Blankey Jet City
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Aichi Prefecture , Japan |
| Products | Rock music albums and singles |
Blankey Jet City was a Japanese rock band formed as a trio in Aichi Prefecture, active from 1987 until 2000. The group consisted of Kenichi Asai (vocals and guitar), Toshiyuki Terui (bass), and Tatsuya Nakamura (drums).
History
Established in 1987, Blankey Jet City's professional journey commenced in 1990 following their appearance on a well-known TBS program dedicated to amateur bands. This exposure secured them a recording deal with Toshiba EMI, which facilitated their travel to London to produce their debut album. Released in 1991, Red Guitar And The Truth explored subjects such as youth delinquency and fractured family dynamics. Notably, fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto utilized this album to promote his 1991 Paris fashion collection.
After completing their inaugural nationwide tour, the band launched their sophomore album, Bang!, in 1992, which garnered several album of the year accolades. Renowned for their intense and heartfelt live performances, they also issued a live album during the same year.
Between 1993 and 1994, Blankey Jet City delivered a steady stream of releases including their third studio album C.B. Jim, which was themed around an invented character, followed by the fourth album Metal Moon. Their fifth release in 1994 incorporated stronger Jazz elements. In 1995, they compiled singles and re-recordings into The Six, and later that year released the album Skunk after an eight-month interval.
In 1996, Asai founded the independent label Sexy Stone Records and formed the dream pop ensemble Sherbets. Meanwhile, Nakamura collaborated with members of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra to create Losalios. Following disagreements with Toshiba EMI, Blankey Jet City signed with Polydor and unveiled the surf rock-inspired Love Flash Fever in 1997.
The year 1998 saw the release of another compilation alongside their eighth studio album. After producing four successful singles, their final studio work, Harlem Jets, was issued in May 2000, succeeded by Saturday Night the following month. Their concluding live appearance took place at the Fuji Rock Festival on July 28, 2000, after which each member embarked on solo indie pursuits.
Members
(born December 29, 1964) – vocals and guitar
(born February 28, 1964) – bass guitar
- Formerly associated with Rosso and Raven.
(born January 4, 1965) – drummer
- Has performed with The Stalin, Losalios, Twin Tail, among other projects.
Singles
- "Huryō Shōnen no Uta (不良少年のうた)" (12 January 1991)
- "Texas" (5 July 1991)
- "Fuyu no Sweater (冬のセーター)" (11 December 1991)
- "Warui Hitotachi (悪いひとたち)" (9 November 1992)
- "Aoi Hana (青い花)" (20 April 1994)
- "Kaze ni Narumade (風になるまで)" (7 September 1994)
- "Girl/Jiyū (Girl/自由)" (25 January 1995)
- "Kuchizuke (くちづけ)" (25 October 1995)
- "Gasoline no Yurekata (ガソリンの揺れかた)" (28 May 1997)
- "Hidarikiki no Baby (左ききのBaby)" (3 September 1997)
- "Akai Tambourine (赤いタンバリン)" (21 January 1998)
- "Chiisana Koi no Melody (小さな恋のメロディ)" (10 June 1998)
- "Dandelion" (26 August 1998)
- "Sweet Days" (18 November 1998)
- "Pepin" (2 June 1999)
- "Sea Side Jet City" (12 April 2000)
- "Saturday Night" (5 July 2000)
Discography
- Red Guitar and the Truth (12 April 1991)
- Bang! (22 January 1992)
- Live!!! (30 September 1992)
- C.B. Jim (24 February 1993)
- Metal Moon (1 December 1993)
- Shiawase no Kane ga Narihibiki: Boku wa Tada Kanashii Furi o Suru (25 May 1994)
- The Six (1 March 1995)
- Skunk (22 November 1995)
- Love Flash Fever (18 June 1997)
- Kokkyōsenjō no Ari (21 January 1998)
- Romeo no Shinzō (24 June 1998)
- Harlem Jets (10 May 2000)
- Last Dance (20 September 2000)
- Compilation releases: both Blankey Jet City 1990-1995 and Blankey Jet City 1997-2000 were issued on 25 October 2000
Video Releases
- Dog Food (22 April 1992)
- Monkey Strip (28 September 1994)
- Are You Happy? (13 December 1995)
- Blankey Jet City Solo Works (28 August 1995)
- Babyface President (7 October 1998)
- Barracuda: Tokyo Six Days (2 December 1998)
- Solo Works II (10 November 1999)
- Candy or Hell (26 July 2000)
- Last Dance (20 September 2000)
DVD Collection
Several compilations and full editions were released from September 2000 through May 2002, including titles such as Last Dance, Dog Food, Are You Happy?, and Solo Works, featuring comprehensive footage and highlight reels.