I couldn’t in all good conscience change the recommend (to a band) - without something to replace it.

On March 11, 2011, an earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, churning up a devastating tsunami that swept over cities and farmland in the northern part of the country and set off warnings as far away the west coast of the United States and South America. Recorded as 9.0 on the Richter scale, it was the most powerful quake ever to hit the country. As the nation struggled with a rescue effort, it also faced the worst nuclear emergency since Chernobyl; explosions and leaks of radioactive gas took place in three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that suffered partial meltdowns, while spent fuel rods at another reactor overheated and caught fire, releasing radioactive material directly into the atmosphere. Japanese officials turned to increasingly desperate measures, as traces of radiation were found in Tokyo’s water and in water pouring from the reactors into the ocean. A month after the quake, nuclear officials put the crisis in the same category of severity as the Chernobyl disaster.

As of April 7, the official death toll had been raised to 12,600, and more than 14,700 people were listed as missing, although there may be some overlap between the two groups. The final toll is expected to reach nearly 20,000. More than 160,000 people remained housed in temporary shelters; tens of thousands of others evacuated their homes due to the nuclear crisis.

One of the ways you can help Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami survivors, is by donating.

Japan Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund
https://www.japansociety.org/earthquake

doctors without borders
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org

mercy corps/Peace-Winds Japan
http://www.mercycorps.org

American Redcross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief
https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&5052.donation=form1&df_id=5052

There are other countries that need help too: Ivory Coast, Haiti, Pakistan, New Zealand, etc — Get involved, a disaster doesn’t go away because it no longer is front page news.

Amazon Japan has finally launched a DRM-free (digital rights management) mp3 download service.

Canadian and Internet Japanese Music fans heads up! You are needed!

Next Music from TOKYO vol 2 - sgt. “Tears Of Na-ga” @ Biltmore Cabaret

020 Next Music from TOKYO vol. 2 - MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS

Next Music from TOKYO vol. 2 - uhnellys

Guitar Wolf is a garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki, in 1987. The term Jet Rock ‘n’ Roll was coined by the band to describe their musical style; a conglomeration of punk, traditional rock, heavy distortion, feedback, and screamed vocals. The phrase is derived from the last name of musician Joan Jett, whom Guitar Wolf frontman Seiji considers his greatest influence. Guitar Wolf tout themselves as “The World’s Greatest Jet Rock ‘n’ Roll Band.”

In 2000, Guitar Wolf starred in the Japanese rock ‘n’ roll “zombie horror” movie, Wild Zero, directed by Tetsuro Takeuchi. The band plays themselves as they take on crazed fans, zombies, and an alien invasion. Guitar Wolf recorded the soundtrack to the film as well, releasing it in 1999 under the title, Wild Zero. Guitar Wolf is currently looking for a sponsor for the sequel, Wild Zero 2. This was not the first time the band had appeared on screen, in 1997 all three original members of Guitar Wolf appeared in the John Michael McCarthy-directed The Sore Losers, appearing as the “mysterious strangers.”

In March 2005, bassist and founding member Billy, also known as Bass Wolf, died of a heart attack at the age of 38. His replacement in the band, bassist U.G., has become a permanent member of Guitar Wolf and now rounds out the trio which currently consist of band members Seiji (Guitar Wolf): U.G. (Bass Wolf); and Toru (Drum Wolf).

After Futoshi Abe’s death in 2009, www.thee.asia was launched in preparation for several new Thee Michelle Gun Elephant (TMGE) releases. Of these included Nikkatsu’s release of a re-edited version of TMGE’s final concert entitled “THEE MOVIE -031011-,” which incorporated never-before-seen footage of the band. To support the film, Rockin’-Blues organized “THEE SCENE,” a series of screenings to be held at various live venues across Japan. In addition, Universal Japan and Columbia Japan announced several new TMGE releases, including “THEE GREATEST HITS,” “THEE LIVE,” and “THEE VINYLS.”



THEE TRIBUTE is the first American tribute event for Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, and will allow fans in the U.S. a chance to celebrate the legacy of the band. The event will include a mini-exhibition of the band, including bios, discography information, timelines, and various memorabilia and photos. It will also feature the unofficial premiere screening of “THEE MOVIE,” as well as a tribute performance by Geisha Lightning.

Details for the first edition of this event:
DATE: September 4, 2010
VENUE: The Windup Space
12-15 North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21201
TIME: Screening @ 7:30pm, Bands @ 10:00pm
COVER: $7.00

For more info: www.THEEtribute.com Facebook: THEE TRIBUTE Event Youtube: TMGEChannel

San Francisco-based live video-hosting service Ustream has concluded comprehensive agreements with three Japanese music-rights societies: JASRAC, Japan Rights Clearance and e-License.

The deal was announced last month (2010.07.09) by Ustream Asia, a Tokyo-based joint venture set up by Ustream and Japanese telecommunications and media company Softbank (which holds a stake in Ustream).

The agreement allows users to upload videos containing music managed by the three copyright groups to Ustream’s website. Ustream, which claims to have more than 110 million viewers per month globally, will pay royalties to the three groups from revenue gained through advertising and other sources.

Buffalo, N.Y.-based label Good Charamel – founded by Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac — has signed three up-and-coming Japanese bands.

Signed to Good Charamel for North America are alt-rock band Molice, all-girl rock band LAZYgunsBRISKY and female rock trio Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re.

LAZYgunsBRISKY

It’s been about six weeks since Zazen Boys’ bassist Hinata Hidekazu announced he was leaving the band, and already ringleader Mukai Shutoku (restless as he is) has brought in a new bassist, Yoshida Ichiro. Yoshida was originally in the (now defunct) band 12939db (he also played in Nine Days Wonder), which appeared to be from Tokyo, so rumors that Mukai was going to hire someone from his home base in Fukuoka apparently didn’t pan out.

I’ve been surprised at some of the negative reactions over Hinata’s leaving, but I don’t think it matters who plays the instruments in Zazen Boys. This band is Mukai’s baby, and he could have Radiohead as the backing band without the results being much different. That said, there’s no way to even speculate what Zazen Boys’ next album will sound like, but don’t look for this new guy to be changing things.