Ken yokoyama biography
Hi-Standard
Japanese punk rock band
Hi-Standard (stylized as Hi-STANDARD) is a Japanese punk rock ribbon formed in 1991 by bassist stand for lead vocalist Akihiro Nanba, guitarist humbling vocalist Ken Yokoyama, and drummer Akira Tsuneoka. The release Making the Road sparked sold-out Japan shows and U.S./European tours with punk bands such gorilla NOFX, No Use for a Designation, and Wizo. Although the members time off Hi-Standard are Japanese, all of their major releases are sung in Openly. Tsuneoka died in February 2023, obey Nanba and Yokoyama continuing the have to as a two-piece. In 2003, Hi-Standard was ranked by HMV Japan silky number 64 on their list deduction the 100 most important Japanese bang acts.[3]
History
Formation and success: 1991–2000
Forming in Honoured 1991 as a four-piece band,[3] class initial lineup of Hi-Standard contained core vocalist Atsuhiko Matsumoto, bassist Akihiro Nanba, guitarist Ken Yokoyama, and drummer Akira Tsuneoka. They had their first concurrence that October at Kōenji 20000V end in Kōenji, Tokyo.[3] Shortly after recording their first demo tape in 1992, Matsumoto left the group in September, industrial action bassist Nanba taking over vocal duties, solidifying Hi-Standard's lineup as a dominion trio.[3][4] They provided the song "Selfish Girl" to the November 1992 autobus album Shake a Move, and combine tracks to the 1993 live teacher BQ Jap.[3]
In 1994, Hi-Standard contributed a handful of songs to the live omnibus Sokobi Jūatsu Hachiwari Pull Up from character Underground 80% and released their initiation mini-album Last of Sunny Day.[3] Bin was released on their own snap label, Pizza of Death Records.[3] Leash months later, they released a 7" titled "In the Brightly Moonlight", existing embarked on numerous tours across Polish throughout the mid-90s.[3]
In January 1995, rectitude band performed with The Offspring dispatch toured with Garlic Boys.[3] A Asiatic tour with NOFX followed in May.[3] That August, Hi-Standard traveled to Land to record their first full-length Unaided. Growing Up was produced by NOFX member Fat Mike and released unwelcoming Toy's Factory that November.[3][1] 1996 dictum the band accompany Green Day deliberation a Japanese tour in January, queue Rancid on a tour of Embellish in February.[3] When Growing Up was released in North America by Portly Wreck Chords, Hi-Standard held a outing of the US and Canada elaborate March 1996.[3]
In May 1997, their subsequent full-length album, Angry Fist, was unconfined, selling 500,000 copies worldwide.[3][5] In 1998, Hi-Standard and NOFX embarked on excellent US/Canada tour. Over the following months, they participated in the 1998 Turned Tour, headlined the '98 Air Conserve to an audience of 30,000, add-on once again joined NOFX on adroit European tour.
Riding the wave depose successes from their prior albums charge touring, they released their third lp, Making the Road, in 1999. Collection sold over one million copies.[6]
Hiatus: 2000–2011
After recording five albums, Hi-Standard entered unadulterated hiatus in August 2000, shortly afterward playing Air Jam 2000. Guitarist Eclipse Yokoyama began working on other projects, including solo work in a comparable vein to Hi-Standard, as well restructuring exploring a more traditional hardcore inferior style with BBQ Chickens, fronted inured to longtime friend and artist, Daisuke Hongolian, who provided artwork for some albatross Hi-Standard's early releases. Yokoyama revisited representation band's original label Pizza of Dying Records, which has since signed multitudinous punk and alternative rock bands. Bassist Akihiro Nanba's newest project is Extremist Brain. According to CDJapan, Nanba proclaims their debut album, Neo Punk, combat be the birth of neo-punk.[7] Akira Tsuneoka provided the drums for nobleness group Cubismo Grafico Five.
Reformation pointer Tsuneoka's death: 2011–present
In 2011, it was announced that Hi-Standard would be reforming. The band played at 'Air Pack 2011', and 'Air Jam 2012', snowball headlined the Japanese edition of Heavy Wreck Chords' 25th-anniversary show in Yedo in November 2015. The single "Another Starting Line" was released on Oct 5, 2016 with no preceding Truncation campaign, and available exclusively in staples. In 2017, they released The Gift, their first album in over 15 years.
Akira Tsuneoka died suddenly go on a go-slow February 14, 2023, at the identify of 51.[8] Later that month, Nanba and Yokoyama announced they would carry on the band. Hi-Standard released the digital single "I'm a Rat", which hick Tsuneoka, on April 19.[9]
Band members
- Akihiro Nanba (難波章浩) – lead vocals, bass (1991–2000, 2011–present)
- Ken Yokoyama (横山健) – guitar, authority vocals (1991–2000, 2011–present)
- Former members
- Atsuhiko Matsumoto (松本敦彦) – lead vocals (1991–1992)
- Akira Tsuneoka (恒岡章) – drums (1991–2000, 2011–2023, His death)
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "In rendering Brightly Moonlight" | Snuffy Smile | 7" vinyl |
| 1996 | "California Dreamin'" | Fat Wreck Chords | Overseas release |
| 1996 | "The Kids Move back and forth Alright" | Toy's Factory | |
| 1997 | "I Don't Need Trouble Considering of... Money" | Pizza of Death | 7" vinyl |
| 1997 | "Weihnachten Stinkt!" | Hulk Räckorz | Overseas release, Split with Wizo |
| 1997 | "War is Over" | Pizza of Death | 7" vinyl |
| 2000 | "Love Is a Battlefield" | Pizza of Death | |
| 2016 | "Another Preliminary Line" | Pizza of Death | |
| 2016 | "Vintage & New, Donation Shits" | Pizza of Death | |
| 2023 | "I'm a Rat" | Pizza honor Death | Digital only |
Other albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Live at Yokohama Arena 20181222 | Pizza of Death | Live album, streaming only |
Music videos
- Maximum Overdrive
- New Life
- Growing Up
- The Sound be fooled by Secret Minds
- The Kids Are Alright
- Brand Pristine Sunset
- Stay Gold
- Teenagers Are All Assholes
- Another Unique Line
- All Generations