Katana VentraIP

Japan (band)

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 by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean (lead guitar) the following year. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.

Japan

Rain Tree Crow (1989–1991)

Catford, South London, England

1974–1982, 1989–1991

David Sylvian
Mick Karn
Steve Jansen
Richard Barbieri
Rob Dean

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.

– vocals, guitars, keyboards (1974–1982, 1989–1990)

David Sylvian

– bass guitars, saxophone, oboe, flute, recorder, clarinet, backing vocals (1974–1982, 1989–1990; died 2011)

Mick Karn

– drums, backing vocals, keyboards, percussion (1974–1982, 1989–1990)

Steve Jansen

– keyboards, synthesisers, occasional backing vocals (1975–1982, 1989–1990)

Richard Barbieri

– guitars, backing vocals (1975–1981)

Rob Dean

Timeline

(1978)

Adolescent Sex

(1978)

Obscure Alternatives

(1979)

Quiet Life

(1980)

Gentlemen Take Polaroids

(1981)

Tin Drum

same line-up as Japan (1991)

Rain Tree Crow

October 1977: UK Tour supporting

Jim Capaldi and the Contenders

April–June 1978: UK Tour supporting

Blue Öyster Cult

November 1978: US Tour (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York (2 dates), Boston)

November–December 1978: Obscure Alternatives UK Tour (Several dates cancelled due to illness in the band)

March 1979: Japanese Tour (6 dates)

March–April 1979: European/UK Tour (Germany, Holland, Belgium, UK)

January–March 1980: Quiet Life Tour UK/Japan, with Jane Shorter on saxophone

February 1981: Japanese Tour (7 dates)

May 1981: The Art of Parties UK Tour (last tour with Rob Dean)

December 1981: Visions of China UK Tour, with on guitar

David Rhodes

October–December 1982: Sons of Pioneers Tour (Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, UK, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan), with on guitar and keyboards. November concerts at Hammersmith Odeon recorded for the Oil on Canvas album and video.[11]

Masami Tsuchiya