Japan
Play Radio
Listen to Japan Radio,
featuring artists like David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Rain Tree Crow, Dalis Car and more…
2,021,583 plays (209,405 listeners)
British art rock band Japan was formed in 1974 in Lewisham, South London, England with original members David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Mick Karn (bass guitar, saxophone), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Rob Dean (guitar), and Steve Jansen (percussion). Dean left the band before the recording of Japan’s final album, Tin Drum.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978’s Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in the nation of Japan, though nowhere else.
Their third album, 1979’s Quiet Life, heralded a change in musical style from the earlier largely guitar based music to a more electronic sound, with more emphasis on Barbieri’s synthesisers, Sylvian’s svelte baritone style of singing, Karn’s distinctive fretless bass sound, and Steve Jansen’s odd-timbred percussion work.
Their following two albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981) continued to expand their audience as the band refined its new sound and unintentionally became part of the early 1980s new romantic movement. But Tin Drum ended up being their final album as personality conflicts tore the band apart. Nevertheless, the album’s unconventional single “
Ghosts” reached #5 on the UK pop charts.
They split after a farewell tour in 1982.
Most of the original members of the band went on to work on other projects.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978’s Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in the nation of Japan, though nowhere else.
Their third album, 1979’s Quiet Life, heralded a change in musical style from the earlier largely guitar based music to a more electronic sound, with more emphasis on Barbieri’s synthesisers, Sylvian’s svelte baritone style of singing, Karn’s distinctive fretless bass sound, and Steve Jansen’s odd-timbred percussion work.
Their following two albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981) continued to expand their audience as the band refined its new sound and unintentionally became part of the early 1980s new romantic movement. But Tin Drum ended up being their final album as personality conflicts tore the band apart. Nevertheless, the album’s unconventional single “
Ghosts” reached #5 on the UK pop charts.They split after a farewell tour in 1982.
Most of the original members of the band went on to work on other projects.
Top Albums
-
Quiet Life
Japan
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.09
- eBay Search
-
Exorcising Ghosts
Japan Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $7.77
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Tin Drum
Japan Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes
- Buy Album
- Amazon $3.54
- eBay Search
-
Adolescent Sex
Japan Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.90
- Buy Album
- Amazon $12.98
- eBay Search
New
Shoutbox
-
GREENMANPOP Tim Drum is really disappointing, makes me hate music.
-
RussellChap 'Ere I thought these blokes were English not from Japan. Innit.
-
BlazCat I LOVE <3
-
Chumethlee my batch of cookies
-
Quietlife_ So underrated i could die
-
flexmens Unique new wave band -- miss the creativity of the 80s :-)
-
pressuretech its just all good
-
Magic_Alex I really really loved Japan. I write about my obsession here: http://magicalexdjs.blogspot.com/2012/02/cantonese-boy.html
Videos
See more
Listening Now
Top Listeners
-
damianlunny
Top Listener
-
stacy-stacy
Top Listener
-
Abelarda
Top Listener
-
thomyorkeGOD
Top Listener
More Information
- Links
- Band Members
- Labels
