Wands (band)
| Wands | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Rock, pop rock, power pop, alternative rock, hard rock |
| Years active | 1991–2000 |
| Labels | Toshiba-EMI (1991–1993) B-Gram Records (1993–2000) |
| Website | www |
| Past members | Show Uesugi (vocal, 1991-1997) Kousuke Oshima (keyboard, 1991-1992) Hiroshi Shibasaki (guitar, 1991-1997) Shinya Kimura (keyboard, 1992-2000) Jiro Waku (vocal, 1997-2000) Issei Sugimoto (guitar, 1997-2000) |
Wands (stylized as WANDS) was a Japanese rock band formed in 1991 as a three-member group. The band, throughout nine years of activity, had two vocalists, guitarists and keyboardists. Show Uesugi (vocalist), Hiroshi Shibasaki (guitarist), Kousuke Oshima (keyboardist) are the original member of the band. Shinya Kimura joined them after Oshima separate early. In 1997, Wesugi and Hiroshi left the band, so then Shinya reformed the band with Jiro Waku (vocalist) and Issei Sugimoto (guitarist). However, the group was officially disbanded in 2000. Wands belonged to the Being music agency.[1]
Contents
Members
- Show Uesugi (上杉 昇 Uesugi Shō?, born 24 May 1972)
- Kosuke Ohsima (大島 こうすけ Ōshima Kōsuke?, Real and former stage name: Kosuke Ohsima (大島 康祐 Ōshima Kōsuke?), born 4 September 1970)
- Hiroshi Shibasaki (柴崎 浩 Shibasaki Hiroshi?, born 13 December 1969)
- Shinya Kimura (木村 真也 Kimura Shinya?, born 28 July 1969)
- Jiro Matsumoto (松元 治郎 Matsumoto Jirō?, Former stage name: Jiro Waku (和久 二郎 Waku Jirō?), born 11 December 1970)
- Issei "Suginho" Ambo (安保 "Suginho" 一生 Anbo Sugīnyo Issei?, Real name: Issei Anbo (安保 一生 Anbo Issei?), Former stage name: Issei Sugimoto (杉元 一生 Sugimoto Issei?), born 8 May 1972)
Career
1991–1996: commercial success
The band founded in 1991 by main vocalist Show Uesugi, guitarist Hiroshi Shibasaki, and keyboardist Kousuke Oshima. Wesugi was a fan of Axl Rose and Oshima was a guest member of Japanese rock band Loudness.[2] The band was named after wands of tarot.[2] They made a debut with single "Sabishisa wa Aki no Iro" (literally "Loneliness is autumn color"). Their 1992 single "Motto Tsuyoku Dakishimeta Nara" (literally "If I Embrace You More Strongly") reached the number-one position and was charted for 44 weeks on the Japanese Oricon charts.[3]
However, Oshima withdrew from the band and Shinya Kimura joined the band in 1992. Collaborating with Miho Nakayama, in October 1992, they released "Sekaijū no Dare yori Kitto" (lit. "Certainly more than everybody in the world"), which became one of standard "J-pop" songs.[2] In 1992, they took part in Japanese famous year-end show called Kōhaku Uta Gassen by the song.[2] Along with their songs, Wesugi wrote Deen's debut song "Konomama Kimidake wo Ubaisaritai" (lit. "Now, I want to make off with only you"), which was released in March 1993 and sold over a million copies. In April 1993, their album Toki no Tobira (lit. "Temporal Door") and single "Ai wo Kataru yori Kuchizuke wo Kawaso" (lit. "Let's kiss more than talking love") debuted at the number-one positions at the same time on the Oricon charts, making them the second artist to achieve this following Seiko Matsuda.[4] "Ai wo Kataru yori Kuchizuke wo Kawaso" spent in number-one spot for four consecutive weeks.[2] Toki no Tobira was charted for 33 weeks on the Oricon album charts.[5] They sold over 4.11 million singles and 3.18 million albums in a year, winning the "artist of the year" award at the 8th Japan Gold Disc Award.[6]
Their 1994 single "Sekai ga Owaru made wa..." (lit. "Until the End of the World...") reached number-one on Oricon charts[7] and was certified as a million-selling single by Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[8] It was the ending theme of anime series Slam Dunk. However, Wesugi loved grunge and wanted to turn into alternative rock.[2] "Sekai ga Owaru made wa..." became his last song written by his former style because he felt that many musicians around him were doing the same thing.[9] The tune of their next single "Secret Night (It's My Treat)" was more shifted into power pop, creating controversies.[2] However, their 1995 studio album Piece of My Soul also debuted at the number-one position on the Oricon album charts, with the first week sales of over 542,000 copies.[10]
Uesugi's image continued to be changed with song "Same Side".[11] His new style was said to be "painterly" and their new album was nearing completion.[9] According to Uesugi, their new album was influenced by punk and blues.[9] After they released single "Worst Crime (About a rock star who was a swindler)" in February 1996, however, Uesugi and Shibasaki withdrew from the band, which was said to have been its actual disbandment.[2] Their withdrawals were officially announced in 1997.[12]
Uesugi continued his music career and took part in the sixth anniversary of hide's death as the last singer in 2004.[13] Shibasaki formed rock band Abingdon Boys School with Takanori Nishikawa in 2005. Oshima also associated with Nishikawa on the 2006 album Under Cover.[14]
1997–2000: Alteration and disbandment
Shinya Kimura re-formed the group with vocalist Jiro Waku and guitarist Issei Sugimoto. Jiro Waku, whose real name is Jiro Matsumoto, was the first leader of twelve skateboarding boys (predecessor of SMAP) in Johnny & Associates.[15] Their debut song "Sabitsuita Machine Gun de Ima o Uchinukō", written by Miho Komatsu, was adopted for theme of anime series Dragon Ball GT. Their next single "Brand New Love" was written by Izumi Sakai. Sakai also wrote their song "Ashita moshi Kimi ga kowaretemo" (lit. "Even if you shatter tomorrow"), which was used as the ending theme for Yu-Gi-Oh!. Their next single "Kyo, Nanika no Hazumi de Ikiteiru" (lit. "Today, I live by some chance") was written by Nana Azuki, a future member of Garnet Crow. However, their first studio album Awake, released on October 27, 1999, was charted for only three weeks, peaking at number 18 on the Oricon charts.[16] The band finally disbanded in 2000.
Discography
Singles
| Release date | Title | Album information | Oricon charts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st period | 4 December 1991 | "Sabishisa wa Aki no Iro" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Seiichirou Kuribayashi Arrangement: Masao Akashi |
Weekly ranking: Number 63 |
| 13 May 1991 | "Furimuite Dakishimete" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Kousuke Ohshima Arrangement: Kousuke Ohshima |
Weekly ranking: Number 80 | |
| 1 July 1992 | "Motto Tsuyoku Dakishimetanara" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi, Tsutomu Uozumi Music: Yoshio Tatano Arrangement: Takeshi Hayama |
Weekly ranking: Number 1 (2-week period) 1992 ranking: Number 59 1993 ranking: Number 11 |
|
| 2nd period | 26 February 1993 | "Toki no Tobira" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Kousuke Ohshima Arrangement: Masao Akashi |
Weekly ranking: Number 1 1993 ranking: Number 7 |
| 17 April 1993 | "Ai wo Kataru Yori Guchidzuke o Kawasou" | Lyrics: Show Wesugi Music: Tetsurou Oda Arrangement: Masao Akashi |
Weekly ranking: Number 1 (4-week period) May 1993 ranking: Number 1 1993 ranking: Number 14 |
|
| 7 July 1993 | "Koiseyo Otome" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Kousuke Ohshima Arrangement: Takeshi Hayama |
Weekly ranking: Number 1 (2-week period) July 1993 ranking: Number 1 1993 ranking: Number 25 |
|
| 17 November 1993 | "Jumpin' Jack Boy" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Seiichirou Kuribayashi Arrangement: Takeshi Hayama |
Weekly ranking: Number 2 1993 ranking: Number 106 1994 ranking: Number 44 |
|
| 8 June 1994 | "Sekai ga Owaru Made wa..." | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Tetsurou Oda Arrangement: 'Takeshi Hayama |
Weekly ranking: Number 1 (2-week period) 1994 ranking: Number 10 |
|
| 13 February 1995 | "Secret Night: It's My Treat" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Seiichirou Kuribayashi Arrangement: Daisuke Ikeda |
Weekly ranking: Number 1 1995 ranking: Number 53 |
|
| 4 December 1995 | "Same Side" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Show Wesugi, Hiroshi Shibasaki Arrangement: Wands |
Weekly ranking: Number 2 1996 ranking: Number 128 |
|
| 1 February 1996 | "Worst Crime: About a Rock Star who was a Swindler" | Lyrics: Show Uesugi Music: Hiroshi Shibasaki Arrangement: Hiroshi Shibasaki |
Weekly ranking: Number 9 1996 ranking: Number 183 |
|
| 3rd period | 3 September 1997 | "Sabitsuita Machine Gun de Ima o Uchinikou" | Lyrics: Miho Komatsu Music: Miho Komatsu Arrangement: Daisuke Ikeda |
Weekly ranking: Number 4 |
| 11 February 1998 | "Brand New Love" | Lyrics: Izumi Sakai Music: Masaaki Watanuki Arrangement: Wands |
Weekly ranking: Number 17 | |
| 10 June 1998 | "Ashita Moshi Kimi ga Kowaretemo" | Lyrics: Izumi Sakai Music: Aika Ohno Arrangement: Wands |
Weekly ranking: Number 8 1998 ranking: Number 189 |
|
| 31 March 1999 | "Kyo, Nanika no Hazumi de Ikiteiru" | Lyrics: Azuki Nana Music: Makoto Miyoshi Arrangement: Wands |
Weekly ranking: Number 32 |
Collaborations
| Release date | Title | Album information | Oricon charts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 October 1992 | Sekaijuu no Dare Yori Kitto with Miho Nakayama |
Lyrics: Show Uesugi, Miho Nakayama Music: Tetsurou Oda Arrangement: Takeshi Hayama |
Weekly ranking: Number 1 1992 ranking: Number 31 January 1992 rRanking: Number 1 1993 ranking: Number 10 |
| 9 June 1993 | Hateshinai Yume o with ZYYG, Rev, Zard featuring Shigeo Nagashima |
Lyrics and music: Show Uesugi Izumi Sakai Masayuki Deguchi Seiichirou Kuribayashi |
Weekly ranking: Number 2 |
Original albums
| Release date | Title | Oricon charts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st period | 17 June 1992 | Wands | Weekly ranking: Number 10 |
| 2nd period | 17 April 1993 | Toki no Tobira | Weekly ranking: Number 1 (4-week period) 1993 ranking: Number 2 |
| 6 October 1993 | Little Bit... | Weekly ranking: Number 2 1993 ranking: Number 10 |
|
| 24 April 1995 | Piece of My Soul | Weekly ranking: Number 1 (2-week period) May 1995 ranking: Number 1 1995 ranking: Number 16 |
|
| 3rd period | 27 October 1999 | Awake | Weekly ranking: Number 18 |
Best albums
| Release date | Title | Oricon charts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period | 16 March 1996 | Singles Collection +6 | Weekly ranking: Number 1 1996 ranking: Number 26 |
| 3rd period | 6 November 1997 | Wands Best: Historical Best Album | Weekly ranking: Number 1 1997 ranking: Number 81 |
| 9 June 2000 | Best of Wands History | Weekly ranking: Number 17 | |
| Various | 25 August 2002 | Complete of Wands at the Being Studio | Weekly ranking: Number 47 |
| 12 December 2007 | Best of Best 1000 Wands | Weekly ranking: Number 52 | |
| 27 May 2008 | Wands Best Hits |
VHS and DVDs
| Title | Release date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Best of Wands Video History | 1 August 2000 | VHS & DVD |
| Wands Best Live & Clips[17] | 8 August 2012 | DVD |
| Legend of 90s J-Rock Best Live & Clips[18] | 8 August 2012 | DVD |
References
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- ↑ http://beinggiza.com/beinglegend/wands.html
- ↑ http://beinggiza.com/beinglegend/legend90.html
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Articles with hCards
- Articles containing Japanese-language text
- Official website not in Wikidata
- Articles with Japanese-language external links
- Use dmy dates from January 2011
- Japanese pop rock music groups
- Japanese hard rock musical groups
- Japanese alternative rock groups
- Japanese rock music groups
- Musical trios
- Musical groups established in 1991
- Musical groups disestablished in 2000
- Being Inc.
- Musical groups from Tokyo
- 1991 establishments in Japan
