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Glay (band)

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GLAY （グレイ） is a popular rock/pop band from Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan formed by guitarist Takuro and vocalist Teru during high school in 1988. Takuro was heavily influenced by his favourite band, The Beatles, and took a great interest in composing original songs and lyrics. The band name "GLAY" is a deliberate misspelling of the word "gray", which represents the style of music they wanted to play; a mixture between rock (black) and pop (white). The Beatles also influenced this misspelling, as they had purposely misspelled their own band name ("beetle" became "beatle" as rock music at the time was referred to as "beat" music). Although GLAY primarily composes songs in the rock genre, they have also composed songs in everything ranging from reggae to gospel. Due to their musical diversity, beautiful lyrics and wonderful melodies, they have become one of the most successful and well known bands in Japan, and most of Asia.

Contents

Members

Main members

TAKURO : real name Takuro Kubo : guitar (leader and primary songwriter)
TERU : real name Teruhiko Kobashi : vocals
JIRO : real name Yoshihito Wayama : bass
HISASHI : real name Hisashi Tonomura : guitar

All members were born in Hakodate, Hokkaido except Hisashi, who was born in Hirosaki, Aomori. When he was a student in elementary school, he moved to Hakodate.

Past and current support members

Yuta : real name Yuta Saitou : Keyboard (2004 - present)
Toshi : real name Toshimitsu Nagai : drums (1995 - present)
Sakuma : real name Masahide Sakuma : guitar, keyboard, producer (mid-1994 - present)
Shige : real name Shigeo "sk55" Komori : keyboard (1998 - 2004)
D.I.E. : real name Daijiro Nozawa : keyboard (1995 - 1998)
Nobumasa : drums (1994)
Akira : drums (1993 - 1994)

History

During GLAY's early years in high school, members (particularly drummers) were constantly joining and leaving the band. Upon the unexpected resignition of their vocalist, drummer Teru made a tape of his singing to give to Takuro and was immediately recruited as the new vocalist. On the search for another guitarist, Hisashi was asked to join but turned down the offer, as he was already part of a locally well-known heavy punk/rock band called Ari, which better suited his taste in music. When Ari disbanded, Hisashi took up Takuro's offer and became the lead guitarist of GLAY.

By the time of Takuro and Teru's graduation, GLAY had become quite popular in their hometown of Hakodate and were playing in full live houses. Following Hisashi's high school graduation in 1990, the three of them moved to Tokyo to try and further expand their musical career. However, things did not seem to improve for them in Tokyo. Their gigs only attracted a few people, and sometimes none at all. When their bassist quit, Takuro had heard that Jiro, who was also from Hakodate and had played with the indies band PIERROT (different from the Japanese rock band PIERROT known today), had moved to Tokyo and invited him to join GLAY. He too declined the offer, insisting that he was already heading in the right direction for himself. It wasn't until Takuro asked him to play at just one show to fill in for their missing bassist that he decided to go. However that one show became two, then three, and before he knew it Jiro had become the official bass player for GLAY in 1991.

The four of them worked hard at their part time jobs and in their time off, promoting their band by handing out flyers on the street and giving out demo tapes. Eventually they became more and more well known on the Tokyo live house circuit, and began drawing larger crowds. During one of these shows in October 1993, Yoshiki, the former drummer for X Japan, saw their show and offered them a contract to his label EXTASY Records. In 1994 their debut single "RAIN" was produced.

From the time of their debut GLAY steadily became more widely recognized by people all over the country. Their 4th single "Freeze My Love" made it onto the Oricon, debuting at #19. Two months later their first album "SPEED POP" debuted at #8. Their first #1 hit was in 1996 with their second album "BEAT out!" which was marked as a major turning point in GLAY's career. From then on they became increasingly popular at an extremely rapid rate, and in August 1997 they released the hit single "HOWEVER" which swept the nation off its feet, and became their most well-known song to date. The next two years to follow were arguably GLAY's most active years, in which they were constantly touring around Japan in sold out stadiums and continuously producing one #1 hit after the other, with very little time to rest.

On July 31, 1999 GLAY held a concert called "GLAY EXPO 1999 SURVIVAL" at Makuhari Messe, gathering a total audience of 200 000 people making it the largest single concert to ever be held in Japan (this concert broke many records at its time, its numbers not including the many who were standing out of the Makuhari Messe observing the concert in the extreme summer heat). There was an incredible amount of publicity leading up to this concert, including having their faces printed on the sides of Japan Airlines jumbo jets. In 2001 and 2004 two more GLAY EXPOs were held. GLAY EXPO 2001 was divided into four separate performances at three different venues (Tokyo Stadium, Hokkaido, and Kitakyushu), and accumulated a total audience of over 280 000. GLAY EXPO 2004 celebrated their 10th anniversary, and was held in the parking lot of Universal Studios Japan selling out with 100 000 audience members.

Throughout the years GLAY has appeared on countless numbers of TV programs, and graced the front covers of every famous band/music magazine in Japan at least once (and some more than fifteen times), such as GIGS, What's In?, BPASS, ongaku to hito, PATIPATI, CD Data, etc. Kadokawa Shoten has also produced two GLAY only books, and every member of GLAY (excluding Teru) has written a book of their own (Jiro has made two). Besides appearing in magazines and on TV, Teru, Hisashi and Jiro each have their own personal weekly radio shows (aired on bayFM, FMFUJI, and FM802, respectively).

Music Style

In addition to recording most of their albums and singles in Japan, GLAY frequently travels overseas to places such as Los Angeles, New York and London to produce their music. By being able to work with many foreign professionals, they gained a different perspective into the music industry from different parts of the world and were able to change and shape their band's sound to become something different from "typical" Japanese rock. In 2001 they released the New York produced album "ONE LOVE" which shocked long time GLAY fans, as the sound of "ONE LOVE" was completely different from that found on earlier albums. After the brief shock of this style change ended, it was warmly welcomed by the majority of the fans, and GLAY went on to hold a very successful "ONE LOVE" concert tour. The following year, "Unity Roots & Family, Away" (UR&FA) was released, which was something entirely different from "ONE LOVE" and all their previous works. "UR&FA" presented GLAY fans with a strong gospel sound in many of its tracks.

"...people like my family members, lovers, friends, staff, acquaintance relationships, and the people I have around me greatly influence my work, and I wanted to make one album about that. My keyword was "roots". And, after that I had "unity". ...I wanted to do this theme one time. We did a gospel sound in order to represent these people the closest." (Takuro)

Following the release of "UR&FA", in February 2003 GLAY released two compilation albums of the B-side tracks on their singles that hadn't yet been put onto an album. It wouldn't be until 2004 that they would release a brand new album entitled "THE FRUSTRATED". This album was a huge success, and spawned a documentary DVD about the "making of", a special concert tour, the theme of GLAY EXPO 2004, and a fall concert tour. Although GLAY's style had once again changed in "THE FRUSTRATED", it was a change that still retained the classic GLAY sound that made them rise to the top, and yet introduced new dimensions to their music which presented fans with something fresh and exciting. A notable track on this album called "BLAST", produced by Teru, included the brass and woodwind sound of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (fondly called "skapara" by fans). In 2005 GLAY took their new sound to yet another level, and produced a collaboration single with the famous vocal/dance group EXILE, which was a tremendous success.

Unlike many bands, GLAY makes their music according to what they feel, not what others tell them to do. Because of this, all of their songs come straight from their hearts. Their thoughts and feelings of their surrounding days is put into music so everyone is able to share a small part of their lives. With inspiration coming from various people and musicians from all over the world, mixed with the courage to try something new, GLAY's sound is truly unique and one that is always evolving.

Discography

Albums

  1. 灰とダイヤモンド(hai to daiyamondo) - Extasy Records May 25 1994
  2. SPEED POP - Platinum Records March 3 1995
  3. BEAT out! - Platinum Records February 7 1996
  4. BELOVED - Platinum Records November 18 1996
  5. REVIEW~BEST OF GLAY - Platinum Records October 1 1997
  6. GLAY SONG BOOK - Platinum Records February 25 1998
  7. pure soul - Unlimited Records/mustard July 29 1998
  8. HEAVY GAUGE - Unlimited Records/mustard October 20 1999
  9. DRIVE~GLAY complete BEST - Unlimited Records/mustard November 11 2000
  10. ONE LOVE - Unlimited Records/mustard November 28 2001
  11. UNITY ROOTS & FAMILY, AWAY - Unlimited Records/mustard September 19 2002
  12. rare collectives vol. 1 - Unlimited Records/mustard February 5 2003
  13. rare collectives vol. 2 - Unlimited Records/mustard February 5 2003
  14. THE FRUSTRATED - Unlimited Records/mustard March 24 2004
  15. -Ballad Best Singles-WHITE ROAD - Unlimited Records/mustard January 19 2005

Singles

  1. RAIN - Platinum Records May 25 1994
  2. 真夏の扉 - (Manatsu no Tobira) - Platinum Records June 15 1994
  3. 彼女の"Modern・・・" - (Kanojo no "Modern... ") - Platinum Records November 16 1994
  4. Freeze My Love - Platinum Records January 25 1995
  5. ずっと２人で・・・- (Zutto futari de...) - Platinum Records May 17 1995
  6. Yes, Summerdays - Platinum Records August 9 1995
  7. 生きてく強さ - (Ikiteku Tsuyosa) - Platinum Records November 8 1995
  8. グロリアス - (Glorious) - Platinum Records January 17 1996
  9. BELOVED - Platinum Records August 7 1996
  10. a Boy~ずっと忘れない~ - (a boy~Zutto Wasurenai) - Platinum Records November 11 1996
  11. 口唇 - (Kuchibiru) - Platinum Records May 14 1997
  12. HOWEVER - Platinum Records August 6 1997
  13. 誘惑 (Yuuwaku) - Platinum Records April 29 1998
  14. SOUL LOVE - Platinum Records April 29 1998
  15. BE WITH YOU - Unlimited Records/mustard November 25 1998
  16. Winter, again - Unlimited Records/mustard February 3 1999
  17. サバイバル - (SURVIVAL) - [video single] Unlimited Records/mustard May 19 1999
  18. ここでわない、どこかへ - (Kokodewanai, Dokoka he) - Unlimited Records/mustard August 25 1999
  19. HAPPINESS -WINTER MIX- - Unlimited Records/mustard August 25 1999
  20. MERMAID - Unlimited Records/mustard July 19 2000
  21. とまどい - (Tomadoi) /SPECIAL THANKS - Unlimited Records/mustard August 23 2000
  22. Missing You - Unlimited Records/mustard November 14 2000
  23. GLOBAL COMMUNICATION - Unlimited Records/mustard April 25 2001
  24. STAY TUNED - Unlimited Records/mustard July 4 2001
  25. ひとひらの自由 - (Hitohira no Jiyuu) - Unlimited Records/mustard September 19 2001
  26. Way of Difference - Unlimited Records/mustard February 27th 2002
  27. またここであいましょう - (Matakokode Aimashou) - Unlimited Records/mustard July 24 2002
  28. 逢いたい気持ち - (Aitai Kimochi) - Unlimited Records/mustard July 31 2002
  29. いつか - (Itsuka) - DVD video single Unlimited Records/mustard March 5 2003
  30. BEAUTIFUL DREAMER/STREET LIFE - Unlimited Records/mustard October 16 2003
  31. 時の雫 - (Toki no Shizuku) - Unlimited Records/mustard January 28 2004
  32. 天使のわけまえ - (Tenshi no Wakemae) /ピーク果てしなくソウル限りなく - (PEAK hateshinaku SOUL kagirinaku) - Unlimited Records/mustard May 25 2004
  33. Blue Jean - Unlimited Records/mustard August 4 2004
  34. ホワイトロード - (White Road) - Unlimited Records/mustard December 8 2004
  35. SCREAM - (collaboration single as GLAY×EXILE) - avex/rhythm zone July 20 2005
  36. G4 - TOSHIBA-EMI July 12 2006
  37. ANSWER - (collaboration single as GLAY feat. KYOSUKE HIMURO) - TOSHIBA-EMI August 2 2006

Videos

  1. VIDEO GLAY - Platinum Records May 17 1995
  2. VIDEO GLAY 2 - Platinum Records May 2 1996
  3. 無限の déjà vu - (Mugen no déjà vu) - Platinum Records January 29 1997
  4. 無限の déjà vu - (Mugen no déjà vu) - [limited edition] - Platinum Records March 19 1997
  5. HIT THE WORLD - Platinum Records December 3 1997
  6. VIDEO GLAY 3 - Platinum Records February 4 1998
  7. "pure soul" TOUR '98 - Unlimited Records/mustard August 5 1998
  8. "SUMMER of '98" pure soul in STADIUM - Unlimited Records/mustard December 9 1998
  9. DOME TOUR "pure soul" 1999 - Unlimited Records/mustard July 7 1999
  10. VIDEO GLAY 4 - Unlimited Records/mustard April 5 2000
  11. EXPO '99 SURVIVAL LIVE IN MAKUHARI - Unlimited Records/mustard July 31 2000
  12. Best Video Clips 1994-1998 - Unlimited Records/mustard September 5 2001
  13. GLAY EXPO 2001 GLOBAL COMMUNICATION LIVE IN HOKKAIDO - Unlimited Records/mustard January 1 2002
  14. GLAY EXPO 2001 GLOBAL COMMUNICATION LIVE IN HOKKAIDO SPECIAL EDITION - Unlimited Records/mustard January 1 2002
  15. GLAY DOME TOUR 2001-2002 ONE LOVE - Unlimited Records/mustard August 28 2002
  16. GLAY ONE LOVE in Beijing [live only release] - Unlimited Records/mustard October 13 2002 (And then, GLAY held a first concert in Workers Stadium in Beijing, China.)
  17. VIDEO GLAY 5 - Unlimited Records/mustard November 20 2002
  18. GLAY ONE LOVE in Beijing Live & Document - Unlimited Records/mustard December 18 2002
  19. GLAY HIGHCOMMUNICATIONS TOUR 2003 - Unlimited Records/mustard September 26 2003
  20. The Complete of THE FRUSTRATED－RECORDING DOCUMENTARY&LIVE - Unlimited Records/mustard June 16 2004
  21. GLAY Acoustic Live in Nippon Budokan produced by JIRO - Unlimited Records/mustard November 3 2004
  22. GLAY ARENA TOUR 2000 “HEAVY GAUGE”in SAITAMA SUPER ARENA - Unlimited Records/mustard November 3 2004
  23. GLAY EXPO 2001 “GLOBAL COMMUNICATION”　in TOKYO STADIUM - Unlimited Records/mustard November 3 2004
  24. LOVE&THANKS ~hondosuru shion~ GLAY EXPO 2004 in UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN "THE FRUSTRATED" - Unlimited Records/mustard December 15 2004
  25. GLAY DOME TOUR 2005 "WHITE ROAD" in TOKYO DOME - Unlimited Records/mustard June 22 2005

External Links

 

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