Japan
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Japan – Nightporter
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Biography
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.
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Top Albums
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Quiet Life
54,414 listeners20 tracks
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Tin Drum
69,302 listeners12 tracks
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Gentlemen Take Polaroids
46,067 listeners11 tracks
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Exorcising Ghosts
29,186 listeners11 tracks
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capelinux
A años luz de todos sus cohetaneos. Sublimes
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Johnny_D
in music evolution right between Roxy Music and Duran Duran
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castlewich
"They're playing our song ... "
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Fallingmoonlite
<3
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LakeAndTheRiver
Japan are a huge influence in my music. I'd be so humbled if just afew you guys took the time to listen to my project. Please check it out at: http://thisishomecoming.com
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sierena
I'm really digging Obscure Alternatives right now, just so much goodness in one album.
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Saranella
Swing!
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coxoxi
perfection
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KuriousBanana
RIP Mick Karn - Taken too soon, 2 years ago today :(
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duzguneser
great post punk band..
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No_00000000000
Japan? WTF???@!??? IT'S CHINESE BAND YOU RETARDS!!
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Nyctohylophobia
Oh come on, Duran Duran really appreciated Japan. They were not copy cats. And Rhodes was just a young fan boy, he looked like David because he was almost like an idol for him, not because that was cool or whatever. That's cute, not something to fuss about. Japan is "a truly influential group", as said below.
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samarkand2004
' "Amazing that only a few in the world know that Duran Duran were copy cats." '. Except that Duran duran were not just copycats (apart maybe Rhodes outragesously obvious look, in the mid 80s), and Japan were not their only influence (at all)... an old Japan fans ('a little biased') legend... but that's why they could get their international commercial (disco, funk, pop..) success in the early 80s too (at the difference of Japan..that stayed in their more elitist genre till the end). But all that is history too now ^. RIP Karn (2). Just my 2 cents anyway.. knowing both bands here (and appreciating them both for their own musical virtues..that were different for sure too, from start, anyway). *)
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muymatrera
Geniales
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mutinyonark
"Amazing that only a few in the world know that Duran Duran were copy cats." many a bands were japan copycats
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vladmirek
a truely influential group... a magical and oriental sound of Karn's bass gives me shivers
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ChorFaiFan
我有幸在香港看過他們，多謝Sam ,但以後再冇機會，RIP.Mick Karn;另一違憾是David Sylvian我竟然不去看，真是終生抱憾！
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silverlage
Fashion, always fashion.
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CMBFlor20
brilliant observation, Gravejr
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Gravejr
All 433 shouts
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