Kenji Ueda
Encyclopedia
Kenji Ueda is a Japanese rock
musician and producer. He is known for his solo work, as well as his work with Kenzi & The Trips and The Pillows
.
inspired him to take up the electric guitar. He also cites influential punk bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Star Club
, ARB, Anarchy and The Roosters
as early influences.
In 1983, Ueda quit high school at age 18, and went to Tokyo
by invitation of Kenzi who was a senior at the school. Ueda joined the punk band Kenzi & The Trips, in which Kenzi acted as the lead vocalist
and bassist
. This band subsequently disbanded. The other member of the newly formed band was Shinichirou Sato, who would later go on to form the pillows
with Ueda.
Immediately after that, Ueda invited Sawao Yamanaka of The Coinlocker Babies, and formed The Pillows
on September 16.
The lineup was Ueda (bass guitar and leader of the band), Sawao Yamanaka (rhythm guitar and vocals), Yoshiaki Manabe
(lead guitar), and Shinichirou Sato (drums). He and Yamanaka were the main song writers.
They released their first official album Moon Gold
under the Pony Canyon record label in 1991 and also released their second album White Incarnation
under the same label in 1992, but, in the same year, Ueda left The Pillows owing to discord with other members and difference in musicality.
The pillows would not release another album until 1994.
Ueda has since been replaced by bassists Tatsuya Kashima and Jun Suzuki, respectively.
Both Kashima and Suzuki have been called “support members” rather than permanent replacements out of “respect for the original line-up.”
after leaving The Pillows.
On the other hand, he began to provide other singers with his songs, or to produce them.
Ueda started john? label in 1999 and has also worked as a producer with the record label, producing work from artists such as Going Under Ground
.
He also sponsored the tamtom label from 2002.
In 2000, Ueda released his first solo album Forever Love (フォーエバーラブ) under Bumblebee Records.
He has gone on to release two more major albums with the Bumblebee label: Ambivalence (2002) and Ao (青, Blue) (2006).
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician and producer. He is known for his solo work, as well as his work with Kenzi & The Trips and The Pillows
The Pillows
The Pillows are a Japanese rock band. The group has released more than a dozen original studio albums, along with several EPs, singles and compilations...
.
Early life and influences
Born August 30, 1965 in Sapporo, Ueda began playing acoustic guitar at age 9. Seeing a television appearance by KissKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
inspired him to take up the electric guitar. He also cites influential punk bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Star Club
The Star Club
is a Japanese punk rock band that was formed in Nagoya in 1977 and has been based in Tokyo since 1987. The band has had a long career with numerous lineup changes centred on original vocalist HIKAGE. The band is considered representative of Japanese punk....
, ARB, Anarchy and The Roosters
The Roosters
The Roosters were a Japanese rock band that mixed punk, blues-rock, ska and straightforward rock and roll.-History:They formed in 1979 in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka. Although there were four different lineups throughout the life of the band—all centered around guitarist Hiroyuki Hanada--Shinya Ohe...
as early influences.
In 1983, Ueda quit high school at age 18, and went to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
by invitation of Kenzi who was a senior at the school. Ueda joined the punk band Kenzi & The Trips, in which Kenzi acted as the lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
. This band subsequently disbanded. The other member of the newly formed band was Shinichirou Sato, who would later go on to form the pillows
The pillows
The Pillows are a Japanese rock band. The group has released more than a dozen original studio albums, along with several EPs, singles and compilations...
with Ueda.
The Pillows
In 1989, Ueda left Kenzi & The Trips.Immediately after that, Ueda invited Sawao Yamanaka of The Coinlocker Babies, and formed The Pillows
The Pillows
The Pillows are a Japanese rock band. The group has released more than a dozen original studio albums, along with several EPs, singles and compilations...
on September 16.
The lineup was Ueda (bass guitar and leader of the band), Sawao Yamanaka (rhythm guitar and vocals), Yoshiaki Manabe
Yoshiaki Manabe
is the lead guitarist for the Japanese rock band The Pillows. As a mixing engineer, Manabe has worked on albums by The Pillows and The Stereo Future. He enjoys reading in his free time and is an enormous fan of Bob Marley. He also has his own signature guitar made by Sago New Material...
(lead guitar), and Shinichirou Sato (drums). He and Yamanaka were the main song writers.
They released their first official album Moon Gold
MOON GOLD
Moon Gold is an album released by The Pillows on June 21, 1991. It is the band's first full-length record.-Track listing:# "You Are" – 4:02# "This Is My Fashion" – 2:36# "I Need Somebody" – 4:33# "Dear, My 'First Step" – 5:00...
under the Pony Canyon record label in 1991 and also released their second album White Incarnation
WHITE INCARNATION
White Incarnation is an album released by The Pillows on May 21, 1992. It is the band's last record to feature the original lineup, as bassist Kenji Ueda left shortly after...
under the same label in 1992, but, in the same year, Ueda left The Pillows owing to discord with other members and difference in musicality.
The pillows would not release another album until 1994.
Ueda has since been replaced by bassists Tatsuya Kashima and Jun Suzuki, respectively.
Both Kashima and Suzuki have been called “support members” rather than permanent replacements out of “respect for the original line-up.”
Solo career
Ueda participated in various musicians' recording as a session bassistSession musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
after leaving The Pillows.
On the other hand, he began to provide other singers with his songs, or to produce them.
Ueda started john? label in 1999 and has also worked as a producer with the record label, producing work from artists such as Going Under Ground
Going Under Ground
is a Japanese rock music band. Sometimes referred to as just "Going", they got their name from the British hit single, Going Underground by The Jam.-Members:*Matsumoto Sou *Nakazawa Hiroki *Ishihara Satoshi...
.
He also sponsored the tamtom label from 2002.
In 2000, Ueda released his first solo album Forever Love (フォーエバーラブ) under Bumblebee Records.
He has gone on to release two more major albums with the Bumblebee label: Ambivalence (2002) and Ao (青, Blue) (2006).
Discography
| Title | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| フォーエバーラブ (Forever Love) | Bumblebee | 2000 |
| 君はライダー／窓辺 | Bumblebee | 2001 |
| ナイトメア／日々、君、恋し | Bumblebee | 2002 |
| 灰色フランネルの森 監修 上田ケンジ | Tamtom | 2002 |
| Ambivalence | Bumblebee | 2002 |
| 青 | Bumblebee | 2006 |