Tokyo Yankees
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 in Tokyo, Japan |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Heavy metal music |
| Website | www |
Tokyo Yankees (often stylized as TOKYO YANKEES and formerly known under a different name) is a Japanese heavy metal ensemble that originated in Tokyo in 1988. The band was fronted by vocalist Soichiro "Ume" Umemura for nearly twenty years until his passing in 2007. Since then, the group has carried on with other members sharing lead vocal responsibilities. The Japanese pop culture platform Real Sound has characterized them as the "Japanese Motörhead," highlighting their fusion of heavy metal and punk rock elements.[1]
Formation and Rise
Established in 1988, Tokyo Yankees began their live performances locally by 1989. Prior to this, Umemura and Nori were members of the heavy metal band Guerilla, while U.D.A. and Ami came from the speed/thrash metal outfit Rommel. In 1990, the Japanese metal publication Rockin 'f issued their debut single, "Joker," and their song "Rat Race" was featured on the compilation The End of the Century Rockers Emergency Express II. The band then signed with Extasy Records and released their first album, Do The Dirty, in 1991. That same year, they appeared at Extasy Summit '91 held at Nippon Budokan, performing before an audience of 14,000.
Their sophomore album, Overdoing, arrived in 1992 through Extasy Records, marking the height of their commercial success and leading to a contract with major label Nippon Columbia. Under Nippon Columbia’s banner, they released Ghost Rider (1993) and Vacate Your Useless Brain (1994). After experiencing a downturn in popularity, they reverted to the independent music scene in 1995.
Subsequently, Ami and U.D.A left the group. In 1996, Yoshinuma (formerly of Grimm the Capsule) took over Ami’s role; Yamato replaced U.D.A., with Ricky stepping in after Yamato’s departure post-1996 tour. Ami went on to create Charisma, which produced three albums between 1997 and 2000.
In 1996, Nippon Columbia issued a compilation LP of Tokyo Yankees’ work. The band continued performing locally and contributed to various compilations. U.D.A rejoined the lineup in 2000; the group released Pre-Emptive Strike in 2003 followed by the EP 777 in 2004, which included covers of influential bands such as The Damned, Black Sabbath, Venom, and Anthrax, alongside re-recorded versions of classics like "Dirty Dog" and "Devil".
Later Developments
Vocalist Soichiro "Ume" Umemura passed away on December 11, 2007. The band chose to continue with Yoshi and Nori sharing vocal duties. On May 4, 2008, Tokyo Yankees performed at the hide memorial summit held at the expansive Ajinomoto Stadium, which seats 50,000 spectators, significantly increasing their exposure. Later that month, they contributed to the 413Tracks' Motörhead Tribute album with renditions of "Ace of Spades" and a live recording of "Overkill". In July, they commemorated their two-decade career with a DVD release titled 20 and Alive [We Are The Yankees Of The Underworld And We're Undead!] accompanied by a limited tour.
Currently, Nori, Yoshi, and U.D.A continue to perform as Tokyo Yankees throughout Tokyo and across Japan. Recent footage reveals guest vocalists participating in live shows. The band preserves connections with former members Ami and Tohda, who occasionally join on stage; sometimes Ami plays bass while Tohda handles guitar duties, with Yoshinuma taking on primary vocal responsibilities. In September 2012, they appeared at Yokohama Summer Rock Fes. – Revolution Rocks 2012 alongside Ra:IN, Der Zibet, and Ladies Room. In June 2015, Tokyo Yankees took part in the opening night of Lunatic Fest at Makuhari Messe, an event hosted by Luna Sea.
Since 2003, Nori has been active with his side project From Hell, releasing two EPs and performing monthly gigs. Yoshi also plays regularly with his side project Blotto Rockers. When performing with Kabukichou Boys (Nori) and Go Bands (Yoshi), both adopt the moniker Fake And Liar.
Members
- Masanori "Nori" Hashimoto – guitar, lead vocals 1988–present (formerly of Guerrilla, From Hell, Fake And Liar)
- Hironori "Yoshi" Yoshinuma – bass guitar, vocals 1996–present (also part of Grimm the Capsule, Blotto Rockers, Fake And Liar)
- Takashi "U.D.A." Udagawa – drums 1988–1995, resumed 2000–present (previously with Dementia, Rommel, Blotto Rockers)
Past members
- Soichiro "Ume" Umemura – lead vocals 1988–2007† (formerly Guerrilla)
- Masahiro "Ami" Arayama – bass guitar 1988–1995 (ex-Rommel, Charisma, G.D. Flickers, BLOTTO ROCKERS)
- Tohda – guitarist 1988–1990 (Samurai Blondies) Passed away June 13, 2017.
- Hiyori – vocals in 1988 (Youthquake)
- Inoue – bass in 1995
- Mizushima – drums in 1995
- Yamato – drums in 1996
- Ricky – drums 1996–2000 (BAGNAG)
Singles
- "Joker" (released October 28, 1990)
Albums
- Do the Dirty (May 20, 1991)
- Overdoing (October 20, 1992)
- Ghostrider (October 5, 1993), reached No. 46 on the Oricon Albums Chart
- Vacate Your Useless Brain (September 21, 1994)
- The Best of Tokyo Yankees '93–'95 (June 21, 1996)
- Pre Emptive Strike (October 14, 2003)
- 777 (October 9, 2004)
Videos
- Unrivaled is Extasy ~ Extasy Summit '91 at Nippon Budokan (February 21, 1992)
- Includes performances of "Dive into Field" and "Ace of Spades" featuring hide and Pata, along with behind-the-scenes footage.
- Minna ga Mumei-Datta, Dakedo... Muteki-Datta ~ Extasy Summit 1992 (May 10, 1993)
- Showcases "Big Game" and "Drugstore Cowboy" with hide, Pata, and Yoshiki; also contains candid clips.
- 20 and Alive [We Are The Yankees of The Underworld and We're Undead!] (August 27, 2008)
Additional appearances
- The End of the Century Rockers Emergency Express II (October 21, 1990) – track: "Rat Race"
- Lightning & Thunder (October 1, 1998) – tracks: "Light My Fire," "Japanese Motherfucker"
- History of Extasy (June 21, 2000) – track: "Japanese Motherfucker"
- Tribute to Masami -White Disc- – track: "Dead Rock"
- 413Tracks' Motorhead Tribute (May 14, 2008) – covers of "Ace of Spades" and "Overkill"
- Gargoism (May 17, 2008) – track: "Halleluyah"
- Hard 'N' Heavy 2010 (February 13, 2010) – demo version of "So What"
- Featured on Vol.15 compilation of We Rock magazine including various artists
External links
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