Uchoten
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Defunct | 1991 (hiatus until 2015) |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Music albums, live recordings |
Uchōten (有頂天, meaning ecstasy) was a Japanese band known for its experimental approach within the new wave and post punk scenes during the 1980s and early 1990s. Established in 1982, the group disbanded in 1991 after producing eight studio albums and two live recordings. After a hiatus exceeding twenty years, Uchōten reunited in 2015.
History
Emerging from Tokyo, Uchōten evolved from the band Densenbyou. Their final performance as Densenbyou coincided with their inaugural show as Uchōten on 6 April 1982. The band’s frontman is vocalist Kera.
Their initial releases, including their debut album and singles, were issued through Kera’s independent label, Nagomu. In 1985, they released Kokoro no tabi under the larger indie label Captain, which was a rendition of a well-known 1973 track by Tulip. Alongside Uchōten, bands such as The Willard and Laughin' Nose were recognized collectively as the Indies Big Three.
In September 1986, Uchōten launched their first major label album titled Peace, an exploration of themes centered on finality and mortality. Despite fans speculating about a potential breakup at that time, the band persisted for an additional five years, undergoing several changes in membership.
Their concluding concert prior to disbandment took place on 15 September 1991 and was subsequently issued as the live album Search For 1/3 Fin. The band resumed activities in 2015 after a break lasting nearly a quarter-century.
Throughout their tenure, Uchōten incorporated covers of songs by various artists including King Crimson, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Lizard, P-Model, and Takuro Yoshida into their performances.
Lineups
- April 1982 - September 1982
- Kera - Vocals
- Toshi - Guitar
- Tabo - Guitar
- Chachamaru - Bass
- Mika - Bass
- Eriko - Keyboard
- Zin - Percussion
- Minosuke - Drums
- September 1982 - May 1984
- Kera - Vocals
- Toshi - Guitar
- Tabo - Guitar
- Chachamaru - Bass
- Eriko - Keyboard
- Zin - Drums
- July 1984 - May 1985
- Kera - Vocals
- Toshi - Guitar
- Tabo - Guitar
- Kubobryu - Bass
- Eriko - Keyboards
- Zin - Drums
- June 1985 - February 1986
- Kera - Vocals
- Huckai - Guitar
- Cou - Guitar
- Kubobryu - Bass
- Charity - Keyboard
- Zin - Drums
- February 1986 - February 1988
- Kera - Vocals
- Huckai - Guitar
- Cou - Guitar
- Kubobryu - Bass
- Myue - Keyboard
- Zin - Drums
- March 1988 - May 1989
- Kera - Vocals
- Huckai - Guitar
- Cou - Guitar
- Kubobryu - Bass
- Shiu - Keyboard
- Zin - Drums
- May 1989 - September 1991
- Kera - Vocals
- Cou - Guitar
- Kubobryu - Bass
- Shiu - Keyboard
- Zin - Drums
Discography
- Dohyou ouji (1983)
- Because (1986)
- Peace (1986)
- Vegetable Demo (1987)
- Aissle (1987)
- Search For 1/3 Boil (1988) Live album
- Gan (1988)
- Search For 1/3 Stop! Hand In Hand (1989)
- Colorful Merry ga futta machi (1990)
- Dekkachi (1990)
- Search For 1/3 Fin (1991) Live album
- 1984-1987 Vegetable (1992) Best-of
- Lost and Found (2015)
- Kafka's Rock/Nietzsche's Pop (2016)