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Tomoyasu Hotei | Profile

Tomoyasu Hotei has been major star in Japan for over 20 years, sold over 25 million albums, and is increasingly well known internationally. Possessing strong skills as both a guitarist and songwriter, he has played in various configurations and styles, but has always been at heart a rocker. Standing well over six feet, and often clad in black or in denim, he has a somewhat intimidating image, and has been cast in film and a popular TV commercial for Boss coffee as a sinister figure. He was expelled from high school his senior year for having long hair, which he defended by claiming “Jesus had long hair”. He started playing guitar in junior high and began his recording career in 1981 as the guitarist in the glam/new wave band Boowy. The band became major stars in Japan, in 1985 played the Marquee in London, and in 1986 had their first million seller, Beat Emotion. When the band broke in 1988, Hotei established himself as a solo star, as did Boowy singer Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei also made two albums with Koji Kikkawa as Complex, both of which went to number one in the national charts. Hotei frequently records overseas, and has collaborated with many foreign musicians, including playing on Strangler Hugh Cornwell’s ’93 solo album, on stage with David Bowie at Budokan in ’96, and at the closing ceremony of ’98 Olympics with Michael Kamen. He later recorded “Guitar Concerto” with Kamen. He has also worked with Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, guitarist Chris Spedding and Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Hotei also sometimes plays in Europe, and performances include a number of major festival dates. His regular drummer in recent years, Zachary Alford, has previously played with Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie. His album of 2000 Supersonic Generation, recorded in part with Apollo Four Forty and Ofra Haza, was released in 14 European countries. Hotei’s songs have appeared on the soundtrack to 1998’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and in the 1998 Japanese film “Samurai Fiction”, in which he also starred, and Battle Without Honor or Humanity was used in the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill. Hotei also has a cut on the album Merry Axemas, along with Jeff Beck, Joe Perry and Steve Vai. Hotei’s wife, Miki Imai is a popular singer and actress.