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The Pillows
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The Pillows
The Pillows (Japanese: ザ・ピロウズ, Hepburn: Za Pirōzu) were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido in 1989. Originally a quartet, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sawao Yamanaka, lead guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe and drummer Shinichiro Sato continued the band as a trio for another 33 years, following the departure of bassist Kenji Ueda in 1992. They are best known in the West for providing the soundtrack for the anime series FLCL. The Pillows suddenly announced their disbandment at the end of January 2025, and Sato died from cancer in March 2026.
In 1989 Kenji Ueda, bassist for Kenzi & the Trips, left the band with former Kenzi's drummer Shinichiro Sato and invited the Coin Locker Babies vocalist Sawao Yamanaka to form a new band. Yoshiaki Manabe, the guitarist of the hair metal band Persia, joined them. The Pillows were formed on 16 September 1989. The story as to where the band's name came about is that allegedly Sawao Yamanaka was hanging out at Yoshiaki Manabe's place and an English post-punk compilation record entitled Pillows & Prayers hanging on Manabe's wall inspired him.
Ueda and Yamanaka were the main songwriters and the Pillows released their first EPs, Pantomime and 90's My Life in 1990 under Captain Records.
In 1991 they contracted with major label Pony Canyon and released their debut single, "Ame ni Utaeba", in May and their first full-length record Moon Gold in June.
In 1992 the Pillows visited England to record their second full-length album, White Incarnation, and filmed the promotional video for their second single, "Kanojo wa Shisuta". Shortly after the release of White Incarnation, Ueda left the Pillows due to disagreements with other members and musical differences.
After a year with no activity or leadership, Sawao Yamanaka took over Ueda's leadership role and recruited Tatsuya Kashima as a replacement on bass, restarting the band. Out of respect for Ueda, Kashima was labeled as a guest musician on releases on which he performed and Ueda's bassist post has never been officially replaced. The extremely rare The Pillows Presents Special CD, released only to the Pillows fanclub, contained their first recordings with Kashima.
In 1994 the Pillows changed to King Records and the band wildly experimented between varying genres. In July the Pillows released their first album as a trio, Kool Spice, and one month later the single "Daydream Wonder" was released.
In March 1995 the Pillows released their fourth album, Living Field. Their subsequent single, "Girlfriend", was used in the romance movie Love Letter.
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The Pillows
The Pillows (Japanese: ザ・ピロウズ, Hepburn: Za Pirōzu) were a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Hokkaido in 1989. Originally a quartet, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sawao Yamanaka, lead guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe and drummer Shinichiro Sato continued the band as a trio for another 33 years, following the departure of bassist Kenji Ueda in 1992. They are best known in the West for providing the soundtrack for the anime series FLCL. The Pillows suddenly announced their disbandment at the end of January 2025, and Sato died from cancer in March 2026.
In 1989 Kenji Ueda, bassist for Kenzi & the Trips, left the band with former Kenzi's drummer Shinichiro Sato and invited the Coin Locker Babies vocalist Sawao Yamanaka to form a new band. Yoshiaki Manabe, the guitarist of the hair metal band Persia, joined them. The Pillows were formed on 16 September 1989. The story as to where the band's name came about is that allegedly Sawao Yamanaka was hanging out at Yoshiaki Manabe's place and an English post-punk compilation record entitled Pillows & Prayers hanging on Manabe's wall inspired him.
Ueda and Yamanaka were the main songwriters and the Pillows released their first EPs, Pantomime and 90's My Life in 1990 under Captain Records.
In 1991 they contracted with major label Pony Canyon and released their debut single, "Ame ni Utaeba", in May and their first full-length record Moon Gold in June.
In 1992 the Pillows visited England to record their second full-length album, White Incarnation, and filmed the promotional video for their second single, "Kanojo wa Shisuta". Shortly after the release of White Incarnation, Ueda left the Pillows due to disagreements with other members and musical differences.
After a year with no activity or leadership, Sawao Yamanaka took over Ueda's leadership role and recruited Tatsuya Kashima as a replacement on bass, restarting the band. Out of respect for Ueda, Kashima was labeled as a guest musician on releases on which he performed and Ueda's bassist post has never been officially replaced. The extremely rare The Pillows Presents Special CD, released only to the Pillows fanclub, contained their first recordings with Kashima.
In 1994 the Pillows changed to King Records and the band wildly experimented between varying genres. In July the Pillows released their first album as a trio, Kool Spice, and one month later the single "Daydream Wonder" was released.
In March 1995 the Pillows released their fourth album, Living Field. Their subsequent single, "Girlfriend", was used in the romance movie Love Letter.
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