Zettaimu's BIO/MEMBERS

Zettaimu's early period, origin

act2 :: 1996~2002 :: Dawn of Zettaimu's sound

Mature period of Zettaimu sound

Returning to the origin of Zettaimu

act
1

1983~1991

Zettaimu's early period, origin

1989 Zettaimu's live, Tokyo

In 1981, Hisashi Furue formed a VELVET UNDERGROUND copy band called "Artgaous" with his best friend Hidefumi Nakamura of high school days and others, and appeared at "Mita Festival" while attending Keio University. After that, he started producing original songs and played with some progressive rock bands outside the university. He was pursuing an avant-garde sound based on British rock.

However, Furue who was a college student, suddenly began to question his origin as a Japanese, became a neurose due to conflicts in his daily life, dropped out of college, and he was absorbed in "Zen Buddhism".

In 1982, drummer Yoshihiro Orii and others joined as members. Furue formed "Neutral News" to work only with original songs. It based on British rock, the lyrics were mainly in English.

In 1983, Hisashi Furue had some doubts about his own originality. Because he liked not only rock music but old Japanese roots music, melody and "Ma" (the term for a specific Japanese concept of negative space).

He formed Zettaimu for mixing together many styles of music, from Japanese roots music, the psychedelic sounds of the 60's and 70's, to more modern gothic styles.

In 1989, the first album My Grandma Says... (Vinyl) was released by Garando Records.

As Japan floated into the bubble economy, music critic "Yoichi Shibuya" said about the album, "This darkness is rare nowadays. The band is a unique newcomer group aiming for indigenous rock in Japan".

In 1991, live recording Zettaimu Live! (cassette) was released by Garando Records.

Furue was tired of the live performance in Japan and suspended it. And act 1 ended with it.

1989

My Grandma Says...

1st album

(Vinyl)

1991

Zettaimu Live!

live recording

(Casette)

discography

1989 Yoshihiro Orii - Drums

1989 Hisashi Furue - Vo, Guitar, Composer

Yoshihiro Orii (1983~2001) - Drums, Background Vocals
Hisashi Furue (1983~) - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Pianos, Lyrics, Composer...

Shin Sato (1983~1984) - Bass
Tomoaki Nagasaki (1983~1984) - Keyboards
Osamu Nakamura (1986) - Bass
Masakazu Yokoyama (1985~1989) - Keyboards, Pianos, Background Vocals

musicians

Wed., October 29, 1986 - Mandala (Kichijyoji, Tokyo)
Mon., Nov. 24, 1986 - Wako University (Machida, Tokyo)
Sat., May 13, 1989 - Chocolate City (Yoyogi, Tokyo)
Sun., Jul., 23, 1989 - Lazy Ways (Koenji, Tokyo)
1989 - LIVE STATION (Meguro, Tokyo)

w/ LIBIDO

and many more

1989 Chorolate City

past shows/tours

BIO-ACT1

BIO-ACT2

act
2

1996~2002

Dawn of Zettaimu's sound

2002 US Live @Los Angels

In 1997, once Hisashi Furue put his new song clips (unfinished) on his website, some labels, music critics, musicians in various countries, such as Europe and America appreciated his stuff. Some labels asked for him to give some of his tracks.

In 1998, Zettaimu joined the compilation cd COWBOYS IN TOKYO by US label TWIN BHUDDA RECORDS with some indie bands from Texas.

In 1998, Zettaimu joined the compilation cd Pop Goes The World by US label RPM (USA) with some famous indie bands from Europe, US and Oceania.

In 1998, their second album In The Decadent Times was released abroad earlier than in Japan by Garando Records. It was highly regarded abroad, especially in Europe and US as an alternative rock music. The band expressed their originality in the various and different styles of music, alternative, psychedelic, progressive rock, pops.

In 2000, the band resumed live with the new members for the first time in 10 years. And vocalist Mika Nohara and keyboardist Shigeharu Toyooka joined the band.

The band performed live at the music club MANDA-LA2 (Kichijyoji, Tokyo) on April 20, 2001 with the famous band Katsurei in the Japanese indie scene. Furue was so touched with the drumming of Michinobu Matsuhashi, the drummer of Katsurei.

In July 2001, after the drummer Yoshihiro Orii left the band, Furue invited the drummer Michinobu Matsuhashi to Zettaimu and he immediately joined the band.

On November 8, 2001 Eugene La Branch (US producer) visited their live, which was the first for Michinobu Matsuhashi as Zettaimu drummer. Eugene liked Zettaimu sound so much and offered US tour, recording in Miami, Europe tour to the band.

In 2002, the band signed a three-year contract with Eugene's company for the recording etc. Their first US tour mainly on the West Coast, thanks to Eugene's kind help and his financial support. But the contract was canceled because of some troubles on the tour. And act 2 ended with it.

1998

In The Decadent TImes

2nd album

(CD)

1998

COWBOYS IN TOKYO

*Compilation CD

(USA)

1998

Pop Goes The World

*Compilation CD

(USA)