Band of the Week: BOØWY

Hotei (Gt.), Takahashi (Dr.), Matsui (Ba.) & Himuro (Vo.)

This week I will tell you more about the 80's band who had the biggest influence on the Japanese music scene. BOØWY got their legendary status because they captured the imagination and hearts of people of all ages. They also got credited for starting the 90's band movement. BOØWY constantly topped the charts with music ranging from punk to pop rock. This group may have split up almost 25 years ago, but neither they or their music will be forgotten. Similar bands are COMPLEX and PERSONZ.

The story of BOØWY's founding starts in 1979 during a high school music contest in Takasaki (Gunma prefecture). Back then vocalist Kyosuke Himuro played in a band called “Death Penalty”, and beat guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei's band “Blue Film”. After the contest Death Penalty signed with record company “Being” and went to Tokyo. However, things did not go as planned and the group broke up. Soon after Himuro joined “Spinach Power”, but he also had troubles with this group so he left again in 1980.

Around that time Hotei was also in Tokyo. He got expelled from high school because he said “Jesus had long hair” after his teacher had warned him that his hair was too long and that he should cut it. Not long after that incident, Himuro contacted Hotei. Himuro proposed to form a band together, and soon the band “Boui” was born. The two founding members recruited a second guitarist, Atsushi Moroboshi (ex-Death Penalty), bassist Tsunematsu Matsui, drummer Mamoru Kimura (ex-Spinach Power), and saxophonist, Matsuaki Fukazawa (ex-Blue Film). Boui started to perform in Shinjuku, but like most bands in their early stages, they struggled and sent out numerous demos to labels. It was “Victor Entertainement” who took a chance and signed them on.

Drummer Kimua left the band in 1981 since he originally joined as a temporary member. Makoto Takahashi was impressed after watching Boui perform and decided to try out as their new drummer. That summer Takahashi became the new drummer and Boui was the most popular band of “Shinjuku Loft”.

In 1982 the band changed their name to “ BOØWY” and released their first album, “Moral”, on March 21. At this stage they were still a punk band, but for their concert in Shibuya on September 9, Hotei wanted to bring a little more variation. BOØWY's sound became lighter and more pop-ish. This caused an uproar among the shocked fans. Fukazawa and Moroboshi agreed with the fans that this was bad and both of them left the band on October 9. There were now 4 members and there would be no more line-up changes until the disbandment.

The next year, 1983, BOØWY left their label and created one of their own with the help of Mamoru Tsuchiya. Tsuchiya was a former member of Blue Film and accepted the role of BOØWY's manager. At that time, it was unheard of and frowned upon in the music industry. Victor Entertainment stopped promoting the band, the media ignored them and people started to forget their existence. The band members were stubborn and didn't want to go down without a fight. To promote BOØWY, with no funds, Tsuchiya gathered hand-made flyers, posters, character goods, the instruments and the band in an old “Toyota HiAce” with no AC and went on a trip around Japan, looking for places to perform.

In 1984 their touring quest continued and eventually it paid off. Because they had rebuilt their reputation, through live performances and determination from both band and manager, they got various offers from record companies. They used their experience to wait for a record label that would suit them. In the end they signed with production company “Yui”, which would later help them get signed with “Toshiba EMI” label. They took a 6 month break from touring so they could properly prepare for their major debut.

BOØWY played overseas for the first time in Londen at the “Marquee Club” on March 12, 1985. The band may have been forgotten for a while, but they became a hit when all of their releases claimed the #1 spot on the charts again and again. In 1986 they even performed their tour final at the “Nippon Budokan Hall”, one of the most famous live venues of Japan.

BOØWY became Japan's #1 band and it seemed like the band couldn't be stopped at this point. But it seems like BOØWY themselves wanted to stop their success. On Christmas Eve in 1987, during their tour final, they announced that the group would disband. They held two farewell performances (“Last Gigs”) at the newly opened “Tokyo Dome” on April 4 & 5, 1988. All 95,000 tickets were sols out in merely 10 minutes.

The two founders, Himuro & Hotei, still have solo successful solo projects. Himuro is probably best known internationally for his contribution to the soundtrack of the popular film “Fantasy VII: Advent Children”. Hotei's “Without Honor or Humanity” was used in Quentin Tarantino's film “Kill Bill”.

BOØWY's 30^th anniversary will also be celebrated this year. On March 21, 2013, the ultimate best of CD called 「BOØWY THE BEST “STORY”」.

Official Website
30th Anniversary Official Website
Himuro Kyosuke Official Website
Hotei Tomoyasu Official Website
Takahashi Makoto Official Website