Lazy (band)
Lazy | |
---|---|
Origin | Osaka, Japan |
Genres |
Rock 'n' roll, pop rock (early) Hard rock, heavy metal (later) |
Years active | 1973–1981, 1998–present |
Labels |
RCA (1977–1981) Ayres (1998–1999) Lantis (2000–present) |
Associated acts | Neverland, Loudness, JAM Project |
Members |
Hironobu Kageyama Akira Takasaki Shunji Inoue |
Past members |
Hiroyuki Tanaka Munetaka Higuchi |
Lazy (レイジー Reijī, stylized as LAZY) is a Japanese rock band founded in 1973 by young classmates Hironobu Kageyama, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Akira Takasaki.
History
The three founders soon recruited, from their own school, drummer Munetaka Higuchi and keyboard player Shunji Inoue to complete the line-up. The name Lazy was taken from Deep Purple's song of the same name and the music the new band wanted to play was orientated towards hard rock. Managers and producers instead envisioned the young musicians as ideal prototypes for pop icons and created, through the use of monikers, costumes and well-balanced singles, a successful "boy band" for the Japanese teenage market. In contrast with these decisions, the band members started writing and recording their own music, slowly changing the sound of the band from easy-listening pop rock to hard rock. A growing dissatisfaction for the direction the band had taken, and the need to express their musical ability, caused Lazy to split up in 1981.
Each member became known on their own, mainly in the soundtrack recording business, or formed other bands like Loudness. Lazy reformed in 1997 for a new album and a tour, and intermittently in the following years to do several projects together. In September 2006, bassist Tanaka died of heart failure. On November 30, 2008, drummer Higuchi died at the age of 49.[1] In 2009 they recorded a new single version of "Kanjite Knight" (感じてKnight), together with Kageyama's JAM Project, for the 2009 anime Shin Mazinger Shogeki! Z Hen, performed under the name "Ultimate Lazy for Mazinger". Their most recent project was the 2011 single "Reckless" for the second animated film in the Towa no Quon series.
Members
- Vocal: Hironobu Kageyama "Michell"
- Guitar: Akira Takasaki "Suzy"
- Bass: Hiroyuki Tanaka "Funny" (deceased)
- Keyboard: Shunji Inoue "Pocky"
- Drums: Munetaka Higuchi "Davy" (deceased)
- Other members
- Tamio Okuda has participated in some Lazy projects since the deaths of Hiroyuki Tanaka and Munetaka Higuchi.
- Kazuyoshi Saito has participated in some Lazy projects since the deaths of Hiroyuki Tanaka and Munetaka Higuchi.
Discography
Studio albums
- This is the Lazy (1978/03/05)[2]
- Dream a Dream (1978/12/05)
- Rock Diamond (1979/09/05)
- Lazy V (1980/04/05)
- Earth Ark (宇宙船地球号 Uchuusen Chikyuugou, 1980/12/16)
- Happy Time (1998/07/21)
- Earth Ark II (宇宙船地球号II Uchuusen Chikyuugou II, 2002/11/06)
EPs
- Angelique: Eien no Yakusoku (2001/01/24)
- Zone of the Enders (2001/05/23)
Live albums
- Lazy wo Oikakero (1978/05/06)
- Moetsukita Seishun (1981/04/05)
- Happy Time Tour '98: Kuro Tokin no Nasu ga Mama (1998/04/21)
Compilation albums
- Collection - Jounetsu no Seishun (1979/03/21)
- Best Hit Lazy (1980/12/01)
- Best (1981)
- Best Collection 1977-1981 (1999/02/21)
- Hit Collection (1999/11/20)
- Golden Best (2004/12/22)
Singles
Title | Release date | Type |
---|---|---|
Hey! I Love You! | July 25, 1977 | Single |
Camouflage | October 25, 1977 | Single |
Akazukin Chan Goyoujin | October 25, 1977 | Single |
Moeru Rock 'n' Roll Fire | May 5, 1978 | Single |
Jigoku no Tenshi | July 25, 1978 | Single |
Hello Hello Hello | October 25, 1978 | Single |
Ai ni wa Ai wo | May 2, 1979 | Single |
Baby I Make a Motion | June 5, 1979 | Single |
Midnight Boxer | January 5, 1980 | Single |
Kanashimi wo Buttobase | May 21, 1980 | Single |
Kanjite Night | August 21, 1980 | Single |
Glass no Heart | April 5, 1981 | Single |
Ultra High | March 21, 1997 | Single |
Pray | December 16, 1998 | Single |
Angelique ~Eien no yakusoku~ | January 24, 2001 | Single |
Zone of the Enders | May 23, 2001 | Single |
Kanjite Knight (feat. Tamio Okuda, Saito Kazuyoshi & JAM Project) | April 22, 2009 | Single |
Reckless | July 13, 2011 | Single |
Videography
- Happy Time Tour '98 ~Kuro Tokin no Nasu ga Mama~ (1998/10/21)[3]
- Lazy Live 2002 Uchuusen Chikyuugou II ~Regenerate of a Lasting Worth~ (2002/06/04)
References
- ↑ Blabbermouth.net, Los Angeles: Roadrunner Records, 2008, retrieved 2008-10-30
- ↑ "Lazy Discography". Lightning Strikes Loudly. 2007-05-27. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ↑ "Lazy Biografia" (in Portuguese). J-Metal. 2004. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
External links
- Lazy at Lantis' official website
- Lazy at Anison Generation database (Japanese)
- Ultimate Lazy for Mazinger at Anison Generation database (Japanese)