Yura Yura Teikoku first formed in 1989 as a four-piece, led by guitarist/ vocalist Shintaro Sakamoto, a graduate in design from
Tama Art University . The group played out frequently at Koenji’s celebrated if tiny UFO Club, for which Sakamoto designed the interior. Their first recording appeared on
Tokyo Flashback, a compilation put together by Tokyo's PSF Records, home to a wealth of top flight psychedelia including
Keiji Haino,
Ghost, High Rise, White Heaven, and Acid Mothers Temple. Yura Yura Teikoku's first full albums were of prog-ish psychedelic music on their own Jigoku (Hell) label. They later moved to the slightly larger independent label Captain Trip, where they released a live album in 1995 titled simply
Live, and in 1996
Are You Ra?. Compared to other bands with psychedelic leanings, Yura Yura Teikoku has a distinct pop flavor to their sound, but of a quite odd variety that frequently had them compared to the 13th Floor Elevators. After a number of member changes, present bassist Chiyo Kamekawa joined the band in 1990. In 1992 the band became a trio when the second guitarist dropped out. The current, and perhaps “classic”, line-up of the band jelled in 1997 when Ichiro Shibata joined as drummer - the umpteenth to hold the position. In 1998 the group released
3 x 3 x 3, their first album on the major minor label MIDI. The album was very well received critically, and posted comparatively strong sales. For some fans it remains thei...
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Yura Yura Teikoku first formed in 1989 as a four-piece, led by guitarist/ vocalist Shintaro Sakamoto, a graduate in design from
Tama Art University . The group played out frequently at Koenji’s celebrated if tiny UFO Club, for which Sakamoto designed the interior. Their first recording appeared on
Tokyo Flashback, a compilation put together by Tokyo's PSF Records, home to a wealth of top flight psychedelia including
Keiji Haino,
Ghost, High Rise, White Heaven, and Acid Mothers Temple. Yura Yura Teikoku's first full albums were of prog-ish psychedelic music on their own Jigoku (Hell) label. They later moved to the slightly larger independent label Captain Trip, where they released a live album in 1995 titled simply
Live, and in 1996
Are You Ra?. Compared to other bands with psychedelic leanings, Yura Yura Teikoku has a distinct pop flavor to their sound, but of a quite odd variety that frequently had them compared to the 13th Floor Elevators. After a number of member changes, present bassist Chiyo Kamekawa joined the band in 1990. In 1992 the band became a trio when the second guitarist dropped out. The current, and perhaps “classic”, line-up of the band jelled in 1997 when Ichiro Shibata joined as drummer - the umpteenth to hold the position. In 1998 the group released
3 x 3 x 3, their first album on the major minor label MIDI. The album was very well received critically, and posted comparatively strong sales. For some fans it remains their most popular recording. Albums since include
Shibire, Memai,
Taiyou No Shiroi Kona, and
Zukku Ni Rock, all four of which include guest appearances by Michio Kurihara of internationally celebrated Japanese psychedelic band
Ghost. These albums were picked up for distribution in the United States by the Brooklyn based Mesh-Key Records, and in recent times the group has been receiving attention in the international media. In November 2003 they released
Na Ma Shi Be Na Ma Me Ma, which they retailed for the bargain price of 1,000 yen - less than half the normal price of Japanese CDs. They also have a double disc retrospective called
1998-2004. Yura Yura Teikoku continue to be a popular live band, and these days are able to fill considerably larger venues than in their early years. They played Fuji Rock's main stages in 2000, 2001, and 2004, and often sell out shows that they headline. However they do not seem to be overly money minded; their shows in April 2005 at Tokyo’s Hibiya Yagai Onagkudo and at Osaka’s Hattori Ryokuchi Yagai Ongakudo were free to the public. In May 2005 the band plan to release a new album
Sweet Spot.
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