, 2014. 978-1-78099-226-6
  3. ^ Drozdowski, Ted (May 1998). "David Sylvian: The Loner Emerges". Musician. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  4. ^ Lenig, Stuart (2010). The Twisted Tale of Glam Rock. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger. p. 88.
  5. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Japan | Biography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Japan & David Sylvian". udiscovermusic. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2024.